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New York Tartan Week 2023: Gail Porter announced as Grand Marshal
New York Tartan Week 2023 have announced that Scottish TV personality Gail Porter will be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Tartan Day Parade, taking place on 15 April
What is New York Tartan Week?
New York Tartan Week, the largest annual Scottish cultural gathering in New York, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023 and every year sees a week of Scottish-themed events around the city. It’s annual highlight is the Tartan Day Parade, which brings together thousands of people from across New York, the US, and Scotland, to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture. Starting with two pipe bands and a small but enthusiastic group of Scottish Americans, led by Oscar-winning actor Cliff Robertson, the first ever parade marched from the British consulate to the UN in 1999. Now, the annual New York Tartan Day Parade includes over 3,000 bagpipes, Highland dancers, clan members, Scottish dog breeds and more – all proudly marching up Sixth Avenue.
The Parade plays an integral role in marking National Tartan Day on 6 April: a day declared by the U.S. Senate in 1998 to officially recognise the “outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States.”
Gail Porter is announced as Grand Marshal of this year’s 25th anniversary Tartan Day Parade
Scottish television personality, model, and actor Gail Porter has been announced as this year’s Grand Marshal for the NYC Tartan Day Parade, leading over 1,500 registered marchers on Saturday 15 April at 2pm, up Sixth Avenue between 44th and 55th street.
As part of her continued support and involvement with World Fair Trade Tartan – a tartan and clan organisation promoting Scotland’s renewed Fair Trade Nation status and to benefit World Fair Trade Organisation’s (WFTO) members across the globe – Gail Porter represents World Fair Trade Tartan and celebrates Scotland’s tenth year as a Fair Trade Nation by wearing a kilt designed by Howie Nicholsby of 21st Century Kilts.
Ms. Porter will also bring with her 30 young drummers from Scotland’s Pulse of the Place, a youth music initiative that provides young people with diverse backgrounds the opportunity to make music with their peers for free.
“I’m so honoured to be named Grand Marshal of the NYC Tartan Day Parade this year,” Gail Porter said. “Being a proud Scottish woman leading such a significant event in NYC, while supporting World Fair Trade Tartan alongside the incredibly gifted young musicians of Pulse of the Place, shows the global impact of Scottish culture – that we can be an example of diversity, inclusivity, creativity, and resilience throughout the world.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Gail Porter as this year’s NYC Tartan Day Parade Grand Marshal,” said Kyle Dawson, president of the National Tartan Day New York Committee. “She joins a growing lineup of Scottish women representing NYC Tartan Week, and we couldn’t imagine a better representative for Scottish culture to kick off our 25th anniversary parade.”
This year’s Tartan Day Parade will take place on Saturday 15th April between 2pm and 4pm, onSixth Avenue between 44th St. & 55th St. Tickets are free.
New York Tartan Week hosts first ever Scottish Gaelic song contect: The NYC Tartan Week Mòd
In another huge announcement for the 25th anniversary New York Tartan Week, this year there will be a Scottish Gaelic song contest, the NYC Tartan Week Mòd.
The contest will be over two days, from 12th-13th April (10am-4pm both days) with singers from across North America, Scotland and the rest of the world invited to compete. The event will be held in association with An Comunn Gàidhealach (an organisation that promotes the Scottish gaelic language) and hosted by Mòd Gold Medalist and BBC Alba’s SpeakGaelic presenter, Joy Dunlop.
“The tradition of the Mòd is one we’ve enjoyed in Scotland for over 100 years, and we are so proud to bring this event to NYC for the first time,” Joy Dunlop said. “It’s a beautiful way to celebrate our community and our history and keep this important part of our culture thriving on both sides of the Atlantic.”
To find out more about the Mòd, click here.
To find out more about New York Tartan Week, click here.
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