Tartan Day was the theme celebrated at the Goofie Newfie, Breadalbane Inn, Goose & Gridiron, The Brewhouse, and Stonecreek Tap and Grill recently.
Tartan Day is a celebration of Scotland, its people, its heritage, its history and its culture. From the declaration of Arbroath on April 6, 1320, which triggered the birth of democracy for the people of Scotland, to the contributions made by Scots and the descendants of the Scottish people, it is the reason to celebrate all things Scottish.
Tartan Day was first celebrated in Canada in 2004 and then joined by the United States. It is a new celebration but is getting more popular each year.
Tartan Day in Scotland is a week long celebration with events taking place all over the country starting on?April 6. In North America, Scots and Scottish descendants celebrate proudly by wearing their tartan, sharing in fellowship, Scottish fare, songs and stories and music from their homeland.
With the growing enthusiasm generated by last year’s event, pub owners from around Fergus were eager to become involved again.
The Fergus Scottish Festival found using the tartan day to launch musical acts featured at the coming 2010 Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games worked well, and agreed to coordinate musicians and information on highlights of the festival and provide festival ticket giveaways at each location.
Contests to award those tickets included Scottish trivia, wearing the most tartan, or other ideas.
The venues and performers were: Breadalbane Inn, Bob MacLean; Goose &?Gridiron, David Leask and James McKie; The Brewhouse, Inverness; The Stone Creek, Celtic Powerhouse; and the Goofie Newfie, Fiddlestix Celtic Rock Band.
A special treat for the event was the involvement of 11-year-old fiddler Liam McGlashon, of Hamilton. He was just 6 when he picked up[ the fiddle. At that time, he and his family were living on Prince Edward Island.
McGlashon, who started out playing kitchen parties, conventions, trade shows, and charity fundraisers, progressed to entertaining tourists from around the world when cruise ships came to the island.
His family returned to its native Hamilton, but McGlashon is becoming well known as “the fiddle kid,” studying under Lance Elbeck.
He has performed throughout Ontario, Nova Scotia, and PEI, including Hamilton Place, Copps Colliseum, and the Air Canada Centre.
The Fergus Scottish Festival had McGlashon make his Fergus debut during Tartan Day and looks forward to having him perform at the Fergus Scottish Festival Aug. 13 to 15.
