Tartan Kilt Skate NYC 2021
It’s on! A Kilt Skating community event has been scheduled in the heart of Manhattan for Thursday, February 25 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This is the third annual Tartan Kilt Skate NYC, hosted by the American Scottish Foundation in partnership with with Bryant Park.
But with the Covid pandemic, the protocols will be different this year. The number of skaters on the ice at Bryant Park must be limited for social distancing. Therefore, skaters are required to book their ice time. .
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park charges no admission fee for skating. Skate rentals are available. The public health protocols have been implemented in line with the New York State safety guidelines.
Ice skating at Winter Village is now a fully outdoor experience, and the Holiday Shops have been reconfigured to allow for more spacious walkways. At The Rink itself:
All visitors must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths for the duration of their visit to The Rink.
Skaters must adhere to the time slot they have booked;
High contact surfaces are sanitized throughout the day.
Some elements of past Tartan Kilt Skates NYC will remain. Members of the NYU Pipe Band will play and the Shot of Scotch Highland dancers will perform.
The American Scottish Foundation has plans to help promote the kilt skate phenomenon across the United States. In this interview, ASF’s Camilla Hellman and SSO’s Don Cummer discuss the origins and how kilt skating continues to grow as a way to celebrate Scotland and its contribution to North America. You can hear the podcast on the following platforms:
We’re looking for photos from the 2021 socially-distanced version of Tartan Kilt Skate NYC. We’ll be sure to report on it. In the meantime, book your time slot and get out to Bryant Park if you can. As the song says, “If I can skate it there, I’ll skate it anywhere. It’s up to you New York, New York.”