The Boothbay Railway Village began its 2017 season with the first-ever Tartan Day on Saturday, April 8.

“Maine has the largest population of Scottish people of any other state,” said BRV Education Director Kathy Goldner.

Goldner collaborated with the St. Andrews Society of Maine to assemble musicians, dancers, a weaver and a tartan historian to provide displays and entertainment.

Bill McKeen of Whitefield displayed several books that illustrate the variety of tartans which are unique to a particular clan, an extended family in Scotland. McKeen said tartans had been banned for centuries and were brought to church in secret until King James of England decided to hold a party in Edinburgh. That opened the door to a proliferation of new tartan designs, said McKeen.

McKeen said the Boothbay area became a center of Scottish settlement in the early part of the eighteenth century. The St. Andrews Society of Maine has been active  for 39 years, bringing Scottish culture to Midcoast Maine.

Saturday’s event served as warmup for the Society’s annual Highland Games on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the  Topsham Fairgrounds. Society President Patti Tillotson said she has been holding lessons in traditional Scottish folk dance at three locations in the state. “We are having so much fun.”