It’s going to be a stellar line-up for Hogman-eh! the Scottish Society of Ottawa’s (SSO) grand New Year’s Party and the start of the OttScot Festival. Headlining the biggest New Year’s Party in Ottawa are the Celtic-Rock band The Mudmen. The Mudmen are a blast of Celtic energy whose members are known to be characters both on and off the stage. Their music has been featured on Xbox and PlayStation games, NBC’s television show “Black Donnellys,” as well as appearances on CBC, HBO and Coach’s Corner.
Also appearing are, Ottawa Caledonian Pipes and Drums, The County Lads out of Glengarry, the Ottawa Valley favourites, Searson, and the Cape Breton powerhouse, Còig. It’s going to be the best New Year’s Party in Ottawa at the Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park.
Hogman-eh! gets started at 5:00pm with the focus on the wee ones with the GREAT SCOT! KidsZone. “We put a great deal of emphasis on our GREAT SCOT! KidsZone program,” said Perry McConnell, SSO’s Executive Director. “In the Horticulture Building, there will be Highland and Ceilidh dancing, face painting, balloon twisting, crafts, family fun and some surprises. Then at 6:50 pm, there’s a pied-piper lead march from the Horticulture Building to the Aberdeen Pavilion to the stage where the wee ones can enjoy a countdown to midnight in Scotland and massive balloon-drop.”
New this year is a partnership with the Ottawa Food Band, and donations of non-perishable food and will be accepted. Embrace your inner Scot and join the festivities, to enjoy music, a wee dram of whisky, Scottish food and drink, and watch the fireworks. A VIP Experience is available, at a reasonable cost.
The main stage lineup gets started at 6:30 pm going through until midnight and the singing of Auld Lang Syne and the impressive fireworks display over the Great Lawn.
Hogman-eh! is the kick-off to the OttScot Festival. Mayor Jim Watson will proclaim January as Scottish Month in Ottawa, which includes Hogman-eh! a star Gala Burns Supper and Ceilidh with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on January 19, and the Great Canadian Kilt Skate on January 26, with lots of other events in between.
Of special pride to SSO Chair, George Brown, will be the display of a family heirloom, a set of Great Highland Bagpipes that are at minimum 200 years old and possibly, if you believe the family legend, 270+ years! Currently held at the prestigious Canadian College of Piping in Summerside, P.E.I., this artifact will be on display during the month of January. “These pipes were rumored to be played at Culloden in 1746, and my ancestor, John Brown acquired them in 1816. He states that he piped at the laying of the cornerstone of the first Canadian Parliament buildings in 1860 during the dedication by the Prince of Wales. I am so pleased that this piece of Scottish heritage will make its way to Ottawa for the OttScot Festival.”
The SSO can offer a free New Year’s event to the people of Ottawa thanks to the generosity of its sponsors, led by TD Bank and The Scottish Government. For more information on the “Hogman-eh!” lineup and upcoming events: ottscot.ca.
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