Since 1946, Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games has been bringing the excitement, beauty, and fun of Scottish culture to our community. This year, in the Festival’s 78th year, the Festival is once again gearing up for an action-packed weekend from August 11th to 13th.
Elizabeth Bender, the Executive Director of the Festival, says that there is definitely something for everyone.
“Whether you like sports, food, history, or music, we have it all. We are truly a Highland Games and Festival with enthralling competitions in several areas including heavy events, highland dance and pipes and drums. We also have the fun Festival elements such as incredible music and entertainment, great food, and wonderful Scottish-themed vendors,” says Elizabeth.
“On top of all that, every year we create new opportunities for guests, like stars from Outlander, world class athletes, and big bands. Everything has a Scottish theme and we stand by our tagline and passion to deliver the best of ‘Scotland Without the Airfare.’”
Festival Highlights
While the entire weekend is sure to be incredible, there are a few highlights that visitors can look forward to. On Friday night, the band Glass Tiger is headlining the festivities after the Tattoo’d in Traditional Ceremony. Scottish actor Richard Rankin from the acclaimed tv show Outlander will be participating in various VIP events, Q & A’s, and even an exclusive Outlander brunch.
For Rob Black, Executive Member of the Board of Directors, it is the heavy events that are most exciting. Participants compete in traditional events including the caber toss, Scottish hammer throw, and sheaf toss. This year, Fergus is welcoming international competitors as the host of the World Heavy Events Competition 2023 during the Festival weekend.
Volunteers Keep the Festival Going Year after Year
The Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games owes much of its success to their team of dedicated volunteers.
Matthew Bennett-Monty, President of the Board of Directors, says, “Working with a group of community-minded individuals and seeing how it pays off when our guests arrive and are having a wonderful time is the best part of being a volunteer at the Festival.”
Those interested in participating as a volunteer should email the Festival office at [email protected].
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
In addition to the volunteers, the Festival sponsors are essential to the success of the annual event.
“The Fergus Scottish Festival is a not-for-profit organization and we value the sponsors who support our event. Their support impacts the event delivery as well as programming which helps us deliver a great event year after year. We honestly could not do it without our generous sponsors,” explains Elizabeth.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, fill out the online form or email [email protected].
Tickets to the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games are available online with early bird pricing in effect until August 9.
For more information about the Festival, visit their FAQ page, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email them at [email protected].