2026 St. Andrew's Charity Ball

A black-tie celebration of Scottish culture in downtown Toronto The St. Andrew’s Charity Ball is an annual celebration of Scottish-Canadian culture. Attendees have been enjoying this elegant evening of music, dance and cuisine for well over 100 years. Those looking to purchase tables via cheque or e-transfer may send an email to [email protected] for further instructions. A tax receipt for a portion of the ticket proceeds will be issued after the event for purchasers requesting one. The Venue The Fairmont Royal York is located at 100 Front St. West in downtown Toronto. It is home to some of the city’s most sought after event spaces. The first Charity Ball at the Royal York took place in November of 1929. The luxurious new hotel had just opened in June of that year. Entertainment The St. Andrew’s Society hosts the Charity Ball in partnership with 48th Highlanders of Canada. As per tradition, the regiment’s Pipes & Drums will provide all the music for the evening’s dancing. Attendees can also look forward to seeing the Highlandin6 Dancers over the course of the evening. These dynamic young performers always steal the show. Dress Code The Charity Ball is one of the few remaining black-tie events in the city. It is an evening of high fashion with elegant gowns and tartans on attendees of all ages. Some opt for tuxedos in lieu of traditional attire. Those looking to get outfitted for the Ball should contact William Glen & Son . They have a wide variety of tartans, sashes, kilts and other accessories. For over 20 years, they have offered Ball goers a Full Highland Rental for $129 (regular $175). This offer excludes dress shirt and hose. Attendees can review Ball photos from 2023, 2024 and 2025 for a better understanding of the clothing to be worn. Evening Schedule The evening will begin at 6:00pm with a cocktail reception. This will be followed by dinner (including haggis) between 7:00-9:00pm. Guests will retire to the lounge area for drinks and socializing at the dinner’s conclusion. Dancing will begin at 10:00pm after the room is changed over. Festivities will continue until 1:30am. Dinner Menu The 2026 dinner menu will be as follows. A vegetarian meal can be selected as an option during the purchase process. Dietary restrictions can also be noted at that time. • Soup : Wild Mushroom Velouté Mushroom Fricassée, Caramelized Fennel, Porcini Essence – (GF & Vegetarian) • Family style Haggis: Haggis, neeps & tatties • Mains: Roasted Chicken Supreme Sweet Potato Purée, Spinach & Mushroom Fricassé, Heirloom Carrot, Green Beans, Chicken Demi-Glace – (GF & Halal) • Dessert : Flourless 54% Dark Chocolate Cake Flourless Sponge, Chocolate Mousse, Strawberry Compote, Mascarpone Chantilly – (GF) Accommodations Ball attendees must make their own arrangements for overnight stays. A special room rate of $389 per night is available at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Follow this link to check availability. Ticket Options Tickets may be purchased online through Eventbrite. Those looking to purchase tables via cheque or e-transfer may send an email to [email protected] for further instructions. A tax receipt for a portion of the ticket proceeds will be issued after the event for purchasers requesting one. All tickets must be purchased one week before the event in order to help with planning. Sales for dinner packages will close at 11:59pm ET on Saturday, November 14. Cèilidh tickets will remain open until the night of the event. Purchase options include the following. Please note that ticket prices do not include Eventbrite fees. • A Dinner & Dancing Ticket may be purchased for $275. This price will allow one person access to the entire evening. • A Table Package may be purchased for groups of 8, 9 or 10. Price includes a beverage credit for the entire table. • An $80 Cèilidh Ticket is available for those who wish to come after dinner. This ticket is ideal for those who only wish to go to the dancing portion. Ceilidh ticket holders may begin arriving after 9:00PM. Guests that are not part of a full table may request who they would like to sit with at the time of purchase. All seating will be arranged by the Ball Committee. Best efforts will be made to honour requests. Dance Practices A list of all the dances for the night will be provided in the Ball program. Everyone who purchases a ticket for the Charity Ball will be eligible to attend dance practices leading into the event. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, this is a great opportunity to get ready for the Ball. Practices will be held at the following times and locations: • Tuesday, October 27th (8-10pm) – Moss Park Armoury (130 Queen St. East) • Tuesday, November 3rd (8-10pm) – Moss Park Armoury • Saturday, November 7th (3-5pm) – Glenview Presbyterian Church (1 Glenview Ave.) • Tuesday, November 17th (8-10pm) – Moss Park Armoury Order of Dances David Booz from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) will lead the practices. If you can’t make the practices, you can click on the links below to learn each dance at home. Some dances are repeated twice. • The Grand March • The Gay Gordons • Long Live the Queen • Waltz Country Dance • Dashing White Sergeant • Blue Bonnets • Strip the Willow • St. Bernard’s Waltz • The Eightsome Reel • The Borrowdale Exchange • The Military Two-Step • Reel of Tulloch • St. Bernard’s Waltz • Petronella • Strip the Willow • The Flowers of Edinburgh • The Dashing White Sergeant • Waltz Country Dance Contact Us Any Ball related questions can be directed to [email protected] . We look forward to celebrating with you on November 21st.