Big Turnout for Fergus Skate

In the verdant farmland of western Ontario, the Fergus Scottish Festival is well known for its Highland Games each summer. But since 2020 the FSF has also been renowned for its winter activities: the Wellington County edition of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate.

And once again this year, the Scots — and the Scots at heart — showed up in great numbers at the Centre Wellington Sportsplex. This year’s Great Canadian Kilt Skate was on Sunday, February 25.

The people of Fergus and environs skate with great enthusiasm. Have a look at their video…

Elizabeth Bender, the FSF’s Executive Director reports, “We had a jam-packed schedule for the hour-and-a-half event. First, as people arrived, we had the Blue Bonnet Lassies School of Highland Dance perform in the arena lobby. Then, we had the Fergus Pipe Band serenade everyone as they laced up their skates and took to the ice.”

As ever, a Great Canadian Kilt Skate is fun for the whole family. And in Fergus, even the kids were able to take part in the pipes and drums entertainment.

“And of course we had delicious shortbread from Sheena's Scottish Shortbread,” Elizabeth continues, “and hot chocolate, and FSF kilt skate transfers that produced temporary tattoos, and a drawbox to win weekend passes to the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games in August!.”

Some skaters were only just learning how to stay upright on their skates. Others appeared to be quite comfortable on their blades.

The musical entertainment in Fergus included a rink-side ceilidh.

“A wonderful local band, Crowded Table, performed in the Home team’s box,” says Elizabeth.

Typically, a Fergus kilt skate stands out for the number of flags on hand.

And there are many different flags to chose from.

Everyone likes to get into the act.

Age doesn’t matter: with a flag in your hand and your skates on your feet, the years fall away and we can all be children again.

“We estimate attendance at a few hundred people,” says Elizabeth. “Over half had their kilts on or were tartaned up in some way or another. We even had someone with tartan skate covers - pretty creative.”

Elizabeth notes, “We would like to thank the Township of Centre Wellington for their support, as well as Sheena's Scottish Shortbread, the Fergus Pipe Band, the Blue Bonnet Lassies School of Highland Dance, and Crowded Table. Also Bill Longshaw from the Wellington Advertiser who came to capture the event.”

Elizabeth would also like to remind people that tickets are now available for the Fergus Scottish Festival, August 9-11, 2024: https://fergusscottishfestival.com/tickets/ 

“Many thanks to our wonderful volunteer crew who helped make the whole thing happen! Setup, flag-bearers, hot chocolate & cookies crew, and takedown. We have an amazing team. “

Thanks to Anna Ricketts and Elizabeth Bender for wonderful photos. And congratulations to Elizabeth and her team for another brilliant kilt skate.