Procession on Literary Walk in Park followed by reception in The Arsenal Building, Central Park

Join VisitScotland for a celebration of Scotland as we gear up for Homecoming Scotland 2009, a year of celebration of Scottish culture. Listen to lectures on Robert Burns, the Enlightenment, Golf and Whisky and explore your Scottish roots with VisitScotland's ancestral experts.

They've been celebrating Tartan Day in Arkansas, just as long as their Canadian kin have done. In 1997, a year before the U.S.Senate Resolution was introduced, Arkansas' governor made a Proclamation on April 6th. Each event is a continued celebration of Scottish heritage and traditions.

On Saturday 5th April a group of walkers known as Witty Walkers (leader Mr Michael Witty) will be taking part in a Scottish Industrial Heritage trail excursion and lunch in a remote Scottish corner of Catalunya.

A textile factory complex was established at a place called Borgonyà in 1895 by Coates of Paisley. Today, the factory complex is still standing and parts are being renovated. An enterprising local couple have set up a restaurant business in the former factory canteen – and it's named Raco d' Escocia (or Scot's Corner!). We will be following a trail down the River Ter, then enjoying a fine lunch at the restaurant, including a history briefing and tour of the colony.

I'm sure that we will be able to weave a link into the proceedings which recognizes the spirit of the cutty sark, o' paisley harn, and Arbroath; "for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself".

www.barcelonaburnsclub.com

Tartan Day Parade 2008 will take place on Sunday 6 April at 3 p.m. starting from the Yacht Club Puerto Madero at the corner of Olga Cossettini and Victoria Ocampo Streets and marching around Dock 4 for 16 blocks. All Scots and their friends are invited to participate displaying something with tartan. The opening celebrations will take place on the esplanade in front of the club and will include the installations of the Grand Marshal, the Queen of the parade and the Key Bearer of the symbolic key to the gate of Arbroath's Abbey and will continue with the Bussing and Casting of the Colours of the City of Buenos Aires and a call to the Gathering of the Clans displaying the Crann Tara. The Buenos Aires Scottish Guard and the Highland Thistle pipe band will lead the parade and a ceremony will take place with the participation of descendants of the Scottish settlers of 1825 who arrived on the ship "Symmetry" at this same port. The participants will remember their cultural heritage and the contributions of Scots and Scots-Argentines to the history and development of Argentina. At the end of the march pipers will entertain the public and Scottish Country music will be played for the people to dance on the esplanade. The event will be closed with the traditional Highland Toast.

Colorado was the second state to designate a State Tartan and and further details of their Tartan Day events can be found at the Colorado Tartan Day website.

Please see website for Tartan Day 2008 Details.

The Council of Clans of Victoria on the first Sunday in July have a church parade and service at the Scots Church in Melbourne. A Gaelic Bible, carried by the President of the Scottish Gaelic Society, leads the procession and clanspeople with their respective tartans follow the piper into the church. At the conclusion of the service the procession is piped from the church and clanspeople retire to the church hall for luncheon followed by appropriate Scottish entertainment. The Presbyterian Church is on the corner of Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne, the service commences at 11am and the luncheon (which is byo) begins at approx 12:30. See Scottish Gaelic Society of Victoria Web site for contact details.

Please see website for 2008 tartan Day Event

Tartan Day in New Zealand is always the 1st of July. This commemorates the repeal, on 1st July 1782, of the Act proscribing the Tartan. Information of events in New Zealand are available from Ballantrae, P O Box 33581, Takapuna, New Ulster, New Zealand.

France passed Loi 1901, declaring Tartan Day a day of official recognition, invoking the Auld Alliance, or Alliance Ancienne, which was a military pact that goes back well over 600 years and has never been revoked in either Scotland of France. See France Celtic Tartan Day.

The 2008 Triangle Official Tartan Day Celebration will be held Saturday, April 5 into Sunday, April 6 at The North Carolina Renaissance Faire at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC. The event will feature Mary, Queen of Scots, NC State Pipes and Drum Corp, and a special Saturday night concert feature. This celebration is endorsed by the NC Tartan Day Committee. See also the Renaissance Faire Web site.

South Australia Tartan Day in Australia is celebrated on 1 July, the day Royal Assent was granted to the Act repealing the Act of Proscription, prohibiting the wearing of any Scottish national dress or the playing of bagpipes.

There will be a Tartan Day Ball and Banquet. Dining, entertainment, music, dancing. See the Web Site for details.