Kincardine Scottish Festival honours sponsors at appreciation night

Sponsors of the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games were honoured at the appreciation night held Thursday evening at the Scougall Gallery in downtown Kincardine.

The 16th annual festival runs July 3-5 in Victoria Park and there are lots of changes this year.

The major addition is an East Coast Concert Saturday night, featuring top names Ashley MacIsaac and the Barra MacNeils.

Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, the entertainment line-up includes The Thogs, The Mudmen, Shane Cook with Emily Flack, the Kincardine Fiddle Orchestra, The Ballagh Bunch, and The Gord Watson Pipes and Drums from Edinburgh, Scotland. The Kincardine Community Singers will sing the national anthems at the opening ceremony.

The theme of this year's festival is "Talk Gaelic to Me," so there will be workshops by the Gaelic Society of Toronto, teaching people how to speak the language.

Sunday afternoon's family day will include the popular Clydesdale horses and the "Wee Coos" Highland Cattle from last year, and a demonstration, "All About Wool," as well as children's activities.

Saturday is competition day, with solo piping and drumming, pipe bands, and highland dancing.

New this year, the heavy events will be held at Robinson Park on Russell Street, east of Victoria Park, providing improved conditions for the competitors.

Festival chairman Tony Doherty thanked the sponsors and volunteers for helping to make this event the best yet.

"We can't make this happen without you," he said. "You are an integral part of this organization."

Among the major sponsors are the Municipality of Kincardine, Bruce Power, Rogers TV, myFM Radio, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), The Society of Energy Professionals - Bruce Power Local, CKNX Radio, Bluewater Radio, OLG, Enbridge, Sobeys, Armow Wind, Gr'Andy Gnomes Designs, and the Kincardine Record.

A weekend pass to the festival, including all activities Friday to Sunday except the Saturday night concert, is $35. A VIP weekend pass is $50 and includes the concert. Admission to the Saturday night concert, itself, is $25.

For more information about the festival, check the website at www.kincardinescottishfestival.ca