FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CENTRE WELLINGTON, ON – November 27, 2023
The Fergus Scottish Festival Looks Forward to 2024
The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games hosted its Annual General Meeting on November 23rd, 2023. This annual gathering of Festival members highlighted accomplishments for the not for profit business, memorable moments from the 2023 event, and marked the commencement of planning for 2024. The membership also elected its Board of Directors for the upcoming Festival year, which includes President Matthew Bennett-Monty, Vice President Christine de Nottbeck, Director at Large Rob Black, Heather Matthews, Deb Dalziel, Scott Russell, and Steve Clark.
The Board of Directors wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who attended and supported the Festival in 2023. Another successful and memorable year, the Festival welcomed 24,000 guests with visitors coming to Fergus from as far away as Singapore, Australia, and Mexico. From hosting the World Heavy Event Championship, to welcoming Outlander actors Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart, and 80s rock icons, Glass Tiger, the schedule was filled to the brim with Scottish music, activities, and competitions. During his year in review, President Matthew Bennett-Monty noted, “we have triumphantly regained our stride following some challenging years, working tirelessly, growing our attendance, followers, sponsorship, all while responding to ever changing rules and regulations, tweaking our systems, and building our teams”
The Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games’ mission is to deliver a Festival dedicated to the preservation of the visual, musical, athletic and written heritage of Scotland and those Scottish people who made Upper Canada their home through a celebration of culture, history, competition and education.
“Always true to our mission, the Festival prides itself on presenting an engaging, entertaining event, immersing visitors in all things Scottish and celebrating our local community. It is bittersweet closing the books on a great year at our Annual General Meeting but we are really looking forward to sharing what we have planned for 2024. Save the date for the 79th Fergus Scottish Festival, August 9 – 11th.” says Executive Director, Elizabeth Bender.
Stay on top of announcements and updates by signing up for our newsletter and following our social media channels. Further details and news is also available on the Fergus Scottish Festival website at fergusscottishfestival.com
– 30 –
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Bender, Executive Director, Fergus Scottish Festival
Phone (519) 787-0099
Email [email protected]
The Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is committed to respecting the privacy of individuals and recognizes a need for the appropriate management and protection of any personal information that you agree to provide to us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request.
Festival wristbands must be in sight at all times. Wristbands are void if tampered with or removed.
Lineup and/or set times are subject to change without notice.
No refunds will be offered to customers who are refused entry or ejected from the venue on account of being (or appearing to be) abusive, threatening, drunken or disorderly.
All persons attending the Festival do so at their own risk. The Festival is not responsible for any loss, personal injury or damages to patrons or volunteers howsoever they may arise in relation to participation in the Festival.
Pets are not permitted on the Festival site (except service animals).
Bicycles, scooters, golf carts, ATVs, skateboards are prohibited.
Drones or any other remote flying devices are strictly prohibited.
Event is rain or shine.
Pets are not permitted on the site (except service dogs).
All policies of the Centre Wellington Sportsplex and Fergus Scottish Festival must be observed.
Alcohol and/or illegal substances may not be brought into the Festival site.
Please see Camping specific rules and regulations when purchasing a campsite.
Fergus Scottish Festival is not responsible for any loss, personal injury or damages to patrons or volunteers howsoever they may arise in relation to participation in the Festival.
The Township of Centre Wellington has been home to people for more than 13,000 years. In particular, the land on which the Township is located was negotiated as part of Treaty 3 (1784) and Treaty 19 (1818), signed by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Additionally, most of the Township is within lands originally set aside for the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River under the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784.
The Township of Centre Wellington is within the traditional lands of the Attawandaron (or Neutral Nation), the Huron-Wendat Nation, and the Grand River Métis Council.
The Township appreciates the opportunity to work in this territory and acknowledge the past and present contribution of Indigenous communities to the importance of this place.
