A young but spirited parade culminated a week long celebration known as Tartan Week this past Saturday. In this the 11th year of the Tartan Parade, Scottish pride and heritage were displayed along the 10 block parade route. Finally a hint of warmer weather was felt on the sunny side of 6th Ave. where the NYPD mounted police signaled the start of the parade. The thousands of revelers were treated to view the Grand Marshall, actor Kevin McKidd as he waved to the crowd. Parade dignitaries and members of the Scottish Parliament walked up the parade route and then the fun began. The first of 17 pipe and drum bands made their entrance to the delight of the spirited crowd. The NYMetro Pipe Band were an excellent warm up band for the heavy hitters coming up. Coming in from Scotland in their second parade appearance was The Accrington Pipe Band, the oldest civilian pipe band in the UK. They set the standard for how a pipe and drum band should appear and sound. They were amazing. Serving as a reminder of the goodness in human spirit was the Stephen P Driscoll Memorial Pipe Band. Officer Driscoll attempted to save trapped victims on the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center and was killed but his memory endures. The band played great in his honor.
Plenty of clans displayed the family banner throughout the parade. Some even had their own pipe and drum band but nothing compares to a parade favorite with their distinctive yellow tartans, The Shamrock and Thistle Pipe and Drum Band from Ocean County, NJ. This year the band marched with greater pride for overcoming the devastation that superstorm Sandy brought upon some band members lives. The show stealer every year goes to the four legged friends and their escorts..the Westies and Scottish terriers win the hearts of revelers all the time. It’s a good thing there was some distance between the hounds and the Braveheart warriors. They had extra troops in this year and had sharpened axes this time around. Closing out the parade were the talented Celtic Dancers with a spirited dance for the crowd to enjoy. But the fun just didn’t finish at the end of the parade route. Bands gathered on 56th St. and the celebration continued on with plenty of Scottish smiles and good times.
NYC Parade Life 