Let the Games begin – the Highland Games, that is!
By Saturday morning the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is already in full swing! Come Saturday and jump right in to the flurry of activity. Just like Friday or Sunday, plenty of food, music and events can be found!
But Saturday also has events unlike any other day. Come for the Schneiders Highland Dance Competition, the Opening Ceremonies, Canada’s Scottish Heavy Events Professional Men’s Competition, the Massed Band, the Piping Competitions and the Scotch Nosing presented by Destination Guelph.
Your Saturday Day Pass and Weekend Pass provide access to the entire Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games on Saturday, August 14, 2004 including all competitions, concerts, live music and tents. Check the Highland Herald for the events schedule. The following is a schedule of the events and activities for Saturday. Events, times and locations are subject to change.
Schedule of Saturday Events and Activities
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games have an astounding variety of venues and activities available. Visit the Genealogy and Education Centre sponsored by TD Canada Trust, the CH TV Heritage Tent, the Children’s Interactive Area sponsored by Pizza Pizza, the Dry Stone Wall Construction site, the John Allan Cameron and Friends Tent and Nexan’s Tea Garden. Also, David R. Ross, best-selling Scottish author in the Author Series sponsored by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Grand River Raceway with be providing lectures and booking signings. When you’re looking for good drink and music, both can always be found in the Sleeman Highland Pub and the Upper Canada Piper’s Pub.
For a description of each of these events and more, visit the Weekend Events page.
7:30am to 9:30am, Unity Hall – Kinsmen Tartan Breakfast
There’s no better way to start the day than to enjoy a hearty pancake breakfast right on site. It’s so good, you’ll want to come back again Sunday morning! And with such a terrific price – only $5.00 – what’s to stop you? Children eat for $3.00 and drinks are $1.00. All proceeds from this tasty meal go to support the local Kinsmen Club.
8:00am – Gates Open
8:30am Onward, Heavy Events Field – Invitational International and North American Scottish Heavy Events Competition
The Heavy Events Competition at the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games attracts competitors and observers from around the globe. To see this event is to witness strength and poise as the athletes compete for Festival titles.
Some of this year’s featured professional competitors are Stephen Aiken from Scotland, local celebrity and strongman, Warren Trask plus Master of Ceremonies David Webster, the “Original Strongman.”
Visit the Heavy Events page for more information and plenty of pictures.
Main Field – GSW Piping Competition
The piping competitions begin Saturday as the sounds of these traditional instruments fill the air. It is a powerful sight and sound. The Festival’s competition is produced in cooperation with the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario and is ranked as a “Championship Supreme Games.” Be here Saturday. There’s nothing quite like this competition.
Details plus pictures are found at the Piping page.
Rowe Electric Avenue of the Clans
Clans are the heart of the Festival, with many Clan members using the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games as their family and Clan reunion. It’s a great opportunity to trace your roots and to reconnect with long lost relatives and friends. The Avenue of the Clans is open Saturday and Sunday.
This year’s Featured Clans are Clan Keith and Clan Young.
Visit the Clans page for much more information.
9:00am Onward – Schneider’s Highland Dance Competitons
Schneider’s and the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games are very proud to host the World’s Largest Highland Dance competition with over 900 dancers under the age of 18.
Highland Dancing is an essential element of the Scottish culture and this is a fabulous opportunity to watch some of the very best dancers in Canada and in the world compete.
Winners from our Festival compete at the World Competitions at the end of August. Come see them here first.
For registration forms, additional information and more, visit the Dancing page.
12:30pm, Main Field – Opening Ceremonies
Help us officially open our 59th Annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games at noon on the Main Field. As the largest and longest running Scottish Festival in North America, we are proud of our legacy of celebrating Scottish heritage and culture.
Join us as we welcome our Featured Guests:
- Chieftain of the Games John Allan Cameron, Order of Canada
- David Webster, Heavy Events Master of Ceremonies, Order of the British Empire
- David R. Ross, best-selling Scottish author and historian
- Other special guests.
More details and great pictures are found at the Opening Ceremonies page.
3:30pm to 5:30pm, Unity Hall – Destination Guelph Scotch Nosing
Destination Guelph is proud to present the 3rd annual Scotch Nosing at the Fergus Scottish Festival. This unique event offers its guests an opportunity to sample 6 to 7 delectable scotches and to learn the fabulous history, the intricate process and the geographical information for each of these “nectars of the gods.”
Tickets are $35.00 per person. No discount applies. Register soon because numbers are limited.
To learn more about the Scotch Nosing, visit our page.
7:00pm to Midnight – Dewar’s Saturday Night Celtic Jam at the Sleeman Highland Pub Featuring Quadmyre
Join in a celebration of amazing Celtic Rock music with some of Canada’s best pub bands. Featured tonight is Quadmyre. This band from Ontario is becoming known for their unique sonic fusion of rhythms, fiddle, guitar bass and percussion. Saturday in the Sleeman Highland Pub will have you singing and dancing the night away.
The Festival Pubs page and the Celtic Music page each contain more information.
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