CENTRE WELLINGTON – Riverfest Elora and the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games have made the Top 100 Ontario Festivals list for 2023.
The list was announced by Festival and Events Ontario (FEO) on Feb. 28 at a gala in Niagara Falls.
“There are countless numbers of festival events in Ontario. It’s nice to be acknowledged as one of the top 100, especially by an organization like FEO,” said Riverfest Elora artistic director Spencer Shewen.
Riverfest’s executive director David Lander added, “It’s nice to be part of like the national fabric of what goes on in this country in terms of festivals, and especially in Ontario as well, it’s really nice to be considered among the top of the folks that are doing it.”
About 600 volunteers help put Riverfest Elora together every year.
“It’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” said Lander.
“And laughs,” Shewen said with a laugh himself, and Lander agreed.
They told the Advertiser the community should watch out for this year’s lineup as they plan to announce it by the end of March.
More information can be found on its social media channels and at riverfestelora.com.
Scottish Festival
Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games executive director Elizabeth Bender told the Advertiser 2023 marks the “sixth or seventh time” the festival has made the Top 100 Ontario Festivals list, “which is pretty exciting for us.”
“We are very happy about it,” she added.
To be named to the list, Bender explained, festivals have to apply and are then judged by a group of peers.
“To know within the festival and event world that they look at us as one of the top, that’s really exciting, and [our] volunteer-run organization makes all of the hard work worth it,” said Bender.
Last year, the Fergus Scottish Festival had a turnout of around 24,000 people, and tickets are now available for the 79th festival this summer (Aug. 9 to 11).
Bender said officials are already planning “an exceptional anniversary celebration” for the 80th anniversary event in 2025.
For tickets and more information, visit fergusscottishfestival.com.
