BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Thieves made off with $85,000 in items from the Scotfest.
Organizers said on Christmas Day, thieves stole a trailer from a secure storage facility in Broken Arrow. They said the trailer held $70,000 worth of things essential for the festival each year, including:
- Scotfest’s full front entrance scaffolding
- custom-made beverage bars
- umbrellas and stands
- tools
- cables
- signage
- VIP furniture
- equipment for the Highland Games
“This was not just a theft; it was a betrayal of the very spirit of the season,” said Kris Morrison, Deputy Executive Director of Scotfest. “To steal from a charity on Christmas Day, an organization that exists solely to bring joy and culture to the community, is both infuriating and heartbreaking. We’re calling on the community for help—to assist the Broken Arrow Police Department in finding our trailer and to help us recover from this devastating loss.”
The festival is an affair of the heart for Executive Director Steve Campbell and the other volunteers, who only want to bring the community together.
“Were a 100% volunteer run organization," said Campbell. "Everybody including myself, none of us get paid anything. All of the money that comes in just gets reinvested back into the event to try to make it bigger better and more culturally appropriate to what were trying to represent."
Unfortunately, organizers said the items are not insured due to a clerical error.
"An incident like this is like a gut punch to us because this kicks us back a number of years," said Campbell. "Right now were trying to figure out how much of an impact this is and our ability to put the event on next year.”
For the last 18 years, Campbell has watched all walks of life come together at Scotfest to enjoy the Celtic culture, celebrating veterans, meeting new people, but he said it hasn't always been easy.
The pandemic did a number on the festival, and 2024 gathering at a new venue drew a lower crowd than usual. While things seem uncertain now, Campbell is trying to hold onto hope that the festival can return in the future.
“We’ve managed to do quite well in terms of riding those waves and storms as we go through, but this one might just be…You know I don’t want to say it’s one too many, we will find a way to make it happen next year,“ said Campbell.
Scotfest has been a community event for nearly 45 years, but say this setback could end the festival.
Broken Arrow police are investigating the theft.
“We are committed to thoroughly investigating this crime to bring those responsible to justice,” said Public Information Coordinator Ethan Hutchins. “We urge anyone with information to come forward, as your help can make a difference. You can call 918-259-8400 to speak with a BAPD officer or reach Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS, with the assurance that your identity will remain anonymous."
Because it's early in the investigation, Hutchins said there is no person of interest yet.
“Broken Arrow prides itself on hosting community events throughout the year and this is a very large one, so if there’s anybody out there who has information about what happened, where that stuffs at, where the trailers at, please come forward,” he said.
To donate to help the festival recover, visit their GoFundMe.
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