New York City is the place to be for Tartan Day

By Kathleen Currie Hall

New York City is the place to be for Tartan Day. Or rather, Tartan Week. Or really – Tartan Month! From March 31st to April 29th, more than 25 Scotland-related events take place in the city, from a fashion show to museum exhibits, whisky tastings to Gaelic poetry readings, and lots of other things in between. The highlight of the celebration is the annual NYC Tartan Day Parade, which
was held this year on April 14th, and goes for ten blocks along the Avenue
of the Americas. Highland dancing is definitely a part of the celebrations! There are often visiting dancers from Scotland and Canada, as well as local talent. This is good, because events happen all over the city – often at the same time! While the New York Celtic Dancers (www.nycdancers.org: “Scottish Dance – New York Attitude”) were performing for the crowds coming to Ellis Island to explore the history of immigration to the city, Shot of Scotch (www.shotofscotch.org: “New York City’s Premier Scottish Highland Dancers”) was performing for families at Lincoln Center as part of their “Meet the Artist” series.

Both groups participated in the parade…as well as the after-parade festivities. Some of the best moments for participants and parade-watchers alike were the impromptu jam sessions that formed when pipers, drummers, and dancers from various groups found each other and just started having fun.