One-Tank Trip for
Aug. 5/17
(c) By Jim Fox
Attention lads and
lassies, “och aye the noo,” which in overt Scotticism
translates to “Oh yes, just now.”
We’re speaking about the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland
Games that will pipe its way into town from Aug. 11 to 13.
In its 72nd year,
it’s the oldest three-day Scottish Festival in North America and attracts some 30,000
visitors.
In celebration of
local Scottish heritage and culture – and this year Canada 150, too – there’s
something for everyone, a Scot or not (nae), said Lee Puddephatt, marketing co-chair.
Bring the clan for Celtic music,
crafts for the kids and heavy events (including tossing cabers the size of
telephone poles) huge stones and tugs-of-war.
 |
| A competitor gets ready to launch a caber in the Highland Games heavy events. |
There are bagpipes,
drums, bands, Highland dancing, storytelling, singing, genealogy and heritage,
beer tents, artisans, authors and vendors galore.
Visitors can see pipe
band competitions, a military tattoo, the heritage tent, Genealogy Centre,
Avenue of the Artisans, McKiddie’s Centre and Celtic musicians.
A variety of competitions
will involve more than 700 Highland dancers.
 |
| Dancers kick up their heels and toes in the Scottish Festival competitions. |
They will
perform the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas and the Strathspey and Half
Tulloch in the festival championship.
It will be
a gathering of the clans, with up to 60 societies showing off their tartans.
It’s said
the games represent the largest gathering of clans in the world outside
of Scotland and Cape Breton Island.
 |
| The pipes are calling at the Fergus festival. |
They “indulge
in exploring their histories,” creating new friendships and reuniting with
those of old while participating in the appreciation of the ancient clan
systems that existed in Scotland’s past.
Visitors can even
learn how to speak Gaelic and play the bagpipes.
The festival hosts pipes
and band competitions that showcase Ontario’s best talent.
Featured is the Fergus
Pipe Band, making its 90th anniversary, that’s still with a full roster of
pipers and drummers ranging in age from 15 to 80.
Speaking of music,
the festival’s acts vary from traditional to electric bag rock.
“We are absolutely
tickled tartan with the music line-up for this year’s festival,” said Katie
Sinclair, music venue chair.
This includes traditional
highland melodies to headliners such as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers from Scotland
for some “bagpipes with attitude and drums with a Scottish accent.”
 |
| The Red Hot Chilli Pipers from Scotland bring their “bagpipes with attitude.” |
The
Highland Pub will feature a rocking rotation of Celtic performers including
festival favourite Albannach returning from Scotland with “bare-knuckle pipes
and drums.”
The Saturday
night concert is a Hometown Reunion party with local band Fair Warning while
the Celtic Traditions will be at Melville United Church.
Other
performers include Gillebride MacMillan, emcee of the Tattoo’d in
Tradition, and new and returning talent.
Fergus, a town of
about 20,000 people on the banks of the Grand River north of
Kitchener-Waterloo, is an ideal setting for the festival, given its Scottish
roots.
“Experience the
rich heritage and the charming Scottish atmosphere as you stroll our streets,”
the Fergus Business Improvement Area says.
 |
| The Scottish heritage of Fergus is shown in its architecture created by Scots. |
There’s a
self-guided walking tour to “visit symbols of local history still standing
strong in the midst of a bustling rural setting.”
Traditional
limestone masonry is abundant as it was used by Scottish settlers to build many
of the heritage homes.
Limestone also dominates
the walls, park stairwells and the merchant buildings downtown.
If you go
The Fergus Scottish
Festival & Highland Games is at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex,
550 Belsyde Ave. E.
Opening hours are
Aug. 11, 5 p.m.; Aug. 12, 8 a.m.; and Aug. 13, 9 a.m.
Admission is $30 on Friday and Saturday, $20
on Sunday; and $60 for a weekend pass.
Seniors, 60 plus and ages 13 to 18, are $25,
$18 and $50, respectively; and no charge for children to age 12. Parking
is $5 a day.
Details: fergusscottishfestival.com;
1-866-871-9442
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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