Geelong Highland Gathering
The 53rd continuous Geelong Highland Gathering, will be held at Queens Park, on the second Sunday Sunday in March, 2009 - Sunday, March 8 - and once again will host the Victorian Pipe Band Championships.
The Gathering, Victoria's largest celebration of Scottish culture, because of the current world economic crisis, will maintain entry fees at the level of the last four years.
The gathering is a colourful celebration of all things Scottish, with kilts and tartans everywhere, but people of all ethnic backgrounds have traditionally joined in the fun, which includes Highland and Scottish Country dancing, Scottish Heavy Games, including the popular caber-tossing, Scottish folk music and a faire and market.
The first gathering in Geelong was in 1857, and its badge included a Highlander in full regalia and an Aboriginal warrior, perhaps an early sign of reconciliation.
This event was discontinued in the Depression years but resumed in 1957 at its present home at Queens Park.
The gathering in 2008 was granted Geelong Major Event status and funding to expand its activities by the City of Greater Geelong. It attracts more than 6000 people annually, many from elsewhere in Victoria as well as from other parts of Australia and overseas.
As well as all the traditional Scottish attractions, the Gathering has grown to embrace archery, wood-chopping competitions, children's activities, and a farmyard for small children and displays by a Scottish military re-enactment group, the 42nd Highlanders. Most activities continue throughout the day, so there is much to keep visitors interested.
There are clan tents where people can check their Scottish genealogy and heritage.
The Gathering is deliberately oriented toward families, with barbecue and picnic facilities available, novelty haggis hurling for all ages and access for disabled to most areas, depending on the weather.
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