Hogman-EH! 2024
This year’s Scottish Festival in Ottawa promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full range of activities to suit all tastes. The highlight of the season is Ottawa’s take on the famous Scottish New Year celebration – Hogmanay - which we’ve taken the liberty to re-name to add a little Canadian flair: Hogman-EH! This fantastic event features good food and entertainment from the great land of Caledonia. Come prepared to enjoy Scottish-themed music, dance, food, and drink.
As mentioned in the Chair’s report, we have a new venue this year in Ottawa, and below, our organizers James Coughlan and Donald Macdonald have outlined some of the things you’ll enjoy when you join us at the Infinity Centre.
A Scottish-Style New Year’s Eve in Ottawa: The food, the entertainment and more!
By Donald Macdonald
The Scottish Society of Ottawa is definitely proud to present its 13th annual Hogman-EH!, or Scottish New Year’s Eve, the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Ottawa and the largest celebration of its kind outside of Scotland!
As you’ve already gathered, Hogman-EH! is a fun, family-friendly celebration for all ages and backgrounds. Dress is informal but be sure to wear your tartan if you have it.
LOBBY - HALL OF ORIGINS with the Celtic Kitchen Session: Free Admission all Afternoon
2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
In our “Hall of Origins” you will learn about Scottish history and your own clan’s origins. Chat with representatives of Ardbrae Scottish Country Dance, Food Historians, and Almonte Celtfest! Enjoy coffee and a Maverick’s donut while you enjoy music by The Celtic Kitchen Session Musicians (2:30 pm to 5:00 pm) led by Ottawa musician Kevin Dooley. The “kitchen session”, a cornerstone of Celtic culture, is an inter-generational meeting where music and poetry are shared in kitchens and often in pubs.
MAIN HALL EVENTS
4:30 pm to 1:00 am
The doors to the Main Hall (from the Lobby) open at 4:30 pm. VIP ticket holders will enjoy reserved seating in proximity to the stage and have an option of purchasing a delicious three course buffet meal from the Infinity Centre’s kitchen. By popular demand, Dhruvees Restaurant is offering both international cuisine and traditional Scottish delicacies.
The Scots know a thing or two about whisky. The SSO Hogman-EH! Whisky Bar will have three levels of single malt scotch available. Not sure which one to try? Ask one of our expert Whisky Ambassadors to provide guidance on our SSO-curated finest. The Infinity Centre’s Bar will have a great selection of other beverages, including Scottish beer!
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
We work hard to make Hogman-EH! a family event with special programming for the kids. There will be a “Kid’s Zone” offering age-appropriate activities for your young ones. Please note that children under 12 are offered free admission.
The Ottawa Highland Dance Association (OHDA) represents all the highland dance schools of the region. A selection of their students and teachers will be giving dance demonstrations.
Enjoy some romantic ballads and songs of Scotland. At 5:00 pm, Baritone John Young returns to Hogman-EH! this year and will kick off the evening singing many of your Scottish favourites. John is accompanied on keyboard by Dr. James Wright, professor of Music at Carleton University.
You’ve got to see and hear Ernie Fraser and Cape Breton Square Sets. At 6:20 pm and 10:00 pm, Cape Breton Fiddler Ernie Fraser and friends will wow you with the Down East /Scottish Canadian slow airs, jigs and reels. Ernie Fraser is a professional fiddler and guitarist from Cape Breton Island and a master of Celtic, Blues R&B, and Jazz. He recorded his first CD in 2017 entitled Cape Breton Tributes. Ernie is joined by Marietta Fraser on piano, guitar, and banjo, and by Diane Fraser on bodhran and vocals.
Many Scottish dance traditions were brought to Canada. For example, Cape Breton regularly holds Celtic Square Dances in Parish Halls and Recreation Centres around the Island. Grab a partner and join the guided Cape Breton Square Sets with expert caller Beth MacGillivray. All ages and skill levels are welcome!
And who hasn’t heard of the fantastic RCAF Pipes and Drums and RCAF Dancers? The Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, a Regular Force volunteer support band, will be joined by the graceful RCAF Dancers. This band is celebrating its 75th and the RCAF itself its 100th anniversary this year. Happy Birthday RCAF!
RCAF Pipes & Drums, and Dancers
The highlight of the night is always the combination of the “New Year’s in Scotland” Countdown, Balloon Drop and Highland Fling.
Our traditional balloon drop happens at 7:00 pm (midnight in Scotland) will be followed by the stirring sounds of the RCAF Pipes and Drums and a massed highland fling featuring the Ottawa Highland Dance Associations dancers.
ON THE MAIN STAGE
Brandy ‘n’ Port
7:15 pm
The party continues through the evening with music by one of Ottawa’s favourite Celtic bands. Brandy ‘n’ Port is well known in Irish pubs and Highland Games around the region. Their perennial success can be attributed to consistently providing energetic and quality performances. Brandy ‘n’ Port is bound to please with their traditional ballads and covers of many folk-rock hits.
Devil’s Brigade
8:00 pm and 11:00 pm
We are excited to have the internationally acclaimed Devil’s Brigade return to Hogman-EH! as our headliner. This world-class 7-member band, (formerly known as the American Rogues), boasts both Canadian and American roots – hence their new name that pays homage to the famed multinational WWII commando unit. Their blistering “bagpipe rock” will take us all the way to 1:00 am January 1, 2025!
New Year’s Countdown and Auld Lang Syne
11:59:59 pm
What Scottish Hogman-EH! would be complete without the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”? We will invite everyone to join in the singing of this anthem of peace and unity as we welcome in 2025. Let’s cross hands – and paths – with you at the 2024 edition of Hogman-EH! at the Infinity Convention Centre!
A gleaming new location! And lots of parking.
Infinity Centre Ottawa
By James Coughlan
As most of you know by now, Hogman-EH! had to find a new location this year, because Lansdowne was not available, due to the World Junior Hockey Tournament. While we may be sad to leave downtown and to say goodbye to the Aberdeen Pavilion for now, the beauty of our new location more than makes up for it. Come and kick up you heels at the Ottawa Infinity Centre this year!
You will notice the first advantage of our new location even before you enter the building: the abundance of free parking! If the parking lot gets full, not to worry - the hotels beside and behind the centre are owned by the same company, and anyone attending an event at the Infinity Centre can park in the hotel parking lots. There is also parking on the street, and, if all else fails, at the Park and Fly lot right next door (fees would apply).
The next advantage of the Infinity Centre: it is a heated building. You will be able to take off your bulky coat and leave it at the coat check.
The centre is served by four city bus routes: 90, 92, 96 and 99. Each of these routes can be accessed from an LRT station. Naturally, we strongly recommend that you confirm schedules on December 31st using OC Transpo’s Route Planner. And of course, OC Transpo offers free transport on New Year’s Eve after 6 pm! Get home safely after you celebrate. To quote OC Transpo: ”Transit is the best way to travel to festivities downtown and across the city. Skip the search for parking and let us do the driving.”
If you do drive to Hogman-EH!, please drink responsibly or have a designated driver. Alternatively, you could reserve a comfy room in one of the hotels beside the Infinity Centre, have a great night out and drive refreshed and sober the next day.
Please see our website at ottscot.ca for all details of the program and to buy your tickets. Looking forward to seeing you there!