Downtown Fergus is painting the town tartan! You can’t keep a good highlander quiet for long and they’ll be out in droves on Sunday April 10 celebrating the 3rd annual Tartan Day. In partnership with the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, six pubs and restaurants and downtown Merchants have joined forces to help celebrate our Celtic roots.
Festivities take place from 12-5pm both inside and out. New this year and kicking off the festivities 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 and a kilt is a requirement! First place woman, man and youth under 16 wins a free weekend pass for this year’s Fergus Scottish Festival. Runners can preregister at Grand River Running in the Fergus Marketplace, race starts at high noon. Refreshments for all runners compliments of Frabert’s Fresh Foods.
Also a first for Tartan day is the free historical walking tour where costumed characters will help you discover hidden treasures of the rich, colourful and Scottish past of this Grand town. Tour meets in front of Fergus Library at 2pm.
There will be three (count ‘em) wandering pipe bands to tilt yer kilt to: Fergus Pipe Band and Grand Celtic Pipe Band return along with newcomers Men with Small Pipes (easy now!). Join the kilted krawl and let the pipers parade you to all 6 venues en route. Performing at each venue will be well known favourites of the festival: Bob McLean, Celtic guitarist will be at the Breadalbane Inn; foot stomping, kilt flinging Tommy Leadbeater and friends will perform at the other end of town at the Brewhouse; also at the east end local favourites Janice Howie and Nick Gush will serenade you at Van Gali’s; David Leask, well known Scottish singer and songwriter along with James McKie will entertain at O’Briens; additional Celtic performers will leave you dreaming of the highlands at D’s Sports Bar and Grill, and expect an electrifying performance from CeltRock Folk legends The Rogues at the Goofie Newfie.
“It’s a tri-umphant celebration!” says Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games volunteer, Deb Dalziel. “It brings together the Festival, the downtown core and connects us to the international Tartan Day celebrations – three wonderful reasons to celebrate.”
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. So tilt yer kilt, it’s Tartan Day!
Tartan Day is a weeklong 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. Tartan Day in Fergus will be Sunday April 10th from 12-5pm. For more information on Tartan Day and the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games visit www.fergusscottishfestival.com
Hope to see you all out there
