EDINBURGH is set to host its first ever tartan parade as people from across the world will take part in the celebration.
More than 1600 people are expected to descend on the capital to join in on the inaugural celebration on Saturday.
TV star Gail Porter, president of New York Tartan Week, Kyle Dawson and the wife of Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir, Eileen Longmuir, will be among the participants.
Inspired by the world-famous New York Tartan Week, the Edinburgh event, will be followed by a ceilidh and a gala concert at the Usher Hall featuring the internationally loved Red Hot Chilli Pipers and top Scottish folk band Rura.
Edinburgh-born Porter, who will host the Usher Hall event, said she was thrilled to be joining the parade in her own tartan.
She said: “I’ll be wearing the Fair Trade tartan with knee-high Doc Marten boots. Tartan was not really a family thing for me – but I was such a fan of Vivienne Westwood – she made it look so rock and roll.”
She said: “I was always so proud of being Scottish and I’m always glad to come back.
“This month I have two trips planned - I’ll be going up to the Cairngorms to make a travel programme with Robson Greene.”
The Edinburgh Tartan Day Parade will begin at 1pm at the City Chambers in the High Street, and will head down Cockburn Street, across Waverley Bridge and through East Princes Street Gardens before ending at the Mound Precinct alongside the National Galleries of Scotland.
Organisers of the parade have invited Dawson to be the Grand Marshal of the event.
He said: “I’m very excited to be coming and it was such an honour to be named Grand Marshal.
“New York Tartan Week is such a special event – I have had Scottish visitors come up to me in New York and say: ‘I have never felt more Scottish than I do today.’”
Pipe bands and traditional dance troupes from across the country will take part in the parade, alongside participants from Australia, America, France and Sweden.
“Vikings” from Shetland and traditional Chinese dragon dancers will also be taking part – as well as more than 100 Bay City Roller fans from around the world.
Eileen (below) will be wearing a purple and pink tartan created in her late husband’s memory, Alan Longmuir Proud Son of Edinburgh, at the parade.
She said: “It’s always fantastic to be in Edinburgh, it was where Alan was brought up. He was born in Caledonian Road and he used to play on the banks of the Castle.”
Edinburgh Tartan Parade founder Tania Pramschufer said: “We want everyone to come together in the name of tartan and to have a wonderful time. It’s not just about identity, it is about community.
“We want everyone to feel part of something really Scottish and to enjoy walking through the beautiful streets of Edinburgh on the glorious route which takes us from the Old Town to the New Town.”
Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said: "Edinburgh is proud to host the first Tartan Parade Scotland, aligning with our city's 900th anniversary.
“This event not only celebrates our history but also our commitment to cultural diversity and community engagement.”
Click here for more information on how to get tickets for the Usher Hall celebration.
