New York Times Article on First NYC Tartan Day Parade

After the U.S. Senate officially recognized Tartan Day in 1998, Alan Bain, Chairman of the American Scottish Foundation, was tasked by The Scottish Coalition USA to organize a Tartan Day celebration for New York City and in 1998 the first Tartan Day Parade, consisting of two pipe bands and a small but spirited group of Scottish Americans, including Grand Marshal, Cliff Robertson, walked on a sidewalk from the British Consulate to the United Nations.

Read the NY Times Article Here.

 

2001 NYC Tartan Day Parade Central Park – Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band, Scotland, marching past the Statue of Robert Burns

The first permitted parade was in 1999 in Central Park. Since then it has flourished to include many bands and thousands of participants, including clan members and individual marchers.

 

 

 

NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg and 2002 Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshall, Sir Sean Connery

In 2002, as part of the Tartan Day celebrations the Parade was brought to 6th Avenue for the first time. This Parade attracted a record number of pipe bands from all over the World and was led by Sir Sean Connery and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

 

 

 

With the New York Tartan Day Parade growing the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York, 1756, New York Caledonian Club, 1856, and The American-Scottish Foundation®, 1956. came together to form the The New York Tartan Day Committee. Since 2002 the Committee has grown to include members from Clan Campbell.

The NYTDC, which has 501(c)3 status, is charged with maintaining and perpetuating the New York Tartan Day Parade and co-ordinating the events that complement it.

Sir Billy Connolly, 2019 NYC Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshal

New York Tartan Day Parade Past Parade Grand Marshals 

  • 1998 – Cliff Robertson – Academy Award-winning actor
  • 2002 – Sir Sean Connery – Academy Award-winning actor
  • 2005 – Randall Wallace – Oscar-nominated screenwriter of “Braveheart”€
  • 2006 – Brigadier Melville Jameson – Producer, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (1994-2006) 
  • 2007 – Rt.Hon. George Reid – Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2003-2007)
  • 2008 – Lawrence Tynes, Kicker for the New York Giants, winners of Super Bowl XVII
  • 2009 – Alan Cumming, OBE & Tony Award-winning actor
  • 2010 – Rt.Hon. Alex Fergusson – Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2007-current)
  • 2011 – Bob Winter – Lord Provost of Glasgow
  • 2012 – Brian Cox – actor
  • 2013 – Kevin McKidd, actor
  • 2014 – Howie Nicholsby, kilt designer, 21st Century Kilts 
  • 2015 – Co-Grand Marshal Tricia Marwick, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (2011-2016) and Graham McTavish, actor
  • 2016 – Sam Heughan, actor 
    2017 – Tommy Flanagan, actor
  • 2018 -Sir Billy Connolly
  • 2019 -KT Tunstall, Scottish singer-songwriter
  • 2020 -Brian Cox CBE, actor
  • 2021 – 

National Tartan Day Award – Nomination Process

NOMINATION PROCESS :  A communication is sent from TSC USA to leading Scottish American organizations, organizers of Games and Festivals, leading Clans, and individual National Tartan Day Coordinators, requesting their nominee.  An organization or individual leading...

Scottish Coalition USA National Tartan Day Award

Past National Tartan Day Award Recipients As part of the National Tartan Day Washington DC celebration of Tartan Day, The Scottish Coalition, USA presents The National Tartan Day Award. Past recipients are: 2003 - Duncan Bruce 2004 - Ellis MacDonald  2005 - Ethyl Ray...

National Tartan Day – History

Tartan Day is a North American celebration of Scottish heritage on April 6, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. It originated in Canada in the mid-1980s. It spread to other communities of the Scottish diaspora in the 1990s. In Australia...

Scottish Coalition USA – About

The Scottish Coalition USA comprises six leading national organizations who share the mission to further interests and common goals throughout the United States through collaboration. Member Organizations are: The American-Scottish Foundation® Scottish Heritage, USA...