Pipe Bands Victoria have announced the dates for the 2017 competition season. A summary of the dates follows:
| 3-Dec | Daylesford Highland Gathering |
| 1-Jan | Maryborough Highland Gathering |
| 11-Feb | Scots Day Out Bendigo |
| 26-Feb | Ballarat Highland Gathering |
| 19-Mar | Geelong Highland Gathering (Includes Victorian Pipe Band Championships) |
| 26-Mar | Ringwood Highland Gathering |
| 21-Apr | South West Coast Piper Drummer Dancer |
| 11-Aug | World Pipe Band Championships |
There is also an important change to competition this coming season for Grade 4 bands that may open the door for the Ringwood Highland Pipe Band to compete.
PLEASE NOTE – for the first time the Selection of Marches Contest will be an ‘active’ Grade Four contest element and Pipe Bands Victoria encourages those Grade Four bands who wish to compete but haven’t previously to take advantage of this new contest element and we look forward to seeing you participate. There will also be the usual Aggregate Contest (MSR & Medley), March Off Drill Contest, and Drum Major Contest (Solo).