General News
31 December, 2024
Maryborough to ring in the New Year in tradition with 162nd Highland Gathering
The celebration that continues to stand the test of time will once again embrace a new year as tomorrow’s 162nd annual Highland Gathering is set to be a blockbuster.
What started as multiple Scottish settlers wanting to bring their new year festivities to their adopted home has since transformed into an enthralling extravaganza of sports, showmanship and spectacle.
Thousands of keen spectators, athletes, and entertainers are expected to converge on Princes Park tomorrow to create a tantalising prelude to 2025.
Forecasts have predicted a picturesque day with temperatures reaching around 27 degrees and not a cloud in sight, which has certainly not dampened excitement for Maryborough Highland Society sports secretary Nick Weaver.
“Everything is coming together really well, we have got a great committee who help out with getting things organised,” he said.
“It’s great for our community, it’s been another good year getting sponsors and partnerships involved as well.
“We are really looking forward to it and hopefully the weather will be kind to us this year.”
The 162nd annual event will include much of what visitors have come to expect from the celebrations, opening with the iconic High Street parade which will commence at 10 am this year.
Other events, such as highland dancing, the Girl on the Drum spectacular, concerts and carnival rides will all be capped off by a closing fireworks display at 9.30 pm.
Pipe Band, strongman and strongwoman, and athletic competitions will coincide with the stuffed entertainment program, headlined by the $15,000 Max Martin Memorial Maryborough Gift.
With nine Pipe Bands and over 600 athletes participating, Mr Weaver expects this year’s events to be the most competitive in recent memory.
“The strongman and strong-women’s events are really strong this year, the fields for the racing are up by 10-15 percent than previous years which is fantastic for the event as well,” he said.
“A highlight for me each year is our gift, our gift is pretty awesome, our girl on the drum is amazing, she’s another highlight of the day and everyone comes down to see her.”
Since its formation in 1857, the community has ensured the event became synonymous with Maryborough, according to Mr Weaver.
“It’s amazing to see the community embrace it each year,” he said.
“We have our New Year’s Eve party at the Highland Society with the pipes and everything else so all the Scottish traditional themes come out in these few days which is great.
“It has a really high level of nostalgia — it’s part of the culture, the history of Maryborough and people come from all over Australia just to come and see and compete in it.”
The Maryborough Highland Gathering commences at 10 am with the High Street parade, followed by highland dancing competitions at 12.30 pm, pipe band performances at 1.08 and 2.38, Girl on the Drum scheduled for 4.03, heavy stones final at 4.50 and the Women’s and Men’s gifts at 5.44 and 5.54 to be held at Princes Park.
The evening concert will get set to entertain at 7 pm, with the 9.30 pm firework display closing proceedings.
Tickets to enter Princes Park tomorrow are $18 for adults and $10 for seniors with free entry for children under 16.
For more information and to view this year’s timetable, visit highlandsociety.com.au/highland-gathering
