FERGUS – With the whack of a sword against a shield, Scotland’s scarlet and gold bedazzled Lord Lyon King of Arms opened the 80th Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games to cheers and applause on Saturday.
Scotland the Brave piped through the sweltering air from area pipe bands as locals and travellers packed the grounds behind the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex to experience Scottish culture, music and food from Aug. 8 to 10.
Festival executive director Elizabeth Bender told the Advertiser the festival welcomed 27,900 people, well surpassing last year’s total of 23,000 — and a previous post-COVID record of 26,000.
The festival kicked off in 1946 as a celebration of Scottish culture and immigrants who made Fergus home.
“Eighty years later, that hasn’t changed one bit,” Bender said.
The weekend features two elements running together: the festivities and the competitions.
“They’re throwing trees, they’re throwing rocks, they’re throwing bags of wheat,” Bender said of strong-armed competitors.
“It’s steeped in so much history; it’s so perfect in an old-world way.”
For the first time in 13 years, the so-called “unturnable caber” was launched end-over-end by Chechen competitor Vlad Tulacek.
He joins only two others, since the competing began here in 2006, who have managed to make the 147-pound ironwood log soar end-over-end through the air from a 6 o-clock position and have it land perfectly at a 12 o-clock position.
“That’s a pretty big deal,” Bender remarked.
Tulacek secured a $6,000 cash prize for the feat of strength.
Local competitor Jamie Trask of Alma won the Canadian Caber Championship.
The games saw four other Canadian competitors, two Americans and two from Scotland.
Beyond the games and spectators were the festivities – rows of food trucks, historical demonstrations, kids’ activities, vendors, animal displays and music.
Outlander star and Orangeville native Charles Vandervaart entertained hundreds during two interviews about his acting experience as the show’s character William Ransom.
Festival favourites Albannach put on a high-energy show with pounding drum beats and wailing bagpipes before their return to the main stage for a Scottish Saturday Night.
Headlined by the Bay City Rollers, the music night was a first for the festival, featuring a lineup of Scottish rockers, including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, all playing for a packed audience.
Hundreds of volunteers “amped up” the festival for its 80th year, Bender said, doing the community proud.
“It’s impossible to come and here and leave not feeling like you are truly part of something.”
