Celebrate New Year’s Day at action-aplenty Highland Gathering

MARYBOROUGH’S Princes Park will be packed to the hilt on New Year’s Day with the action-packed 163rd Maryborough Highland Gathering due to unfold.

First held in 1857 by Scottish settlers seeking to re-create the festive spirit of their homeland, it remains a vibrant showcase of Scottish heritage, athletics, music and dance, drawing thousands of visitors from across Australia every year.

Highlights include the prestigious $15,000 Max Martin Memorial Maryborough Gift and Glenn Hooper Ladies Gift sprint races, Highland dancing featuring competitors of all ages, traditional Highland Games and strongman events, family entertainment, and a free evening concert and fireworks to close the day.

Nick Weaver, sports secretary of event organiser the Maryborough Highland Society, said this year will be particularly memorable as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Girl on the Drum Ceremony.

“That was (first) seen and performed in Aberdeen in 1960 and here in 1976,” he said.

“We’ve got all the ladies who’ve performed on the drum coming back on the day – there’s been 13 of them so far.

“It’s part of the history here.”

Mr Weaver promised that, as always, there’ll be “something for everybody” to celebrate the new year.

“We’ve tried to change things up over the years and it just seems to keep on growing and growing,” he said.

“It’s a day where you can just come on down to Princes Park – we’ve got the grandstand there, all the big trees and you can find some shade in the grassy area.

“It’s going to be a really great carnival atmosphere and there isn’t a minute where there isn’t something on.”

The 163rd Maryborough Highland Gathering takes place on 1 January 2026 at Princes Park, Lake Road Maryborough – a comfortable one-hour’s drive from Bendigo.

Find out more on the Maryborough Highland Society website.