You can’t keep a good highlander quiet for long and they’ll be out in droves on April 10 celebrating Fergus’ annual Tartan Day.
In partnership with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, the Fergus BIA, downtown pubs, restaurants and merchants have joined forces to help celebrate local Celtic roots.
Festivities take place from noon to 5pm both inside and out.
Back by popular demand and kicking off the festivities is the Kilted Kilometre run hosted by Frabert’s Fresh Foods. All are welcome to join in – but a kilt is a requirement.
The first place woman, man, senior and under-16 wins a free weekend pass for this year’s Fergus Scottish Festival. Sign up, pre-race at Frabert’s Fresh Food at 11:30am.
New this year, presented by the Fergus BIA, is the Guelph Celtic Orchestra performing outside on the Riverwalk at 2pm and 3:30pm. Enjoy strings on the grand by this few dozen talented Musicians.
Another new edition for 2016 is Harpist Holly Anne, live at the Fountainhead Café.
A special edition for this year’s Tartan Festivities, the Fergus Scottish Festival presents a “Declaration of a Free People – The roots of Tartan Day in Scottish history”.
Experience Seamus Gunn, a traditional storyteller and a perennial favorite at the Games each year. Gunn will share the history of Tartan Day and stories of Scottish culture in a special appearance at 2:30pm at the Fergus library branch. The cost is $10 per person and tickets can be purchased at the door. Not to disappoint the bairns, Gunn will do a family story telling session at 1pm in the children’s area especially for the wee ones.
A crowd favorite Heavy Events Demonstrations and Kiddie’s Highland Games return next to the Fergus General Store from 1 to 4pm.
Seek your future with a psychic reading or accessorize with a henna tattoo at The Bookery. Feast on Scottish Cream Teas and a celebrated ‘Scotch Soaked Sunday’ at Bentley’s Tea House.
Shortbread and speciality Scottish sweets will be served up fresh all afternoon in participating shops and bakeries. Scottish Crafts will be offered for the wee ones at Roxanne’s Reflections.
Always a fan favourite is the free historical walking tour. Costumed characters will help uncover hidden treasures of the rich, colourful and Scottish past of this grand town. The tour meets in front of Fergus library branch at 2pm.
With two wandering pipe bands to “tilt yer kilt” to, visitors be toe tapping in no time, officials say. The Fergus Pipe Band and Grand Celtic Pipe Band return to perform all about downtown.
Join the “kilted krawl” and let the pipers parade you to all pubs celebrating en route. The Blue Bonnet Highland Lassie’s Highland Dancers, live Scottish and Celtic music at the Goofie Newfie, Van Gali’s, the Brew House on the Grand, Fountainhead Café, O’Brien’s Tap House and the Breadalbane Inn all are part of the festivities.
“It’s a great way to step proudly out of winter and into a kilt, get ‘oot and aboot’, enjoy our vibrant downtown and celebrate all things Celtic,” officials stated in a press release.
“So tilt yer kilt, it’s Tartan Day in Fergus!”
Tartan Day is a week-long celebration in Scotland and is also recognized in North America. Scots and Scottish descendants join together to celebrate their heritage by proudly wearing their clan’s tartan and sharing in Scottish fare, songs and stories from their homeland.
For more information visit downtownfergus.com or call 1-877-242-6353.
