Brigadoon at Bundanoon – Highland Gathering
The Southern Highlands of NSW is located approximately 122km south west of Sydney.
It is a very picturesque area and a popular location for Sydney siders and tourists. The area is well known for its exhibitions, cultural festivals, art and music festivals, museums, village markets, historical properties and their beautiful gardens, to name but a few.
Well-known towns and villages in the area are Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, Robertson and Berrima.
Highland Gathering
For many, especially those with Scottish heritage, the Southern Highlands of NSW bears a likeness to the Scottish Highlands.
Brigadoon at Bundanoon
On one day in April each year, the village of Bundanoon is transformed into the mythical Scottish village of Brigadoon. According to legend, Brigadoon is invisible to all except for one day every 100 years and provides those who visit with enchancement, joy, happiness and much celebration.
Thanks to the Brigadoon Bundanoon Highlands Gathering, the legend of Brigadoon is kept alive but instead of waiting one hundred years, the festivities can be experience in April every year. This Scottish festival includes large street and oval band parades, highland games including Tartan Warriors sword fighting and caber tossing. There’s a stone-lifting competition (Clach Cuid Fir, where males attempt to lift a stone weighing in excess of 45.3kg to a predetermined height), massed bag pipe bands, Scottish dancing such as Highland dancing and Scottish country dance, dog obedience demonstrations and the opportunity to sample Scottish cuisine. Think Scottish pies and the famous haggis! The day ends with the Brigadoon Ceilidh a traditional Gaelic social gathering that includes traditional Scottish foods, Gaelic folk music and dancing.
Clan gathering
The Brigadoon Bundanoon Highland Gathering is in its 38th year and has developed into the largest Scottish Festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The Gathering commences each year at 0930 with a parade through the streets of Bundanoon. The parade consists of around 20 pipe bands, decorated floats and marching Clan members.
From its humble beginnings 38 years ago, between 12,000 and 16,000 people from overseas and throughout Australia now make the annual pilgrimage to Bundanoon to attend this world class Scottish Highland Gathering.
