The Daylesford Highland Gathering has been cancelled for the first time in the 66 years the event has run, according to organisers.
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Committee members decided to cancel the Scottish themed gathering at a meeting on Friday morning due to forecast heavy rain and flash flooding warnings.
The 2017 event will not be postponed due to the difficulty of rescheduling a date for stallholders, bands and dancers, and the next Highland Gathering will be held on the first Saturday in December next year.
Daylesford Highland Gathering secretary Cameron Telfer said the decision to cancel was made reluctantly.
“We feel terrible. It was done very reluctantly,” Mr Telfer said.
“We have stallholders who have been supporting this gathering who come from Coffs Harbour, from Queensland, from Adelaide and it is just not worth their while coming.
“Some of the bands come from interstate and they were worried about the weather. Six bands out of 18 had already withdrawn this morning (Friday).”
The Highland Gathering has celebrated Scottish culture, music and dance in Daylesford since its beginnings in 1952.
Mr Telfer said it was the first time the event had been cancelled in 66 years.
“It will certainly be going ahead next year,” Mr Telfer said.
“We have had good weather for quite a while. We have the budget for one bad one. That is a fact of life.”
The Victorian State Highland Dancing competition will still go ahead at the Daylesford Town Hall tomorrow. Follow the Daylesford Highland Gathering Facebook page for updates.