feature photo by Scott Stanger
NYC Tartan Week, the largest annual Scottish cultural gathering in NYC, announces the 2024 NYC Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshal, Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Dougray Scott. In celebration of National Tartan Day, a day declared by the U.S. Senate in 1998 to officially recognize the “outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States,” Dougray leads over 1,500 bagpipers, Highland dancers, Scottish clan members, Celtic Canines, and more in the 26th annual NYC Tartan Day Parade on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. up Sixth Avenue between 44th St. & 55th St.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dougray Scott to our NYC Tartan Week celebrations,” said Kyle Dawson, President of the National Tartan Day New York Committee. “Dougray is an excellent representative of how Scotland and Scottish people contribute so much to the artistic and cultural landscape of the United States, and we are proud to have him at the helm of this year’s NYC Tartan Day Parade.”
Dougray, who is recognized for his roles in Ever After, Deep Impact, and Mission: Impossible 2, will wear a custom weathered Morrison Tartan 16oz Strome kilt in honor of his mother’s Scottish heritage, woven by Lochcarron Weavers and designed by 21st Century Kilts.
“I couldn’t be prouder or happier to have been asked to be the 2024 NYC Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshal,” Dougray said. “And also to be wearing the Morrison tartan, the tartan of my mother’s family. She’ll be looking down from on high with pride in her Scottish heart, God bless her Glaswegian cotton socks! May the chief let his sun shine all the way from Leith to NYC!”
Dougray joins the roster of acclaimed NYC Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshals including TV personality Gail Porter (2023); actor Karen Gillan (2022); actor Brian Cox (2020, 2012); comedian Sir Billy Connolly (2019); musician KT Tunstall (2018); actor Tommy Flanagan (2018); actor Sam Heughan (2016); and more. For a full list of Grand Marshals, click here.
The NYC Tartan Day Parade is the flagship event of NYC Tartan Week, held this year from Monday, April 1 – Sunday, April 7 with events throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Highlights include the second annual NYC Tartan Week Mòd – the Gaelic song competition hosted once again by BBC Alba’s SpeakGaelic presenter, Joy Dunlop. The event, presented in partnership with the New York Caledonian Club, includes Gaelic language and music workshops culminating in a prestigious singing competition on Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at The Tailor Public House.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to NYC to host the second NYC Tartan Week Mòd,” said Joy Dunlop. “Our inaugural Mòd was such a positive of Gaelic language and culture and we look forward to welcoming friends old and new to this year’s event. It’s so important to have Scottish Gaelic represented, not only at the Mòd, but at subsequent events throughout the week and I think that it truly brings something extra special to the NYC Tartan Week programming.”
The annual Pre-Parade Ceilidh returns, presented by the New York Caledonian Club on Friday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at The View at The Battery, The American-Scottish Foundation hosts Tartan Week on the Fountain Terrace with multiple events including free concerts and readings from the Declaration of Arbroath from Friday, April 5 – Sunday, April 7 at Bryant Park, the St. Andrew’s Society presents its annual Kirkin o’ the Tartan service and brunch on Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m. at The Brick Presbyterian Church, and the highly-anticipated Post Parade Party featuring the Seán Heely band and the Glengarry Bhoys kicks off after the parade on Saturday, April 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Sony Hall.
The 2024 NYC Tartan Week events are organized by the National Tartan Day New York Committee and made possible with support from the Scottish Government, Visit Scotland, ScotlandShop, The Tailor Public House, Belhaven, Isle of Harris Gin, Walkers Shortbread, WeeBox, Compliant Global, and ImpEx Beverages, who will be featuring whiskies from Ardnamurchan, GlenAllachie, Isle of Raasay, Kilchoman, and Nc’nean Distilleries at the Post Parade Party.
Event Details:
Second Annual NYC Tartan Week Mòd
Joy Dunlop, host
Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Tailor Public House | 505 8th Ave | New York, NY 10018
Tickets: $40 for participants; $30 for competitors
Link: https://www.nyctartanweek.org/mod/
Tartan Day Observance
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
Fountain Terrace at Bryant Park | 1 W 40th St | New York, NY 10018
Tickets: FREE
Link: https://www.nyctartanweek.org/event/asf-tartan-day-observance/
Pre-Parade Ceilidh
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
The View at The Battery | 1 Battery Pl | New York, NY 10004
Tickets: Adults: $125, kids (ages 6-16): $30
Link: https://nycaledonian.org/events/2024-nyc-tartan-week-pre-parade-ceilidh/
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
The Brick Presbyterian Church | 1140 Park Ave | New York, NY 10128
Tickets: FREE
Link: https://standrewsny.org/page/NYCTartanWeek2024
Pipes & Drums
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Fountain Terrace at Bryant Park | 1 W 40th St | New York, NY 10018
Tickets: FREE
Link: https://www.nyctartanweek.org/event/asf-tartan-day-observance/
NYC Tartan Day Parade
Dougray Scott, Grand Marshal
Saturday, April 6 at 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sixth Avenue between 44th St. & 55th St.
Tickets: FREE
Link: www.nyctartanweek.org
NYC Tartan Week Post Parade Party
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
Sony Hall | 235 W 46th St | New York, NY 10036
Tickets: $80
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-tartan-week-post-parade-party-tickets-826217507807
Scotland on the Fountain Terrace
Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
Fountain Terrace at Bryant Park | 1 W 40th St | New York, NY 10018
Tickets: FREE
Link: https://www.nyctartanweek.org/event/asf-tartan-day-observance/
For a full list of NYC Tartan Week events updated daily, visit https://www.nyctartanweek.org/events/
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