Our 2023 Featured Guests are Richard Rankin & Charles Vandervaart
We are so thrilled to announce our Featured Guests for our Festival this year, Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
Richard is best known as an actor, singer, and photographer! Charles is a canadian-born actor who is quickly gaining popularity internationally!
The Fergus Scottish Festival features the best of Scottish athletics and heritage but it is also known for showcasing famous guests including authors, actors, and musicians. The Festival has proudly hosted special guests from around the world including Diana Gabaldon, the renowned author of Outlander. These special guests have engaged and delighted audiences with their stories, interviews, lectures, and performances.
See schedule for event details and click on "EVENT LOCATION" to filter by Featured Guest events.
2023 Featured Guest Schedule
An awesome combination of VIP experiences!
From brunch to photos opps, whisky to free panel discussions you won’t believe the opportunities to meet Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart.
ENJOY!
**Please note – all events require Festival admission tickets to attend. Festival admission not included in ticket price.
Free Q&A and Panel discussions require you register for a free ticket to attend so we can minimize line ups and keep you safe. Please note your registered ticket is valid for entry for the first 10 minutes. Admission will not be guaranteed beyond that time.
Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart will be at the Fergus Scottish Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition to noted events, our guest will be participating in activities through the Festival grounds so you will have many opportunities to see them and have some unique experiences. Our team has worked hard to bring you carefully curated events to get you close to these incredible guests while keeping everyone safe.
5:30 pm – VIP Meet and Greet with Richard Rankin
Meet Richard Rankin! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$25 per ticket (must also have Friday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
6:30 pm – Conversation with Richard Rankin & Charles Vandervaart
An engaging Q&A session with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Tickets are included with Festival admission but you must register for this free ticket to attend the session. (must also have Friday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
350 tickets available.
10:00 am – VIP Meet and Greet with Richard Rankin
Meet Richard Rankin! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$25 per ticket (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
11:00 am – Conversation with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
An engaging Q&A session with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Tickets are included with Festival admission but you must register for this free ticket to attend the session (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend).
350 tickets available.
1:30pm – VIP Meet and Greet with Richard Rankin
Meet Richard Rankin! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$25 per ticket (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
2:30 pm – Conversation with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
An engaging Q&A session with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Tickets are included with Festival admission but you must register for this free ticket to attend the session (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend).
350 tickets available.
4:00pm – VIP Meet and Greet with Charles Vandervaart
Meet Charles Vandervaart! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$25 per ticket (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
8:00 pm – “Richard Rankin on the Rocks”
An exclusive Outlander themed whisky tasting where you can enjoy a dram with our featured guest Richard Rankin. Learn about three different whiskys, hear Richard’s opinion on whisky, and enjoy musical entertainment. Must be 19+ to attend.
Located in the Sponsors Tent by the Main Field.
$100 per ticket (must also have Saturday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
9:30 am – “Exclusive Gourmet Brunch”
Savor a gourmet Outlander themed brunch, mix and mingle and snap a photo with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart. This exclusive brunch also includes engaging discussions with our Featured Guests, musical entertainment, and Festival souvenir.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$150 per ticket (must also have Sunday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
1:30pm – VIP Meet and Greet with Richard Rankin
Meet Richard Rankin! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
$25 per ticket (must also have Sunday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
2:30 pm – Conversation with Richard Rankin & Charles Vandervaart
An engaging Q&A session with Richard Rankin and Charles Vandervaart
Located in the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Tickets are included with Festival admission but you must register for this free ticket to attend the session (must also have Sunday or weekend Festival admission to attend).
350 tickets available.
Featured Guest FAQs
VIP Meet and Greet
VIP seats are seats closest to the stage.
You may bring one book, photo or piece of paper to be signed.
Signing will only be done on a book, photo or piece of paper.
The Festival has not increased any prices since 2017. This year due to pandemic-related rising costs we have introduced or made modest increases to prices so that we can continue to deliver the same incredible and safe Festival experience you have come to expect. We are still offering great opportunities to see these amazing guests for free as a panel or on the grounds plus adding some extra special opportunities to meet them.
Our free events still require you to get a ticket to eliminate long lines and provide the safest experience for both our festival attendees and our featured guests.
Q&A
The Q&A is free to attend if you have a festival ticket. Please note you need to purchase a “free ticket” to attend this event.
The Q&A will be located inside the hall at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
All seating is first come first serve unless you have a VIP Meet and Greet ticket where there is VIP seating reserved for ticket holders.
You will be able to buy up to four tickets at once for each featured guest event.
All ages are welcome to attend the Q&A as long as they have their own ticket.
Unfortunately there will not be any books to purchase at the festival.
We are providing this information in advance so that you can plan the perfect festival weekend. Our tickets are non-refundable.
You can attend as many of the featured guest events as you are able to secure tickets for. Please be mindful that we would like everyone to have a chance to see our featured guest(s) so if you don’t intend to attend, please give someone else the chance to purchase.
If there are tickets available the day-of, you can grab one on your phone by visiting our website.
All of the featured guest events take place on the festival grounds and thus all attendees need to have festival tickets to attend them.
Unfortunately the Q&A is an in person event and there will be no virtual component. Hopefully you will be able to join us in person.
Whisky
There will only be one whisky tasting with our featured guest taking place on Saturday at 8pm. Please check the Festival website for other whisky events that may be taking place.
Whisky and water will be the only beverages served at the whisky tasting.
The whiskies have been chosen carefully to represent parts of the Outlander story. They will be revealed during the event.
The whisky tasting takes place within the grounds of the festival and thus you will need a festival ticket to access the venue.
The whisky tasting is a licensed event and you must be 19 years of age or older and present identification at the door to attend.
Brunch
Common dietary restrictions can be accommodated. If you have dietary restrictions and will be attending the brunch please check the appropriate box when purchasing your tickets.
The food is being provided by a local catering company. The menu is not finalized yet but will be Outlander themed.
All ages are welcome to attend as long as they have their own ticket.
No, the cost for everybody is $150. There are discounts for seniors and kids on Festival tickets.
You must have a Festival ticket to attend in addition to your brunch ticket.
The last two years have changed many things including availability of off site locations so we decided to take advantage of the great Festival location that we have… plus we get to keep our guests close to us so there are more opportunities for them to be part of our live event.
FAQ & General Info
General questions about Festival weekend?
Visit our General Information and FAQ’s page!
