FERGUS – The only thing hotter than this weekend’s temperatures was the attendance record and overall success of the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, held August 8 to 10th at the Centre Wellington Sportsplex.
80th anniversary of the Fergus Scottish Festival.
Photo by Fergus and District Camera Club
The festival’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Bender, said the attendance this year was 27,900, what she considers a record-breaking event.
Crowd view from the Main Stage as The Red Hot Chili Pipers perform.
Photo by Ryan Joyce, Fergus Filming
The festival featured the traditional rich tapestry of Scottish culture in a vibrant display of heritage, art and athleticism. Tens of thousands of visitors immersed themselves in a weekend filled with heavy events, Highland dance, bagpipes, heritage, and more.
Highland Dancer performs to the crowd during the
The Festival also showcased an impressive array of attractions including clan displays, delicious Scottish fares, and fine whiskies from local distillers. The event hosted 70 Clans, 300+ athletes, 150 vendors and included standout moments such as the Canadian Scottish Athletic Federation Open Championships, the Featured Guest events with Outlander actor Charles Vandervaart, the Tattoo’d in Tradition ceremony, events with former professional Scottish footballer Steven Caldwell and of course the Scottish Saturday Night concert.
80th anniversary of the Fergus Scottish Festival.
Photo by Keegan Taylor
“All of us are completely in awe of this past weekend. What a weekend celebrating our 80th Anniversary with 27,000 of our closest friends,” said Matthew Bennett-Monty, Festival President.
Theo the Thistle, the official mascot of the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
Photo by Kelly Waterhouse
Save the date for the 81st edition of the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, August 7 – 9, 2026. For future details, visit fergusscottishfestival.com
