AUBURN – The Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society will open its doors to the public Friday and Saturday, July 30 and 31, to coincide with the Festival de Joie. The nonmember fee will be waived those days.

This will be an opportunity for beginners and experienced genealogists to check out the vast assortment of genealogical records contained in the Father Leo E. Begin Library.

They include marriage records covering the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Acadien records as well as northern New England with emphasis on Maine and New Hampshire.

Normand Cote will be on hand with his large file containing records on 75,000 Cote marriages, with most traced back to the first Cote to immigrate from France in the 1600s.

The society is located at the corner of Academy Street in the old Edward Little High School/Great Falls School building, with entrance and parking on High Street not far from the Village Inn restaurant.

It is also within walking distance from the main festival grounds by taking the pedestrian bridge adjacent to the festival main entrance on Oxford Street in Lewiston.

Hours will be noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.