There will be tartan, probably some haggis and definitely caber tossing.
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Members of the Hastings District Highland Pipe Band will compete in the annual Clans on the Coast at Nelson Bay on Saturday, September 21.
The event features a range of traditional Scottish events with pipers and drummers featuring prominently, says pipe band spokesperson Jim Turnbull.
"A few years ago, we managed to have a couple of our gypsy drummers - fill-in drummers - perform at this event," Mr Turnbull said.
"The following year our entire band was invited to attend and to perform.
"It is a real highland gathering and includes, games, tossing the caber, highland dancing, competitions for the kids and opening and closing ceremony performances by the mass bands.
"And each band is also required to provide a recital for 15 to 20 minutes," he said.
Mr Turnbull said the band members had grasped the opportunity to take their music to the masses rather than playing indoors and to themselves.
"We all realised that we wanted to play to an audience," he added.
We all realised that we wanted to play to an audience.
- Jim Turnbull
The band will commence playing for 90 minutes each Monday night through daylight savings on Port Macquarie's Town Green. The first event is scheduled for October 7.
The band has also played host to several visiting pipers and drummers - including a couple from Scotland.
"We have made a mission of inviting any visiting pipers and drummers to come along and join our sessions," he said.
"There's an open invitation to come and join in and play along."
The latest couple to take advantage of the invitation were Joanne Lancaster and her partner Andy Gauld.
The couple play in the Buchan Paterson Pipe Band in Scotland.
Joanne plays the side drum while Andy plays the bagpipes having competed in all major championships in Britain.
They are visiting Australia from Aberdeen and were pleased to be invited to play with the Hastings pipe band.
The visitors were visiting family members Dave and Sandra Brock, who are well-known fans of the performing band.
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