Image Credit: Steve Ward
Maclean Highland Gathering: 121 Years of Tartan, Tradition and Riverbank Music
Yaegl Country
For one weekend every year, Maclean doesn’t just nod to its Scottish roots – it throws on the tartan, tunes the pipes and welcomes clans from far and wide.
For over 120 years, the Maclean Highland Gathering is one of Australia’s longest-running Scottish events, proudly organised by the Lower Clarence Scottish Association. Bagpipes echo, kilts swirl, and generations come together for a celebration of heritage, music, sport and community.
The heart of it all beats at the Maclean Showground, where the hilltop grandstand looks straight out over the Clarence River. When the Massed Pipe Bands assemble, more than 200 pipers and drummers playing as one, the sound rolls across the river and back again. It’s loud. It’s stirring. And it’s the kind of moment that stops conversations mid-sentence.
The Highland Gathering takes place the lands of the Yaegl People of the Clarence Valley. We acknowledge their enduring connection to Country and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
When is the Maclean Highland Gathering?
The Maclean Highland Gathering is held each year across Easter Friday and Easter Saturday. The schedule remains much-loved and largely unchanged, which is exactly why visitors come year after year.
Easter Friday | Pipes, Prestige and a proper ceilidh
Solo Pipes & Drums – Maclean Showground from midday
The Clarence River carries the opening notes of the Maclean Highland Gathering. Solo Piping and Drumming competitions set the tone on the river bank, filling the air with skirls and beats in a tradition stretching back to 1893.
Evening – A Grade Piping Gold Medal from 6pm
As night falls, some of Australia’s finest solo pipers compete for the prestigious McSwan Family Gold Medal, tackling demanding classical piping disciplines in an intimate concert setting.
Ceilidh in the Park – McLachlan Park 7pm
Finish the night with a relaxed, family-friendly Street Ceilidh (that’s just a Scottish word for celebration of music, dance and storytelling). Expect pipes and drums, Highland dancers, folk performers and plenty of toe-tapping – all under the stars. Bring a picnic blanket or camp chair, settle in, and enjoy a laid-back night by the Clarence River.
(Gold coin donations apply to Friday events.)
Easter Saturday | The Gathering of the Clans
Pipe Bands on Parade – River Street 8.30am
Get to River Street early as Maclean’s main street comes alive with the colour and thunder of the Pipe Bands on Parade. With most years attracting more than 20 bands from around Australia, it’s loud, proud and impossible to ignore. The parade runs along River Street, starting at John Street and finishing at the Stanley Street roundabout.
(Pipe Bands on Parade is a free event)
Maclean Highland Gathering | Maclean Showground from 9am
This is the heart of it all. Settle in under cover on the hill or wander the arena and stalls as:
- Highland dancers test strength, stamina and grace
- Heavy events deliver thrilling spills and cheers, including the famous caber toss and kilted dash.
- Pipe bands compete across multiple grades
- Clan, craft, food and gift stalls fill the grounds
The day culminates (approx 4pm) in the unforgettable Massed Pipe Band Display with the stunning backdrop of the mighty Clarence River, with hundreds of musicians combining for a spine-tingling finale.
(Gate admission applies)
Evening – International Piping Recital
Close out the Gathering with an intimate recital by a world-class pipe, a fitting final note to a big weekend.
(Gold coin donations apply to Piping Recital)
Find your Tartan Pole
Maclean is famous for its tartan poles with over 200 of them, each representing a Scottish clan. Track down your family connection, or just admire the riot of colours along the streets with the Tartan Pole Map.
No clan? No worries. Feel free to “adopt a pole for the day” and claim it as your own!
While you’re in town, pop into the Maclean Scottish Shop for clan gifts, local stories, and all things tartan, then take a moment to visit the Maclean Scottish Memorial Cairn at the corner of Harwood and Taloumbi Streets.
There’s More To Maclean than Tartan
Maclean’s story goes well beyond kilts and cabers. Give yourself time to wander.
1. Follow the Lower Clarence Aboriginal Tourist Drive
Learn about Yaegl Country through places of cultural, historical and environmental significance. This self-guided drive offers a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. Starting in Maclean this drive will take to Woombah, Yamba and Angourie.
2. Step inside the Maclean District Museum and Stone Cottage
A small museum with big storie, from river trade and early industries to everyday life along the Clarence.
3. Take in the view from Maclean Lookout and the Pinnacles
Head up to the Maclean Lookout and The Pinnacles and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping river and valley views. It’s a place of cultural significance for Yaegl Peoples, with signage that helps visitors understand its importance.
4. Fish, picnic or pause at McLachlan Park
Right on the river and right in town is a perfect spot to cast a line, unpack lunch or recover from a ceilidh.
5. Wander River Street
Shop, browse, snack and stroll your way along Maclean’s main street. It’s relaxed, local and proudly independent.
6. Follow the Clarence Valley Public Art Trail
Right here on River Street you’ll find the mural of Yaegl Elder Uncle Ron, by artist NITSUA and nearby, the Yarning Circle by artist Frances Belle Parker — contemporary expressions of culture and connection.
7. Walk the Maclean Heritage Trail
Step back through layers of town history colonial buildings, river stories and everyday moments from history.
8. Coffee stops worth lingering for
Taste the coffee culture in Maclean. Watch beans roast behind glass walls at Botero Coffee, or grab a coffee and lunch at one of Maclean’s welcoming cafés.
9. Drop into Ferry Park Gallery
A creative space showcasing local artists & crafts. Grab a coffee next door and enjoy the riverfront gallery.
10. Where the Day Winds Down
End the day the local way: a cold beer at Sanctus Brewing in Townsend, a meal inside the Argyle Hotel’s restored heritage walls, or an easy night out at the Maclean Hotel or Bowling Club.
