Will the victor be a clan member, a dancer or a piper at Scots Day Out this Saturday in Bendigo's Rosalind Park? Yes, the great challenge is on again to find the best shortbread and Athol Brose. Our 2018 chieftain Bryan Coghlan will be assisted by none other than his work colleague and expat Scot Justine Blacklock in selecting the finest on offer. Entries will be received at the SDO information tent just near the Sidney Myer Place pedestrian bridge in Rosalind Park until 1pm

Scottish fans from across Australia are preparing for Bendigo’s tartan march in March at this Saturday’s Scots Day Out in Rosalind Park. One of the largest Scottish celebrations in Australia, Scots Day Out has moved to March for its sixth year after earlier being held in February. Clan and diaspora groups are maximising their involvement in SDO, growing engagement and boosting membership numbers in Victoria through SDO. Clan Edmonstone chief commissioner for Australia, Mal Ed

Bring your tartan rug to Rosalind Park on Friday night for the free open air cinema showing highlights from the Edinburgh Short Film Festival. The contemporary take on Scotland today through comedy, drama and documentary is a partnership between SDO and the ESFF to celebrate Scottish culture ESFF director Paul Bruce has curated 10 fine shorts for the 2018 Australian premiere, many of them major award winners in Britain over the past year. And the screening will also feature t

Good on you for being yourself - words that put a smile on Pixie’s face when he walks along the streets of Bendigo. They are the kinder reactions to the kilt-wearing life-long Bendigo resident born John Leys Biggs more than half a century ago who travels Victoria proudly wearing a great kilt in the contemporary and distinctive official Bendigo tartan. And Pixie will be at Scots Day Out again this year, assisting with the early morning set and then soaking up the Scottish atmo

Tartan lad Bendigo Mac is out and about on home turf in the final countdown to Scots Day Out 2018 in Rosalind Park on Saturday 3 March. The much-travelled koala in Bendigo’s contemporary and acclaimed official tartan has taken to Instagram to chart his latest travels checking out landmarks and tourist attractions in Bendigo. He’s previously featured in the BBC livestream of the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow and caught up with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturge

Scots Day Out in Bendigo, Australia, is one of the world’s largest Scots Diaspora gatherings, regularly attracting some 5000 people for one weekend each March, from Australia and across the world. For the last three years, we’ve been honoured to have been asked to programme an evening of Scottish Short Film for the events at SDO and this year we’re delighted that they are planning an early evening open air screening in Rosalind Park in Bendigo on the festival’s opening night,

10am: With an escort from Glen Lachlann Estate College of Arms, 2018 chieftain Bryan Coghlan leads the parade of pipe bands, dancers, clans and medieval re-enactment groups down View St. 11am: Showcasing Celtic-inspired music will have singing along, tapping the toes and joining the fun. 11am - Emu Creek Bush Band, 11,45am - The Drowsy Maggies, 12.35pm Sing Australia Choir, 1.15pm Emu Creek Bush Band, 2pm The Drowsy Maggies ,2.50pm Scottish Gaelic Society of Victoria

Bagpipes and drums will make their way down View St for the opening of Bendigo's Scots Day Out on Saturday 3 March before taking to competition in Rosalind Park. We've got some of the top bands in Victoria joining the celebrations that start at 10am. The band competition commences at 11.15am. Here's the bands at SDO 2018: GRADE TWO HAWTHORN Pipe Major: Kyle Warren. Drum Major RJK Semple OAM BEM. Drum Sgt: Scott Birrell. Tartan: Mackenzie MOORABBIN Pipe Major: Ian Lyons. Drum

The Scots Day Out committee is pleased to acknowledge the strong partnerships with its sponsors in making this year's event on Saturday 3 March possible. We thank and appreciate the support of City of Greater Bendigo, Villawood Properties, Victorian Scottish Cultural Heritage Foundation, The Metropolitan, Bart n Print, Nine, Coliban Water, Robertson Hyett, Victorian Multicultural Commission and Regional Centre for Culture. Regional Centre for Culture is a year-long celebratio

Scotland and Bendigo have many things that connect including strong communities in the creative industries. SDO this year in Rosalind Park on Saturday 3 March increases its celebration of creative industries with a display by Bendigo folk art painter Ainsley McPherson. Ainsley is a much-awarded artist around Australia and produces stunning works including one of her signature pieces, the famous Highland Cow. Ainsley's works will be available to purchase at SDO. Bendigo's conn