Get ready to tilt yer kilt as Tartan Day returns to downtown Fergus.
The Fergus Scottish Festival is celebrating the fourth annual Tartan Day on April 14 with a concert at the Fergus Grand Theatre with renown musical group Rant Maggie Rant.
Joining them is the Fergus Pipe Band celebrating 85 years of bringing pipes to the community. Tickets are $25 each and available at the theatre by calling 519-787-1981.
On April 15, downtown Fergus is painting the town tartan.
In partnership with the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, five pubs and restaurants and downtown merchants have joined forces to help celebrate their Celtic roots.
Festivities take place from 12-5pm both inside and out.
Kicking off the event at 11am is the Kilted Kilometre run hosted by Grand River Running.
All are welcome to join in with a donation to the Centre Wellington Food Bank. A kilt is a requirement.
Runners can pre-register at Grand River Running in the Fergus Marketplace.
The race starts at 11am. Refreshments are by Frabert’s Fresh Foods.
There will be wandering pipe bands to tilt yer kilt to, the Fergus Pipe Band and Grand Celtic Pipe Band return, along with newcomers Men with Small Pipes.
Along the kilted krawl, pipers parade participants to various venues including the Breadalbane Inn, Brewhouse on the Grand, O’Briens, D’s Sports Bar and Grill, and the Goofie Newfie.
Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games volunteer, Deb Dalziel said, “It brings together the festival, the downtown core and connects us to the international Tartan Day celebrations – three wonderful reasons to celebrate.”
Tartan Day is a week long celebration in Scotland and is also recognized here 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.
It is 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.
For more information on Tartan Day and the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games visit www.fergusscottishfestival.com.
