Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games

The Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is a three-day cultural festival that has been held in the town of Fergus, Ontario, for more than 70 years.[1] The festival includes events leading to the World's Scottish Athletic Championship.[2] It is the oldest festival of its kind in North America.

Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games
Pipe bands marching at the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, 2018
StatusActive
GenreFestival
FrequencyAnnually, second weekend in August
Location(s)Fergus, Ontario, Canada
Years active75
Founded1946 (1946)
FounderAlex Robertson
Websitefergusscottishfestival.com

History

The festival was first held in 1946 as a two day event in Victoria Park in downtown Fergus,[3] organized by Alex Robertson.[4] The festival later expanded to three days; it outgrew the park and was moved to the grounds of the Center Wellington Township Sportsplex at the edge of town,[5] providing space for overnight camping.

The name was changed to Fergus Scottish Festival in 1992.[6]

By 1997 the festival was attracting 35,000 people on the Saturday of its event.[1]

In 2007 the festival received a government grant to fund a tribute concert to John Allan Cameron.

In 2012 a combination of poor weather and unexpected taxes left the festival in debt. That year the festival's budget was about $500,000.[7] The federal government rescinded the festival's amateur sport classification, and required it to remit $78,000 in HST from ticket sales.[8] A $50,000 loan from Centre Wellington township kept the organization afloat, and was paid back with the profits from later years.[9]

Bill Bridges and Tommy Leadbeater perform in the Heritage tent, 2018

In 2015 the festival was in the news when it hosted a mass caber-tossing event; 69 cabers were turned simultaneously, and this overturned the previous Guinness World Record of 66.[10]

In 2018 the festival hosted the Women’s Heavy Events Championship.

Attractions

The festival opens with a traditional tattoo, including singing, dancing and piping,[11] and a fireworks display.[12]

Pipe bands

The festival hosts a series of pipe and drum competitions. Bands from around Ontario, as well as from other provinces and the United States, come to compete.[7] The bands also participate in mass piping events for the entertainment of the festival attendees.

Highland games
Heavy event competitors, 2018

In the tradition of the Highland games, the festival hosts a series of Scottish strength competitions, including hammer throwing,[13] tug-of-war,[14] and caber tossing.[9] There is also a 10k running event.

Highland dancing

Highland dancers participate in various classes of competitions, and provide entertainment throughout the weekend.

Scottish cultural events and displays
Jacobite encampment re-enactment, August 2018

Each year members of about 50 Scottish clans set up tents to display the history of their families. Traditional Scottish food and music are also available for the attendees, as well as whiskey tasting, quilting, horse shoeing, weaving and genealogical displays. Storytellers and historical re-enactments provide additional entertainment. There are also activities for children, including sword fighting and archery.[7]

Concert

An evening concert on Saturday features a variety of musical entertainment.

Marketplace

The festival hosts a venue for the sale of food, crafts and souvenirs.

References
  1. N. David Milder (1997). Niche Strategies for Downtown Revitalization: A Hands-On Guide to Developing, Strengthening, and Marketing Niches. Downtown Research & Development Center. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-915910-40-3.
  2. Patricia Schultz (11 March 2011). 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die, updated ed. Workman Publishing Company. p. 995. ISBN 978-0-7611-6537-8.
  3. "Festival season lasts all year in Elora & Fergus". Toronto Star, July 9, 2018
  4. [https://fergusscottishfestival.com/about/history//
  5. "Photos: Fun in the sun at Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games". Aug 11, 2018 Guelph Mercury
  6. Pat Mestern (26 May 2008). Fergus: A Scottish Town By Birthright. Dundurn. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-77070-639-2.
  7. "Records broken at Highland Games". Waterloo Record, Vol 45 Issue 33, August 17, 2012 by Kris Svela
  8. "Fergus Scottish Festival in make or break year". Aug 05, 2013 by Chris Herhalt, Guelph Mercury.
  9. "Fergus Scottish Festival to further pay down debt". Aug 11, 2014 by Rob O'Flanagan. Guelph Mercury.
  10. "Fergus Scottish Festival reclaims caber toss Guinness world record". Waterloo Record, August 14, 2015, by Jaime Myslik
  11. "Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games". Brampton Guardian, Aug 13, 2014
  12. "Fergus hosts the Scottish Festival". 570 News Radio, Aug 13, 2010
  13. "Middleton teen making a name for himself on the national stage in highland games, powerlifting competitions". Annapolis Valley Spectator, Kathy Johnson Aug 15, 2017
  14. "Cheering the boys on at the Fergus Scottish Festival". Aug 08, 2015 by Tony Saxon Guelph Mercury
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