International Tartan Day celebrations will be held in Maclean on Saturday July 4, with all the action programmed to take place on the back deck of the Maclean Hotel from 11am. Leaping Lizards, one of Brisbane’s top Celtic bands, will take centre stage to entertain and provide good music throughout the day. The Maclean Scottish Town Committee is dedicating the day to help raise funds to support Nicole Cowling and Steffaney Treadwell, who are travelling to Scotland in August to compete in world dancing contests. “The two girls are senior dancers from Maclean and the Grafton and will be travelling with Kristina Sanne, who undertook a similar trip with Janet North back when they were in their teens,” the committee’s president, Bob MacPherson, said. “The two girls will dance at the function, along with other dancers from Maclean Scottish Town Dance Studio and the Jacaranda Highland Dance Studio. “The Maclean Pipe Band is also raising funds to purchase new drums for the band. Musically, the band has lost points in competitions and judges have remarked that the band’s old drums are letting them down. “This is a golden opportunity to show support and to assist in the fund raising day for the Maclean Pipe Band and the two dancers.” There will be prizes for the best dress toddler, five years and under, and the best dressed dog, commencing around 12.15pm. Why is Tartan Day so important and why is it celebrated in July? “This special day is celebrated in Maclean for those families who have strong Scottish connections, to make the occasion where the Scottish Diaspora commemorate two Scottish historical events and celebrate their heritage,” Mr MacPherson said. The day is held on July 1, the anniversary of the repeal of the 1747 Act of Proscription that banned the wearing of tartan. The day also acts as a celebration of the Declaration of Arbroath, which was signed in 1320. “Here in Maclean International Tartan Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in July,” Mr MacPherson said. “The Scottish Town Committee is calling on the community to come and support the day. “Good food and good music is assured with the program offering a top day of entertainment for the whole family, including a free jumping castle for the kids. “ The Maclean Hotel is known for its affordable meals, lunch and dinner is available from noon to 9pm. Bring the whole family, sit back in comfortable surrounds and enjoy one of Austria’s top Celtic bands, performing live on stage at the Maclean Hotel throughout Tartan Day, Saturday July 4.