The frogs of St. Pierre competed against one other on Saturday in the community’s 50th annual jumping match.

Raymond Maynard has helped organize the Frog Follies for the past 15 years but says the history of the event dates back to 1970.

“It started the year Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles came to St. Pierre,” explains Maynard, “we wanted something fun in town that would bring people together and somebody had the idea of jumping frogs.

Though the two members of the royal family were only in the village for about 20 minutes, the visitation was enough of a reason to start an annual festival. Many first-time activities were held that weekend, including the First Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship. The winner of this initial competition was former Hanover Reeve Albert Driedger, whose frog “Georges” jumped a total distance of 7 feet and 1.25 inches.

Ever since its onset, the event was intended to welcome guests, bring the community together, and celebrate francophone heritage. While those goals remain the same, Maynard says the Frog Follies have undergone some changes over time.

“Throughout the years it has evolved into what we have now: a more subdued festival geared towards family entertainment.”

In addition to frog jumping, Maynard says this year’s chapter of the event included motocross acrobatics, live music, face-painting, baseball, and fireworks “which were better than they’ve ever been.”

Now, 50 years after it began, the festival is still growing strong and Maynard indicates that it welcomes over 3,000 people annually.

The St. Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies celebration spans from Thursday to Sunday.  The main frog jumping contest took place between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Saturday.