Brigadoon, Bundanoon Highland Gathering

by Toni Bartush (subscribe)

Event: 06/04/2013

For just one Saturday in April, rain or shine, the tiny Southern Highlands village of Bundanoon becomes Brigadoon, celebrating everything Scottish with a festival of massed pipe bands, Highland games and exhibitions. On 6 April 2013 Brigadoon will have its 36th incarnation and some 20,000 people will descend on Bundanoon and its cricket oval to enjoy the largest Highland gathering in the Southern Hemisphere.

Brigadoon has a terrific website where you'll find ticket prices, a list of events and travel information.
Getting to Bundanoon is easy: it's off the Hume Highway, midway between Canberra and Sydney. Trains run to the event all day and if you drive there's parking in marked areas and in the village streets. The oval and nearby streets are blocked off to traffic but once you park or arrive at the station, look for the circulating mini buses that will drop you at the oval gates.

Once you reach the oval you'll find rough seating on the slopes of the ground where you can set up folding chairs. Try for a spot under the trees if it's sunny. Dogs are welcome and there are, in the spirit of country pursuits, dog trials during the day. Dressing up is the norm in kilts or anything tartan. If you want to buy something on the day, part of the oval surrounds are dedicated to seeming endless stalls selling Scottish everything, including clothing.



One of the delights of the day are the massed pipe bands that perform and the Highland games: caber tossing and lifting the Stones of Man are great to watch and seem to be an irresistible magnet to the muscle bound.

One of Brigadoon's problems is feeding visitors, there never seems to be enough in the way of food stalls so be prepared to wait in long queues or BYO.



On the way or once you're done with all things Scottish, visit the neighbouring village of Exeter where its Market will be on from 9am to 3pm offering a less hectic but nonetheless authentic experience with its excellent Market Cafe where you can sit down in peace as well as its wonderful stalls full of local delights.

Exeter Village Market website
Brigadoon website

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When: 6 April 2013

Website: www.brigadoon.net.au

Where: Bundanoon NSW

Cost: Adults $20, children $6, Family (2 adults and accompanying children $45), Concessions $17 (only available to holders of an Age Pension Card which must be shown on request).

Brigadoon 2013 -The Bundanoon Highland Gathering (article)

by Stella Bella on 08/12/2012