Tartan Week

City Celebrates Scotland with Runs, Parades, Models, and Dances, March 30 - April 8

From March 30, 2007, New York City will host Tartan Week, a celebration of all things Scottish with exciting events including: the Scotland 10k Run, music from Scottish indie bands at Scotland Rocks New York and New Scotland New York, Silver of the Stars exhibition and more, including the annual Tartan Day Parade.

Tartan Week commemorates the Scots who helped build America – adding to the architecture and economy over the generations as well as the population. In fact, up to 25% of Americans can claim some Scottish ancestry.

New York's rich history with Scotland begins with its name: New York is named after the Duke of York, later the Scottish King James VII. Many of New York's iconic institutions also have Scottish roots, as Carnegie Hall, for example, was funded by Scot Andrew Carnegie after he brought the idea for the great concert hall to life during his Scottish honeymoon at Kilgraston with his New York bride.

Scotland has also influenced and affected American culture and society from across the pond: Scotland is the birthplace of golf, and the country where the many wonderful characters of literature from Harry Potter to Sherlock Holmes were conceived. Naturally Scotland is home to the first city in the world to be given the title "City of Literature" by UNESCO.

During Tartan Week, New York will become the place to experience and celebrate the spirit of Scotland. You can read all about it through the Driver's blog at tartanweek.blogspot.com better still – join us there! Details of all events at www.tartanweekny.com.

You can be a friend of Scotland wherever you are through www.myspace.com/tartanweek