Crieff Highland Gathering Announces Pipe Bands

Crieff Highland Gathering Announces Pipe Bands

The Crieff Highland Gathering will feature ten pipe bands on Sunday 17th August 2025, with groups from across Scotland and as far as Australia.

The event includes a town parade, performances at Market Park, and the Massed Bands Salute led by Chieftain Katrina Cowie.

The Crieff Highland Gathering will feature ten pipe bands on Sunday 17th August 2025, with groups from across Scotland and as far as Australia. The event includes a town parade, performances at Market Park, and the Massed Bands Salute led by Chieftain Katrina Cowie.

Crieff Highland Gathering is proud to announce that this year’sevent, taking place on Sunday 17th August 2025, will welcome an outstanding line-up of ten pipe bands, promising a day packed with traditional music, pageantry, and powerful performances.

Responding to popular demand for more pipe bands, Gathering Director John McWilliam has worked tirelessly to deliver a bumper list of performers for this year’s Games.

“We know how much the pipe bands mean to the crowds, and we’ve really pulled out all the stops this year,” said John. “It’s been a real pleasure working with bands across Scotland—and even as far as Australia—to bring such a strong musical presence to Crieff.”

The ten bands attending this year are:

1. Comrie Pipe Band
2. Doune Pipe Band
3. Cupar and District Pipe Band
4. Morrison’s Academy Pipe Band
5. Blairgowrie, Rattray, and District Pipe Band
6. Alyth and District Pipe Band
7. Warwick Thistle Pipe Band (Queensland, Australia)
8. Queensferry Memorial Pipes and Drums
9. Glencorse Pipe Band
10. Kincardine and District Pipe Band

The bands will parade through Crieff at 11am, providing arousing spectacle for early visitors, before arriving at Market Park, where they will perform throughout the day. One of the highlights will be the Massed Bands Salute to this year’s Chieftain, Katrina Cowie, in a moving display of Highland tradition. Chair of Crieff Highland Gathering, Norman O’Neill, added:

“This is what the Gathering is all about—bringing people together to celebrate our culture, heritage, and community spirit. We’re thrilled to welcome Katrina as this year’s Chieftain and to see such a diverse and talentedg roup of pipe bands on the field. It’s going to be a fantastic day for all ages.” Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the town parade and stay for a full day of entertainment, competitions, and family fun on Sunday17th August 2025.

https://www.crieffhighlandgathering.com/news-insights/crieff-highland-gathering-announces-pipe-bands

History & Heritage

The definitive origin of the Highland Games is lost in the mists of time, but there have been Highland gatherings and competitions in villages and towns throughout Scotland for hundreds of years.

What we do know is the ‘modern’ Highland Games began after the Act of Proscription (banning Scottish dress, customs and gatherings) was repealed in 1781 and Highland gatherings began anew in Scotland and throughout the world as ex-pats celebrated traditional Scottish culture in their new homeland.

In Crieff our games began in 1870 and were originally held in Academy Park, before moving to our current location, Market Park in 1880.

Crieff is steeped in history. It was the administrative capital of 12th Century Scottish earls, and it later grew to become one of the most famous market towns of Scotland where Highlanders drove their cattle from as far as Caithness and the Outer Hebrides to feed the growing population of the lowlands. Our history merges with generous geographical fortune as the Games play out against a breathtaking mountainous backdrop, with 63 mountains in and around Crieff.