At the 2024 Highland Gathering we extended our entertainment program with the addition of four new events.  Two of the new events were dog sport displays – one by the Canberra Sled Dog club and the other by the Tuggeranong Dog Training Club who presented a flyball demonstration.  We also added a one hour soccer skills session conducted by the Canberra Burns Club Football Club, as well as a traditional Scottish Kilted Dash event involving a sprint over a 60 metre course for those dressed with some tartan attire.  These events proved to be very popular and complimented our traditional events which include two massed pipes and drums displays, numerous individual pipe band displays, a highland dancing championships event, a solo piping and drumming competition, and the impressive Kilted Warriors demonstrating traditional Scottish heavy athletics events.

These events will once again be on display at our 2025 Highland Gathering.  However this year we are very excited to be offering yet another new event – the National Town Crier Championships. This will be the first time in the 36-year history of the event that it has been hosted in Canberra.  We are excited about this addition to our program, and we look forward to hosting 10 or more town criers from all around the country. Commencing at 11.00am, this is sure to be a highly entertaining event!

The program of events commences at 9am and concludes around 5pm with a massed pipes and drums display.  In addition to the entertainment program, there will multiple food and drinks vendors, market stalls and Scottish goods specialist vendors, and upwards of 10 Scottish Clan tents.

The Canberra College of Piping & Drumming will host an information tent for those who are interested in learning a pipe band instrument.  Bentspoke Brewing Company – a Canberra based group – will also be on hand to provide refreshing ales, and Capital Honda will have a number of their beautiful cars on display for inspection throughout the day.

Once the daytime events are complete, the celebration of Scottish culture extends into the evening with a traditional Scottish Ceilidh night commencing at 7.30pm at the Canberra Burns Club (directly opposite the oval where the Gathering is being held).  Entertainment throughout the evening by “Humbug” – an outstanding local celtic folk group – supported by some impromptu piping, drumming & dancing.     

Full details of the day’s events can be viewed via our online program which can be accessed via the “Programme” tab on this website.