Angus will be at the heart of celebrations for this year’s Tartan Day, following the launch of the programme at the weekend.
The 10-day festival to commemorate the Signing of the Declaration of Arbroath on April 6 1320 will begin on March 30 and run until April 8.
Celebrating Scotland and its people, the event will see activities organised across the globe, including more than 50 held in Angus.
Organisers have claimed there will be ”something for all the family”, such as Highland Dancing competitions, country dancing evenings, music by local pipe bands, ceilidhs, craft fairs and the popular Speaking of Scotland debate.
Storytelling sessions, including a musical story for children by Scottish Opera, will be on offer, in addition to wildlife watching sessions, quiz nights, comedy nights and a street parade.
On April 6 there will be a re-enactment of the signing of the declaration at the gates to Arbroath’s medieval abbey.
Angus provost Ruth Leslie Melville said: ”Tartan Day Scotland is always commemorated in style and with great enthusiasm by the people of Angus.”
Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is sponsoring Tartan Day Scotland this year.
Brian Rice of GSK said: ”In the 60th anniversary year of GlaxoSmithKline in Montrose, we’re delighted to once again be involved in supporting the Tartan Day celebrations in the county which so effectively bring together the local communities and highlight many of the wonderful aspects of living and working in Angus.”
A host of restaurants, pubs and cafs across the county are offering special Tartan Day dishes using fresh, local ingredients.
For the first time, a ‘My Angus’ Photographic Competition will be staged, inviting residents of all ages to submit a photo which showcases what the county means to them.
Entries should be submitted to local ACCESS offices by March 16, with the winner from each category receiving a digital camera and having their photograph exhibited in Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre throughout the week of celebrations.
As one of the judges, the provost launched the contest by taking a snap of her favourite views.
She said: ”The scene from the Scott Memorial in Glen Prosen encapsulates everything that I love about Angus and also typifies the people of this amazing county. A beautiful, unexpectedly intimate and yet all-encompassing landscape unfolds before you, offering everything from the mellow to the wild and dramatic.”
Tartan Day Angus events guides are available from leisure centres, ACCESS offices, libraries and tourist attractions.