2014 Geelong Highland Gathering
One of Geelong’s oldest and most popular events the Geelong Highland Gathering will return to Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus grounds for the 2014 event. This event will be staged on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of March, with the main day being Sunday the 2nd. The 2014 Highland Gathering promises to be another fantastic chapter in the events 150 plus year history.
On the Saturday at the smaller and free public event there will be a magnificent solo drumming competition and a few smaller activities and events. The ticketed Sunday event is huge and will see a full program of activities and events celebrating everything Scottish and Celtic.
Around the grounds there will be plenty of clan tents and a bustling market place, here you will find several genealogical displays that are always very popular. There will be some wonderful displays and stalls selling a wide range of Scottish and Celtic items plus some very tasty treats on offer. Be sure to try some of the delicious Scottish delicacies including rich shortbread and gorgeous pastries and if you are a bit more adventurous give the black puddings or haggis a try, they taste much better than they sound.
The Scottish Highland gathering is the premier Scottish event in Victoria and attracts a huge crowd and hundreds of performers and competitors from all reaches of Australia and even overseas, making for a great atmosphere celebrating this part of the world that has embedded itself so strongly in Australia’s culture. The event will have plenty of music and some amazing dance , it will also have many highland game favorites like the wood chopping competition, archery, haggis tossing. The heavy games are also an amazing sight with huge men battling it out in the caber tossing and other strenuous events.
One exciting new event that comes to the Highland Gathering for the first time this year is the Longsword Tournament. This exciting event will feature some 30 swordsmen from both Australia and New Zealand. As well as the Scottish sword events there will be several types of swordsmanship on display at the festival including German, Italian and English.
Two highlights of the day will be the main ceremony, where hundreds of competitors and performers grace the grounds in their beautiful costumes and dance or parade. Not only is it an incredible sight, offset with the striking chords from the pipe bands this ceremony is a must for any visitor to the event. Also not to be missed is the Welcome to the Country Ceremony from members of our Wathaurong community, who will also put on a display of artifacts and perform on on stage.
Be sure to see the magnificent military re-enactments with participants wearing the most stunning uniforms. One favorite is always the reenactment of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of the British Army that regularly attend the festival in their beautiful red jackets and exotic hats and outfit.
Kids will love the fun, with lots for them to see and explore. There will be a children’s farmyard, Scottish dogs, highland cattle and even horses. other fun for them including face painting, a jumping castle and even a rock climbing wall.
For more information visit the Geelong Highland Gathering’s official website at http://www.geelonghighlandgathering.org.au/
