discover Brittany:
the French region behind the Breizh Fest Vibe
Brittany, France, in French Bretagne, is a beautiful region in the North-West of France. It is a peninsula, at the western end of France, bordered by the English Channel to the North, Normandy to the Northeast, eastern Pays de la Loire to the Southeast, the Bay of Biscay to the South, and the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. It is famous for its natural beauty, delicious food, rich history and culture full of traditions. It has its own language - Breton - and a strong Celtic heritage, which is reflected in its music. This contrasts with the predominantly Latin roots of much of France. Bretagne, in Breton Breizh, has its own flag called the Gwenn-ha-du, which means white and black in the Breton language.
If you want to experience a 100% Breton experience, then choose Breizh Fest!
Like during a real “fest-noz”, which is a traditional Breton party that brings together fans and those deeply passionate about traditional Breton culture, you will see how all generations gather together and dance to the sounds of instruments and voices, to songs and music which have withstood the test of time!
A Breton Breeze in the Twin Cities: Our Story
Once upon a time, two Brittany enthusiasts, Claire Corvaisier and Natalia Karczmarczuk, landed in Minneapolis. Claire was busy growing Oh Crêpe and sharing Breton flavors with the Midwest, while Natalia worked at the Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul, boosting French culture through events and community projects.
In 2021, their shared love for Brittany sparked an idea: bring a taste of Brittany to the Twin Cities - bagpipes, bombarde, accordion, buckwheat crêpes, traditional costumes… and the unmistakable energy of a true fest-noz. And just like that, Breizh Fest was born… a tiny first edition with just 45 people right in the middle of COVID, at the Minneapolis Cider Company.
But word spread fast. The community grew, musicians joined the adventure, and in 2024 and 2025, more than 600 people came to celebrate each year. In 2024, the festival also received financial support from the Region of Brittany, recognizing it as the biggest event of its kind in the Midwest. This support continued in 2025 and is expected again in 2026, helping us bring even more artists, music, and cultural vibrancy to Minneapolis. As we say, La Bretagne, ça vous gagne! (“Brittany wins you over!”)
In 2024, Natalia returned to France and launched Monark Productions, dedicated to international cultural projects.
In 2026, Breizh Fest will be organized by the Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul and Monark Productions, in partnership with Oh Crêpe and the Minneapolis Cider Company.
We can’t wait to keep growing this adventure together!
