Scotfest Kicks Off Today In Broken Arrow

Scotfest is happening this weekend in Broken Arrow.

The annual Scottish and Celtic festival has been around for four decades. The three-day event typically draws around 30,000 people. It's back this year after getting canceled in 2020. Organizers say more than 160 athletes will be competing in this weekend’s Highland Games competitions. It's all based on traditional sports that originated hundreds of years ago and celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture. Athletic competitions include throwing stones, hammers, weights, and the caber toss, which is the size of a telephone pole. Plus, women from across the globe will be competing in the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF) Women's Highland Games World Championship.

There will be live music, bagpipe competitions, armored battles, whiskey tastings, traditional dancing, and more than 50 food and merchandise vendors.

Kids under 12 get in free, and there's a new kid’s area with rides this year.

Organizers say this festival is already breaking ticket sale records from years past.

"It's fun, it's comradery. There are so many of us that are out here doing stuff. We all get to meet together a couple of days a week and train. We get to hang out, have a good time,” said athlete Ray Mack.

"We're all volunteers. Scotfest is a complete volunteer event. So we work all year round for these three days, and we want people to have an amazing time,” said Scotfest Deputy Director Kris Morrison.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday and will be going on all weekend.

It’s entirely outdoors, so there’s plenty of space for social distance.

You can buy tickets online or at the door.