First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City is marking four decades of bagpipes, blessings, and bake sales this weekend as it hosts its 40th annual Scottish Festival and Kirkin' o' th' Tartan. According to a October 22 report, the milestone celebration is expected to draw roughly 5,000 people to the church grounds to celebrate Scottish heritage and honor the memory of longtime member Pamela Atkinson, who died Oct. 10 at age 93.
The Scottish Festival is scheduled for Saturday with conflicting reports on the exact timing. KSL News reports the event is scheduled to run for four hours starting at 2 p.m., while Deseret News describes the celebration running from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free for the community and features activities including a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, and mini golf. Attendees can also find Scottish fare from Cross and Thistle Pub, including a beer garden, signature cocktails, mocktails, and a bake sale featuring shortbread and scones. Nearby businesses have agreed to allow festivalgoers to use their parking garages for the day.
Following the festival, the Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band will perform a concert at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The performance is expected to last between an hour and a half and two hours and will feature pipers, drummers, and dancers. The band, founded in 1962 by Scottish immigrants and their families, has participated in the Kirkin' o' th' Tartan at First Presbyterian since the first event was held there in 1986. On Sunday, 35 members of the band will perform during the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. The band is also set to play Amazing Grace after the Kirkin' o' th' Tartan concludes to honor Scottish immigrants who settled in Utah.
The Kirkin' o' th' Tartan takes place the morning after the festival on Reformation Sunday, which is the last Sunday of October. During the service, pastors Jamie White and Jared McClure will bless family tartans brought by members of Scottish-American clans. White, who has taught at the church for five years, said families carry the blessings home to reflect on their impact. McClure stated the congregation is planning to make this 40th-anniversary festival especially elaborate, and White expressed expectations that Sunday attendance will exceed last year's turnout.
First Presbyterian was organized on Nov. 12, 1871, with 12 founding members. Church leaders have recently described the congregation as being in a season of growth. The annual Scottish heritage weekend is part of a 40-year commitment to the church's Presbyterian heritage, following previous festivals held in 2018 and 2021 that included Highland dance and bagpipe concerts.
