The festival will retain a “similar flavour” to its previous season, showcasing the arts, the region, and a range of French-inspired activities.

“The inspiration came from two guys from Adelaide – one a Frenchman, the other just a Francophile,” Frenchfest secretary Kathy Adams said.

“They wanted to take what happens in France with carnivals and bring it to South Australia.

“In France, these carnivals happen in regional areas and it’s a celebration of food and wine and family – they went to lots of places around South Australia and chose Auburn!”

The quaint, provincial town is referred to as the Paris of the Clare Valley, and the festival demonstrates both identities.

“It’s a fusion between things French but also the best of the Clare Valley,” Adams said.

The festival’s highlight is the world premiere of local theatre production ‘Dream’, launching on September 8 at 7pm at the Auburn Institute and accompanied by a three-course dinner.

The all-original show was created especially for the Frenchfest by Clare Valley locals Andrew Cooper and Karen King and their production company Dream KAJAH.

“It’s a story about a girl from Auburn wanting to be a performer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and they actually sent their script and their songs and everything to the Moulin Rouge so that they could use the words ‘Moulin Rouge’ and the Moulin Rouge has endorsed this performance and this play,” Adams said.

Frenchfest chair Rhonda Seymour said, “We are very mindful through the whole of the event that we are focusing as much as possible on local products, local people, local skills.”

Regional wines including Taylors, Shut the Gate, and Claymore will be paired with the cheese tent, as well as “drawcard” evening acts including Louise Blackwell & The French Set and Michaela Burger.

A road closure area will allow for “a party atmosphere” on Saturday and Sunday.

The event is designed for families of all ages with a range of ticketed and free events, including art exhibitions, language lessons, a dog dress-up competition, puppet show, musical instrument design, floral arranging, champagne making and caricature drawing.

“During the day, it’s definitely everything that’s happening in the park [that’s most popular],” Adams said.

“We’ll have free performances, music, all the food stalls and market stalls. We’ve got a French car display; we’ve got come-and-try Pétanque. The crepe-making workshops are super popular, the kids with the Circobats and being able to try acrobatics and learn some of the basic skills of circus. And the idea [is] that everyone’s welcome, that it’s a family event.”

There is no shame in a sausage from the sizzle, and assumed French knowledge is not required to attend.

“The shows and the theatre and everything that’s available, there’s an English component as well,” Adams said.

“All the acts will tell you what the songs mean if they are singing in pure French, but ‘Dream’, for instance, it’s all in English.”

Auburn Frenchfest is entirely volunteer-run and community-centred, adding to the town’s history of contribution to the culture program.

“The in-kind support from businesses has been overwhelming, but also our volunteer team – we’re up to about 80 volunteers helping over this event,” Seymour said.

“We’re making our community stronger through that collaboration and cooperation, which I think is really important.”

The Auburn Frenchfest program is available here and tickets here.