By Paige Gurgainers

Minden Mayor Nick Cox kicked off the week leading up to the 23rd annual Scottish Tartan Festival by officially declaring April 6 as Tartan Day – a special day in Scottish History, but Saturday was their day of celebration and laddie did they celebrate!

“We were blessed with a gorgeous day and welcomed approximately 1,800 to 2,000 folks to the festival, many of whom were first-time visitors,” said event coordinator Shelia Hoh. 

Downtown Minden was buzzing with bagpipes and kilts (gu leóir)!

“All feedback we have had has been extremely positive,” Hoh continued. “Everyone expressed their excitement to return next year and to top that off, many of the first-time, out-of-town festival goers discovered that Minden is truly the ‘Friendliest City in the South’ with so much to offer.”

According to Hoh, the Scottish Society of the Louisiana Highlands crew are ready to get started planning their 24th Scottish Tartan Festival for 2026, so if you missed out this year, go ahead and start prepping now. You will not want to miss this unique… hootenanny?