Orillia Travel: 2017 Scottish Festival in Orillia

Part of the Mass Bands event at the opening of the Orillia Scottish Festival in 2015

2015 Orillia Scottish Festival

Time to get ready for the Orillia Scottish Festival, coming up this weekend (see the Packet) - July 14th to 16th at Couchiching Beach Park. A yearly event that just about everyone loves.

Vendor at the Scottish Festival for Paddle boards and kayaks, on display at Couchiching Beach Park

The park area will have lots of vendors, people and pets wandering the grounds, and probably lots of plaid (everywhere, not just on the participants). The parade down the main street of Orillia on Saturday starts at noon, the park beer tent opens from 11-6, and the weekend events run from Friday (the dance is not free, see below for more information) to Sunday. We haven't had the best summer weather this year, so let's all wish for a sunny, warm and perfect summer weekend for this event. It often brings the most people to town and there is nothing worse than thousands of folks trying to duck the rain drops (or .... thousands of open umbrellas in the park - very hard to see anything, and harder still not to accidentally poke someone).

This is always a fun event (loud too, so anyone with sensitive ears may want to bring along a little protection for the ears) - also, if you have pets, make sure they don't mind lots of crowds, other animals, and noise. If they do, it may be best not to bring them into the park.

The colour guard in the parade for the 2015 Orillia Scottish Festival.

2015 Scottish Festival

While the park event and parade are free to the public, it does cost the committee a lot of time and effort, and yes, money to put on the event. If you've attended before, and love this weekend of the year ... well, it wouldn't hurt to support them by purchasing a Festival button (or 2 or 3) for the huge sum of $2.00 ... would it? Dig into those pockets and help support your love of all things Scottish (even if you aren't ... Scottish that is)! There aren't many places you can go where it only costs $2 for a weekend long ticket!

You can download a pdf of their program for the weekend on the scottishfestival.ca website, or from right this link: 2017 Scottish Festival .

And here's a wonderful surprise for the Scots in Orillia - it looks like Orillia now has their own Tartan - doesn't appear to be available as a kilt, but currently as ties, scarves and blankets. See the Scottish Festival website for a view of the tartan and ordering information.

For tickets to the Ceilidh Dance at the Legion (Friday night) see the Legion's Ceilidh Dance page.

A few more pictures from the 2015 Scottish Festival (I didn't get to the 2016 Festival, but hope to this year.)