The CelticFest Fringe program is well and truly taking shape for a long weekend of Celtic-inspired celebrations from Friday 29 September to Monday 2 October. CelticFest Fringe comprises separately organized (and ticketed, where applicable) events running across the October long weekend in various locations around Warwick and the Southern Downs.

Central to CelticFest Fringe will be not one, but three, pipe-band events, including two national championships hosted by SCOTS PGC College, and the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band Centenary Street Parade.

SCOTS PGC will host the inaugural Australian Juvenile Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 30 September, to which some 15 school-based bands from around Australia will travel, including from as far afield as Perth. Confirmed participants include Presbyterian Ladies College Perth, Scotch College Melbourne and The Scots School Albury Pipe Band, which will join SCOTS PGC Pipes and Drums and Brisbane Boys College, among others. 

SCOTS PGC is also planning recitals and workshops over the weekend with another expected highlight being the participation of Alisdair McLaren. McLaren is the current Pipe Major of the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the West Australia Police Pipe Band; he has also performed as the REMT’S Lone Piper, as well as for King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth. 

In addition, SCOTS PGC College will host the Australian Solo Piping and Drumming Championships on Friday 29 September, showcasing some of the country’s best pipers and drummers.

Excitingly, senior and junior pipe band players will join the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band as it celebrates its centenary year in a stirring spectacle of a street parade on the morning of Saturday 30 September.

Coincidentally, SCOTS PGC will also celebrate 75 years of their kilted pipe band and is welcoming past students to march in this special event. The street parade is expected to attract around 300 performers. 

Meanwhile, tickets are now available for CelticFest, to be held at the Warwick Showgrounds on the evening of Saturday 30 September and all-day Sunday 1 October. 

For more information about CelticFest and to purchase CelticFest tickets, go to www.celticfestqld.com.au or search for CelticFest Warwick on Eventbrite. Further details about CelticFest Fringe will also be available on the CelticFest website, Facebook page and Instagram account.