We are excited to announce that the 2023 Canberra Highland Gathering will have more pipe bands and piping and drumming performances than ever before! In response to feedback from attendees who for many years have been asking that we increase the number of pipe band performances, we have decided to make two significant changes to this year’s program. 

The first is that we will replace our usual pipe band competition format with a pipe band performance format.  This means that we will invite up 15 bands to each put on 15–20 minute performance displays which will run throughout the day.  These invited bands will also participate in the opening and closing massed pipes and drums.  The result will be wall to wall pipe bands starting with the opening massed pipes and drums at 10.30am right through to the closing massed pipes and drums at 4.30pm. 

The second change is that for the first time this year we are introducing solo piping and drumming competitions. This is where individual pipers and drummers are asked to play set pieces and compete against their peers at various graded levels.  An opportunity for spectators to witness and listen to the finer nuances of piping and drumming and see how the preparation required to perform solo is quite different to that required for performing in a pipe band. These solo performances will be in front of world class judges we are bringing to Canberra for that weekend.  We expect to have three to four solos event running simultaneously around the ground throughout the day. 

In addition to the piping and drumming performances, there will also be the Canberra City Highland Dancing Championship running throughout the day.  Upwards of 70 dancers from around the country will battle it out across various age groups to win this highly prestigious championship.  Spectators will be able to watch the traditional dances such as the highland fling, the swords, the sean triubhas and the strathspey and reel as well as less well-known dances such as the jig, the sailors hornpipe, the lilt and many more.

Other entertainment during the day will include spectacular displays of strength and athleticism by the Tartan Warriors.  A number of times throughout the day the Warriors will demonstrate traditional Scottish heavy sporting events such as the Caber Toss, Lifting of the Stones and the Atlas Stones.  The National Military Re-Enactment Group and the Rural Fire Brigade will conduct displays throughout the day, and the Canberra College of Piping & Drumming will host an information tent for those who want to try blowing a set of pipes or hit snare drum.   

The changes to the pipe band format will ensure the skirl of the pipes will be drifting and echoing around the neighbourhood and the Tuggeranong Valley for the entirety of the day!  Together with the other events and displays during the day and the Scottish Ceilidh that evening in the Canberra Burns Club, we will have created our own little Scottish village in Canberra for this one day of the year.