Bastille Day Celebration

We celebrate the French national holiday (July 14th) with food and festivities.

Holiday Dinner

Near the end of the year we gather to celebrate at a French restaurant.

Midwest Regional Sister Cities Conference

Sister Cities Association of Palatine hosted the first Midwest Regional Conference for Sister Cities - April 2008

Trips to Fontenay

More information about visiting Fontenay-le-Comte

• Biennale - May 2006
• Culinary Tour - July 2004
• Summer 2002 Artists' trip
• June 2000 - Visit by a group from Palatine to Fontenay to join the biennale, a biannual celebration. Presentation of special quilt designed and fashioned by people from Fontenay took place during this visit.
• May 1998

Visitors from Fontenay

Interested in hosting French visitors?

• April 2008
• February 2008
• August 2007
• May-July 2006 - Ophélie Sergent did an internship with the Village of Palatine.
• July 2005 - 10th anniversary and garden tour
• October 2003
• October 2001
• March 2001
• The mayor of Fontenay visited Palatine for the final signing of Friendship Agreement with Palatine mayor Rita Mullins.
• 1999—Hosted students including group of accordionists who performed in Palatine and Chicago.

Art and culture events

• Group trip to Quebec to celebrate its 400th year - September 2008
• Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit at Art Institute
• Tour of Hermès store in Chicago and Lunch at Bistro 110
• Arts & Anecdotes art show - a juried art show held at the Palatine train station with refreshments and music - November 2002, November 2003
• Quilt Show and Exchange – March 31, 2001
• Fountain dedication at Palatine’s new train station
• Travelogue on Fontenay-le-Comte at the Palatine Library
• Claudie Thomas presents "Madeline" in French and English
• Rotary Club of Palatine luncheons for our visitors
• Concert at the Palatine Library with accordion players from Fontenay and Palatine’s Children’s Chorus
• 1996 Global Youth Forum— brought six local cities in the Chicago area along with two young people from each of their sister cities for a week of seminars at Harper College designed to foster international understanding.

Artists' Group Visits

We have had several small groups of artists visit Fontenay. In the past, the groups have ranged from 15 to 30 people. The visit to Fontenay lasts one week. Each day, the group will visit a different Fontenay artist in the morning at his or her studio and enjoy their artwork. Visits to potters, water colorists, photographers and other types of artists have been thoroughly enjoyed. In the afternoon, the American artists have time to create artwork in a different location in and around Fontenay-le-Comte. For more information about upcoming Artists Group trips, please contact Susan Minott.