2026 Featured Guest
John Bell will be joining us this summer at the 81st Fergus Scottish Festival! The Scottish actor is best known for his roles in hit TV series and movies such as young Ian Murray on Outlander, Bain in The Hobbit, Angus in Battleship, Helius in Wrath of the Titans, and many more. We can’t wait to welcome him to Fergus, ON this August!
Tickets sold out. Free events are first come first served!
2026 Featured Guest Schedule
Please note – all Featured Guest events take place on Festival grounds and require Festival admission to attend. Festival admission not included in ticket price.
John Bell will be at the Fergus Scottish Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition to noted events, John will be participating in activities through the Festival grounds so you will have many opportunities to see him and have some unique experiences!
5:30 pm – “Cocktails with John”
Join Outlander star John Bell,“Ian Murray” in the popular Outlander TV series, as we learn how to make two Outlander themed cocktails from the Outlander Cocktail book. Get up close and personal with John and up your cocktail game in this fun and interactive workshop led by The Elora Distilling Company. Guests can bring one item to be autographed and will be able to snap a quick phone/camera picture with John as he interacts with the guests as they create their own Outlandish cocktails to enjoy. Guests must be 19+
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $90 +fees & tax (must also have Friday or weekend Festival admission to attend)
80 tickets available.
10:00 am – Meet and Greet with John Bell
Meet John Bell! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) and autograph, plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $30 +fees & tax (must also have Saturday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
11:00 am – A Conversation with John Bell
An engaging Q&A session with Outlander star John Bell.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: FREE (must have Saturday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
350 seats available - This event is first come, first served.
1:30 pm – Meet and Greet with John Bell
Meet John Bell! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) and autograph, plus get VIP seating for the Q&A session following the meet and greet.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $30 +fees & tax (must also have Saturday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
2:30 pm – A Conversation with John Bell
An engaging Q&A session with Outlander star John Bell.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: FREE (must have Saturday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
350 seats available - This event is first come, first served.
5:00 pm – “A Dram with John”
Join Outlander star John Bell “Ian Murray” as we learn all about 3 Scotch whiskies relevant to the Outlander story. Get some up close and personal interaction with John and gain some whisky knowledge from our host and Whisky Expert. Each guest may bring one item for autograph and obtain one quick phone/camera photo. Charcuterie items will be provided. Slainte mhath! Guests must be 19+
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $100 +fees & tax (must also have Saturday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
10:00 am – Meet and Greet with John Bell
Meet John Bell! Get a photo (bring your camera or phone) and autograph.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $30 +fees & tax (must also have Sunday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
100 tickets available.
11:00 am – Highland Pub Trivia with John Bell
Test your Outlander knowledge in the Highland Pub.
Location: Highland Pub
Price: FREE (must have Sunday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
2:00 pm – “Fraser’s Ridge Ceilidh”
A chance to dance with an Outlander star! Learn some Scottish Country Dancing with John Bell led by The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Tea and sweet treats included. Guests may bring one item for an autograph and snap a quick phone or camera photo with John.
Location: In Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Price: $60 +fees & tax (must also have Sunday or Weekend Festival admission to attend)
50 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.
Due to inflation and 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.
Q&A
The Q&A is free to attend if you have a festival ticket. Admission to the panels is first come, first served.
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. The free panels are first come, first served for seating and there will be no registration ahead of time.
All ages are welcome to attend the Q&A as long as they have their own ticket. A babe in arms does not need a 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/get a spot 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/attend.
The Q&A panels are first come, first served.
All of the featured guest events take place on the festival grounds and thus all attendees need to have festival tickets to attend them. Click here to purchase Festival admission.
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.
Cocktail Class & Whisky Tasting
There will only be one cocktail class with our featured guest on Friday at 5:30pm and one whisky tasting with our featured guest taking place on Saturday at 5:00pm
Whisky and water will be the only beverages served at the whisky tasting. The cocktail classes will include the 2 cocktails and water.
The whiskies have been chosen carefully to represent parts of the Outlander story. They will be revealed during the event.
The whisky tasting and cocktail class take place within the grounds of the Festival and thus you will need a Festival ticket to access the venue. Click here to purchase Festival admission.
The whisky tasting and cocktail class are licensed events and you must be 19 years of age or older and present identification at the door to attend.
"Fraser's Ridge Ceilidh"
Yes! You will be able to bring one piece of paper or book to be signed
Yes, you will be able to take a photo with the Featured Guests.
"Fraser's Ridge Ceilidh" takes place within the grounds of the Festival and thus you will need a Festival ticket to access the venue. Click here to purchase Festival admission.
Tea and sweet treats are included.
Duncan LaCroix Panel
Diana Gabaldon Book Signing
Graham McTavish
Richard Rankin & Charles Vandervaart Panel
Charles Vandervaart in Pipes, Plaid & Pageantry Parade
Maria Doyle Kennedy in Concert
FAQ & General Info
General questions about Festival weekend?
Visit our General Information and FAQ’s page!
