🎺 Dust Off Your Kilts: The Mackay & District Pipe band is Turning 100!

Hold onto your sporrans, Mackay! This isn’t just your average walk in the park—it’s the 10th Annual Mackay and District Pipe Band’s Bluewater Fling, and since we’re celebrating 100 years of community service, we’re cranking the bagpipes up to eleven.

Whether you have Scottish roots or just a suspicious fondness for plaid, this is the biggest birthday bash on the banks of the Pioneer River.

🥁 What’s Shaking (Besides the Bagpipes?)

The Great Bridge Takeover: Watch (and hear!) 100 pipers and drummers march across the Forgan Bridge. We’ve even invited the Queensland Police Pipes and Drums—so you know the rhythm will be legally binding.

BagRock & Highland Hops: From graceful Highland dancers to the high-voltage sounds of Piping MaD (yes, BagRock is a thing, and yes, it’s awesome), the River Stage will be jumping until dusk.

The “Afterparty” Ceilidh: Once the sun goes down, the party goes up. We’re finishing the night with a spectacular fireworks display that’ll be louder than a drum solo.

🥧 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Scots Style)

Don’t worry, we won’t make you eat haggis (unless you want to).

Red Dog Brewery is serving up Scottish-inspired craft brews on the riverfront.

Grab a feed from our local food vendors and find a patch of grass.

St Kilda Retail will be there if you need to panic-buy a Clan badge, tartan gear, or a spare set of bagpipes (for those late-night practice sessions your neighbors will love).

📍 The Fine Print

Cost: Absolutely FREE. (The Scots are known for being thrifty, after all!)

Vibe: Family-friendly, outdoor, and loud.

Bring: A picnic blanket, a fold-up chair, and your best “Scottish” accent.

The Bluewater Fling is a proud part of the Mackay Festival of Arts and is supported by the Mackay Regional Council.

Come for the music, stay for the fireworks, and leave wondering why you don’t own more kilt-friendly outfits.