This gathering of clans and plenty hundreds of people who may not even have any Scottish ancestry is a wonderful day for all who come to participate or simply observe.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and you don’t even have to be Scottish.

The day begins as the mist starts to rise at dawn and the town of Bundanoon becomes Brigadoon for a day.

Even the railway station sign changes are changed to Brigadoon.

The main street is closed and there is a bustle of activity as people prepare for the big parade.

Thousands of visitors from all over Australia as well as many from overseas are making their way to Brigadoon for this one special day of the year.

The Parade begins at 9.30 am.

Thousands line the streets as hundreds of pipes and drum, over 20 bands in all, colourful floats and displays, marchers, vintage cars, and service and community vehicles make their way to the grounds for the games.

Tickets are available at the gates, with the profits from their sale contributing to many worthwhile charities and community causes in the Bundanoon area.

Free car parking is available adjacent to the grounds.

Take the western road over “Brigadoon Bridge” along the railway line as you approach from Moss Vale, or the bridge near the Old Gasthof if approaching from Penrose.

A Courtesy Bus operates from the town centre to Brigadoon throughout the day. After the bands have arrived, the first of the massed band displays for the day takes place.

Up to 300 pipers and drummers regularly perform every year at Brigadoon.

With carefully maneuvered patterns of marchers, the flourishes of the drum majors, and the heavenly sound of the pipes receding, advancing, and reverberating around the glen, you don’t need to be Scottish to feel the thrill of the occasion.

At 10.30 a.m., the Official Opening ceremony takes place, and the Chieftain of the Day is introduced.

The Chieftain of the Day is usually an eminent clan leader from Australia, or Scotland, or elsewhere in the world.

Chieftain for the 38th gathering is Norman Alexander Macdonald, High Commissioner Clan Donald Australia.

Norman was born on September 19, 1954, and raised in South Kingsville in the south western suburbs of Melbourne and has spent most of his life involved in Scottish past times.

After the flag raising ceremony and national anthems the games begin.

The next event of the day is a massed demonstration of Scottish Country Dancing.

There are other displays of Country Dancing during the day, and also of Highland Dancing - (familiar as the Highland Fling, although there are two other forms, the Sword dance, and the Seann Triubhais).

Highland Dancing is essentially solo dancing, and takes great skill on the part of the dancer.

Part of the fun of the day comes from watching, or preferably participating in, the various Highland Games and other activities. All participants are welcome - from wee bairns to the older lads and lassies.

For the bairns there is the Bonnie Bairns Highland Dress Competition - prizes for the best kilt, dress, trews - or any baby or toddler wearing something otherwise vaguely Scots!

For those wishing to get back to nature, there is the Hay Toss - where you stand, with your back to a type of ‘high jump’ bar with a bale of hay on the end of a pitchfork, and attempt to throw it as far over the bar as you can.

Try your hand at the shot putt - with categories for open and junior male and female.

If you get tired of sitting and watching, you might join in the kilted dash - a running race for males and females in open,high school or primary school categories: you don’t need to wear a kilt, but you must wear something tartan!

There are plenty of other challenges from egg throwing and catching to tossing the caber and throwing Fergie pins.

Towards the end of the day is the Brigadoon Heavy Challenge by Invitation only.

This year the Brigadoon Challenge will consist of three events, the heavyweight caber, tossing the weight over the bar for height, and weight and throwing the weight for distance.

There are enough activities to keep you busy and entertained at Brigadoon throughout the day, including the solo fiddler, kennel club, highland cattle displays, choirs and other performers. 

There are dozens of food stalls serving food including devonshire teas and coffee, barbecue sausages and steaks, hot potatoes, pancakes, snacks, cakes, ice creams, lollies, and drinks. Don’t miss out on the highland delicacies such as Scots pies, haggis, blood pudding, square sausage, and the famous Scottish Shortbread.

There are lots of other stalls with Caledonian souvenirs and goods, jams and preserves, clothing, arts and crafts, and information tents.

The grounds are well served on the day with seats overlooking the arena, places to picnic - with tables and chairs, and toilet facilities.

See: http://www.brigadoon.net.au/ for more details.