Ottawa, Ontario, is the Capital of Canada and a vibrant city with over a million residents. You’ll discover a diverse and welcoming populace that takes great pride in the community. The area has a storied history that is on display through a series of beautiful museums, historic buildings, and landmarks. The outdoor activities are another main draw for visitors. Regardless of the season, Ottawa has plenty of things to do outside. The city embodies a unique fusion of an urban setting, blended with the majestic wilderness on its outskirts. From cross-country skiing to skydiving, there is just about any outdoor activity you can dream of here. If the indoors are more your speed, Ottawa will deliver with many boutique shops, live entertainment venues, dining options, casinos and so much more. The Ottawa metropolitan area also embodies an energetic culture and creative community. This isn’t more evident than in the number of art galleries, art museums, and arts shows, that feature a wide variety of artistic disciplines and unique works. If you're in the market for a fun festival or event, you're in the right place. A relatively new and extremely fun event making waves in Ottawa is the one-of-a-kind Hogmanay celebration, put on by The Scottish Society of Ottawa to ring in the new year.
Entering its fourth year, Hogmanay attracts close to 10,000 people into Ottawa to celebrate the new year with a Scottish flair. Designed and structured after Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in Scotland, Hogmanay is the closest thing to celebrating the New Year across the pond that you’ll find in all of North America. It’s also a great event for the entire family. They have many activities for children including face painting, balloon twisting, coloring, crafts and much more. As the night progresses and the kids go to bed, adults will enjoy whisky tasting and dancing until the clock strikes midnight, and then some. All will love the live Scottish music and the various food vendors selling delicious treats and meals. It's all topped off with a spectacular fireworks show at TD Lansdowne Park. Bring the family and celebrate like you're in Edinburgh at Ottawa’s very own Hogmanay New Year’s Eve Party. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportunity to interview Board Secetary of the Scottish Society of Ottawa, Heather Theoret, to talk about Hogmanay.
RAL: Tell me a bit about the event.
HT: We at the Scottish Society of Ottawa invite you to ring in 2016 in a traditional Scottish manner with an indoor/outdoor New Year’s Eve Hogmanay Party. Our aim is to replicate the excitement of Edinburgh’s world famous Royal Mile as the clock strikes midnight and we enter the New Year. This family-friendly shindig will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary Scottish music, dancing, and even Scotch tasting sessions for the adults in attendance. You’ll also enjoy the Scottish food and drink, outdoor skating, and a fireworks display at midnight. We offer two New Year’s Eve Countdowns! Children’s events take place in the Horticulture Building early in the evening, followed by a true Scottish New Year Countdown taking place at 7:00 pm Ottawa time. There will be balloons and Auld Lang Syne. Then the party continues until we count down again at midnight local time. Two parties for the price of one; come join us!
RAL: How many people do you draw to the event and who are they demographically?
HT: We draw approximately 10,000 people to the event with a wide variety of audiences as programming changes over the course of the evening. Families with children are prevalent during the first part of the evening and are replaced by mostly adults and young couples as we near the midnight countdown.
RAL: What makes Hogmanay unique?
HT: It’s a Scottish-style New Year’s Eve celebration open to the entire community. And it’s free! You won't find a New Year's Eve celebration like this one anywhere else in the region.
RAL: Take me through a day at the event.
HT: Here is a short breakdown of the festivities.
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Live Music in the Aberdeen Pavilion: Bobby Watt and Écosse, The American Rogues, The Start, and the Glengarry Pipe Band. (6:40 pm to midnight)
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Highland dancing in the Aberdeen Pavilion (5:00 pm to 6:30 pm)
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Food court, bar and Scotch whisky tasting in the Aberdeen Pavilion. Plus a VIP package.
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Children’s entertainment in the Great Scot! Kids’ Zone in the Horticulture Building: storytellers, face painters, balloon sculptors, a light juggler and magic show. (5:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
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Midnight fireworks on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
HT: The Lord Elgin Hotel has been a sponsor since our first event. With its rich Scottish history, it’s a natural fit.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
HT: Hogmanay offers a family-friendly free event that’s open to the entire community. It fits in perfectly with the Scottish Society of Ottawa’s mission to better promote an awareness and appreciation of Scottish culture, and its significant contribution to the fabric of Canadian society and identity through widespread public engagement among as many Canadians of all backgrounds as possible.
RAL: Why should people come?
HT: In Scotland, Hogmanay celebrations on New Year’s Eve are the highlight of the festive season. They bring people together to sing and dance and to celebrate new beginnings. Hogmanay in Ottawa is a free, community event open to all to attend. Enjoy the entertainment and festivities as we ring in the New Year with the only downtown fireworks in the nation’s capital!
For more information about Hogmanay, please visit their website.