What is Tartan Day?

By act of Congress, April 6th was named Tartan Day in 2005. Tartan Day celebrates the many Americans of Scottish descent that built this country and influence of Scottish-Americans to this day. The April date is significant as it marked the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, a document used by Thomas Jefferson as a model for our Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Tartan Day was first recognized by a one year designation by the US Senate in 1997, then became annually recognized by the Senate in 1998, Congress in 2005 and finally by the President in 2008. Canada made National Tartan Day a holiday in 2010, and there are also celebrations throughout Scotland as well.

 Celebrate Tartan Day!

Enjoy a whole week of events in New York City. Learn about whisky at Whisky Live, Andrew Carnegie at a lecture on Finance in America, learn fashion trends, enjoy theater, hear great music and even play football in a Scotland Vs. The Rest of the World Game. We'll see you at the National Trust for Scotland dinner on Wednesday evening, wearing our tartan best! The parade begins Saturday at 2PM and goes from 45th Street to 55th Street on 6th Avenue.

Get all the details at New York Tartan Week.

Not in New York City? Here's more Tartan Day Celebrations

Rochester NY Tartan Day(Rochester, NY)- Ceilidh Thursday Evening, Buffet Dinner with Music Friday night and Festival Saturday from 12-7PM. All at the Main St. Armory.

Colorado Tartan Day(Arvada, CO)- Whisky Tasting Friday evening, Tartan Day Festival 5-9 Saturday at McIlvoy Park. Dinner & Ceilidh at the Elks Club Saturday from 5PM on.

Missouri Tartan Day (St. Charles, MO) - Friday - Sunday in Frontier Park. Friday 5-10 Music, Saturday 10-10PM with parade at 10AM, Sunday 10-5Pm with Kirkin of the Tartan at 10AM and Massed Bands at 4PM.

Pittsburgh Tartan Day (Pittsburgh, PA) - Saturday 11-4PM at the former Reizenstein School. Pipe Bands, learn some Gaelic, Scottish dancers, storytelling and more.

East Bay Tartan Day Scottish Fair (Fremont, CA) - Saturday 10-5PM at the Ardenwood Historic  Farm. Music, dancing, shopping and lots of food.

Anywhere else? Celebrate at home with friends over a Scottish Meal. Try our Steak Pie or Scotch Meat Pies. Have a whisky tasting with some lovely cheese and salmon. Make some cupcakes with Tartan Wrappers and share them at work. Or just sit down with a cup of tea and shortbread. We have lots of ways for you to celebrate at Scottish Gourmet USA.