Sherlock Holmes Tartan at the NYC Tartan Parade
Tartan might be a symbol of bonnie Scotland, but as you Sherlockians already know, the love for this unique piece of culture extends far and wide. Every year since 1999, in April the National Tartan Day New York Committee hosts a Tartan Day Parade in New York City, bringing together lovers of tartan from all over the world. Tartan week was created to recognise the achievements and culture of Scottish people and Scottish-Americans, featuring Highland dancers, clan organisations and of course, Scottish dog breeds!
The 2022 New York City Tartan Parade
After a year of virtual celebrations in 2021 due to the pandemic, New York City’s Tartan Week was back with a bang in 2022. With no sign of Moriarty, my son Harry and I took Sherlock Holmes Tartan to the big apple and had an amazing time! Harry, our Sherlock, and the step-great-great-great-grandson of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was represented in the classic blue and green colours of the Sherlock Holmes Tartan. Sherlock was donned in an Inverness cape, trews, waistcoat, tie and deerstalker - all in Sherlock Holmes Tartan which was greatly admired! We even took photos of Harry with some Irish wolfhounds, pretending they were the Hounds of the Baskervilles of course!
Shop the Sherlock Holmes Tartan look here.
The Famous Faces of the NYC Tartan Parade
In addition to the 3000 bagpipers and thousands of spectators, The New York City Tartan Day Parade is known for the famous Grand Marshalls who lead the parade. Previous Grand Marshalls include Bond actor Sir Sean Connery, Physicist and Presenter Brian Cox, CBE and comedia, actor and musician Sir Billy Connolly. With such a high bar to follow, the 2022 Tartan Day Parade did not disappoint and Inverness born Karen Gillan was the marshall of the parade. You will know Karen Gillan from Dr Who, Dual, Guardians of the Galaxy and now as the Grand Marshall of the 2022 NYC Tartan Day Parade.
In April 2022 I brought the Sherlock Holmes Tartan to New York City, exactly 100 years after my step-great-great-granddad, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had also been in the big apple, giving talks about Spiritualism at Carnegie Hall, which were very well received!
Whilst in NYC I visited an exhibition at the Grolier Club called ‘Sherlock Holmes in 221 objects’. The exhibition displayed a host of interesting objects, including letters about Sir Arthur finding a publisher for his stories and his relationship with William Gillette who was an American actor who played Sherlock on stage. Another noteworthy exhibit for Sherlockians was a never before displayed handwritten speech, with Sir Arthur’s explanation for killing Holmes:
“I have been much blamed for doing that gentleman to death but I hold that it was not murder but justifiable homicide in self defence [sic] since if I had not killed him he would certainly have killed me.”
Sherlock Holmes Tartan - Our Debut at the NYC Tartan Week 2022
We have received some wonderful online reviews of the Sherlock Holmes Tartan from our fellow Sherlockians, but there is nothing quite like getting out and about and meeting you in person. Sherlock Holmes Tartan had a fantastic debut at the NYC Tartan Day Parade in 2022 and it was wonderful to hear how much everybody loved our unique tartan! The Tartan Day Parade will be back next year on 15th April 2023. Until then, feel free to have a browse of our website to get your tartan fix and become a proud Sherlockian - shop the tartan!