Most people don’t need an excuse to eat a macaron. If you have been waiting for a reason to indulge, however, Friday (March 20) is the day to do it. French pastry shops across the city will celebrate Macaron Day, also known as Jour du Macaron. Now in its fourth year in Vancouver, the event launched in Paris two decades ago is a way to fundraise for local charities.

Go ahead and treat yourself to a macaron—or a dozen. Here are a few pastry shops across Vancouver that will be celebrating Macaron Day.

French Made Baking
In Mount Pleasant, the three-year-old French Made Baking (81 Kingsway) will support the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation on Macaron Day. In addition to 15 different flavours, including salted butter caramel and raspberry, the shop will introduce four special flavours on Friday: try rose-lychee, lemon-blueberry, pistachio-sour cherry, and a salted caramel macaron filled with caramelized-apple ganache. Macarons will be sold by donation ($2 is suggested) from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. while supplies last.

Faubourg
At Faubourg’s three locations (2156 West 41^st Avenue; 769 Hornby Street; and Park Royal South in West Vancouver), eight flavours will be sold for $1 each on Macaron Day. Enjoy traditional flavours such as vanilla, dark chocolate, and cappuccino, alongside unique offerings: lavender early grey, strawberry black pepper, and white-chocolate passion fruit. Faubourg will match every dollar of macaron sales and donate 100 percent of proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Soirette Macarons & Tea
Customers of Soirette Macarons & Tea will have two locations to support its Macaron Day efforts this year: at its Coal Harbour café (1433 Pender Street) and at a pop-up shop at Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir Street). The company will offer macarons by donation, and all funds raised will support the Make-A-Wish Foundation BC & Yukon. Taste Soirette’s classic flavours, including pistachio, rose, toasted coconut, and mango, as well as seasonal offerings: cherry blossom, Vancouver fog, and hibiscus dream.

Thierry Chocolate Patisserie Café
Also downtown, Thierry Chocolate Patisserie Café (1059 Alberni Street) will celebrate Macaron Day by donating 10 percent of all macaron sales that day to St. Paul’s Hospital. Over a half-dozen classic flavours will be offered at $2.25 each. Enjoy lychee, cassis, and lemon fruit flavours, as well as vanilla, salted caramel, and maple pecan.

Bel Café
Pastry chef Wayne Kozinko will create a special macaron at Bel Café (801 West Georgia Street) on March 20. Partial proceeds from sales of the coconut cream-pie macaron and other flavours—including cassis, cookies and cream, key lime pie, and carrot cake—will support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie
Both locations of Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie (2539 West Broadway; 128-998 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver) will be participating in Macaron Day this year. A dozen flavours that include mocha, passionfruit, cassis, and mango-coconut will be offered for $1.90 each. This year, Thomas Haas will donate 100 percent of macaron sales to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

Sweet Bake Shop
At Yaletown’s Sweet Bake Shop (1141 Mainland Street), owner Tessa Sam will create a special flavour for Macaron Day. The “triple berry delight” macaron, which will be priced at $1.95 each, features strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry. All proceeds from sales of this macaron will benefit the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.