The event manager with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games is calling last weekend’s events “phenomenal.”
And although final figures are yet to be tabulated, Bruce Lloyd said he expects the proceeds from the Aug. 9 to 11 festival will secure its future.
“It’s shaping up to be an absolutely great year for us; for the board and management to say we made the best decision,” Lloyd said of bringing back the festival this year amid concerns that financial difficulties could end the games’ 68-year tradition.
“I cannot believe the crowds. We ran out of wrist bands on Saturday,” he added.
Saturday was particularly busy, with parking around the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex full, prompting organizers to find parking at the high school to the north, in addition to the nearby Spicer property and at two churches and a public school. The extended parking resulted in organizers having to bring in buses to shuttle visitors.
“The weather was definitely the number one driver,” Lloyd said of the sunshine and warm temperatures that dominated the four days, including on Aug. 8 for the parade.
Lloyd said he also noticed more local people attended as a show of support for their community and the festival, which also offered events spread out throughout Fergus’ downtown.
“We had more people come locally this year and that’s a good thing,” said Lloyd.
Venues throughout the festival and inside the Sportsplex were full and vendors experienced strong sales. Lloyd said moving the clan exhibits close to the games field saw more visitors to those exhibits.
At the official opening at around noon on Saturday the bleachers were full of spectators out to see the festival pageantry and hear the music.
Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj welcomed the crowds and congratulated the festival board and its volunteers in preparing and staging the event.
“We have many volunteers who work tremendously through the year under the direction of the board to put together this celebration,” she told the overflowing crowd.
Honourary chieftain Angela Cameron also acknowledged her pride in the festival that her husband, John Allan Cameron, who died in 2011, supported and for which he was a chieftain for almost 30 years.
“I’m honoured and privileged to be your first female honourary chieftain,” Angela Cameron told the crowd.
A tribute was also made to Byron (Barney) Beirnes at the official opening ceremonies.
Beirnes was a member of the Fergus Legion for over 40 years, serving in a variety of roles, in addition to his contributions to the festival. Thursday’s Legion-sponsored parade was named in his honour.
Events were also spread out throughout Fergus’ downtown.
An attempt to set a Guinness World Record at the tattoo on Aug. 9 may have fallen just short of the mark. The intent was to set a world record of 50 cabers being tossed simultaneously at a festival, but the attempt scored 49 cabers tossed.
John Jans, a festival competitor and vice president, said organizers will send the result to Guinness to officially determine whether a record was set.
“We may have a record anyway,” Jans said.
The good weather and the event’s reputation also drew first-timers to the games.
Liz Beattie came with her family from St. Catharines to take in the festival and let her children take part in some of the exhibits.
“We’ve never been here before so we came up for the day,” Beattie said. “It’s amazing.”
Toronto resident Nancy Irwin also made the trek to the festival after having planned to attend in previous years.
“I’ve wanted to come here for years, but I’ve always missed it,” she said.
Irwin took the opportunity to try the hammer used in competition.
“It’s a lot heavier than it looks,” she said, after learning from Jans a bit about its past and use in competition.
For Lynn Middleton it was her 11th time at the games. She expected Saturday’s turnout would secure the games into the future.
“It’s tradition,” she said.
Lloyd said he expects competition results will be posted at the Fergus Scottish Festival website later his month.
