Texas Scottish Festival 2023 Cancelled

2/23/2023

Texas Scottish Festival 2023 Cancelled

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Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
May 2023 Cancelled

It is with the deepest regret that we must announce the cancellation of the 2023 Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games(TSF&HG) in Decatur, Texas.

We have enjoyed Wise County and community since our arrival in 2018. But as we prepared for this year’s festival, we have found obstacles in our current model. Some due to regulatory requirements, location constraints, board commitments, changes in sponsorships and pricing increases. We have been working for four years to get ahead of these challenges and to find collaborative solutions. Sadly we do not feel we can over come these challenges in advance of the May 2023 TSF&HG. We have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the 2023 Festival in Decatur, TX. We concluded we could not create the type of experience that meets our standards and measure up to our reputation for producing the cultural experience we have nurtured since 1986.

Our mission remains the same and we remain committed to Texas Scottish Culture—Athletics, Art, Dance, Unique Music, Art/Cultural Vendors, Craft Beer, Delicious Whisky, Dogs, Attire, Pipes & Drums and so much more! We plan to take this time to; 1. re-identify the festivals goals 2. Evaluate current festival model and challenges. 3. Build our communication with membership, sponsors and work to expand our leadership board and volunteer core.

This coming year we will be focusing on smaller events and continuing to support Scottish and Celtic organizations here in Texas, nationally and abroad. Some of these events we are currently working on are Kilted Foot Races, Golf and Athletics. We will be releasing a schedule of events soon. Stay up to date on events, leadership and volunteer information by following us on social media and sign up for our email list: texasscots.com/mailinglist More Links below.

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Official Press Release

schedule of events TBA

2022 Photo Winners TBA

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Mission Statement: The Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games, is dedicated to promoting Scottish, Gaelic, and Celtic cultures. Organized by a group of dedicated volunteers with a common goal of preserving the celtic heritage, history, traditions, and music through educational and entertaining events.

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Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games | #TexasScots #TexasScottishFestival

23 Comments

James Kirkland

2/25/2023 09:29:49 am

Have you looked at Waxahachie and the Scarborough Faire site. They only use the site in the spring and Halloween.

Karen Crawford

2/25/2023 10:07:04 pm

I totally agree and have suggested Waxahachie!! We are growing but have so many awesome spots besides Scarborough Faire to have the festival.

Good luck!!

Jane Sitton Logan

2/26/2023 06:31:03 am

So sad to hear this

DG Broome

3/5/2023 05:25:32 am

Very very sad about this!

Nancy Folts

3/9/2023 01:29:04 pm

So very sad to hear this. I first found this festival in 2021, this would have been my 3rd year to attend. Love the music and athletic events. I sure hope it comes back in 2024.

Michael A Sonntag

3/12/2023 07:45:30 am

Hi, I live in Azle (17 miles Northwest of Fort Worth), so Decatur was not a bad drive, and I attended on Sunday at the 2022 festival. For quite some time, I have been wanting there to be regularly scheduled activities more local to the West side of Fort Worth - perhaps like the "smaller events" you mentioned above. Here is an example of the type of activity to which I refer: I used to fiddle for the North Texas Scottish Country Dancers from late 2006 to 2010, and they met every week for dance practice from September through May when they had an annual ball. (Note that they have since disbanded). In place of that, I and a few friends have been playing at the White Settlement Historical Museum on Saturdays. If I can help with your "smaller activities", please let me know.

Kate

3/18/2023 10:28:45 am

We just moved here and I was looking forward to attending the festival. I hope you can find a way to overcome any obstacles and maybe be back next year!

Sharon King

3/20/2023 02:55:23 pm

We sure are sad to hear about this. We love the Texas Scottish Festival and hope that you can find a new location to host this awesome event. Keep us posted! We will go where you go!

David Laws

3/29/2023 08:21:56 pm

Not the first games to go under this year, Glasgow (KY) Highland games went under completely, mainly due to CoVid and loss of sponsorship across the board. Honestly, this sounds like something similar. Not knocking the Texas Games at all, sponsored a few times, but the pricing for sponsorships was out of line with what was offered by similar groups and games. Once they moved out of Arlington, the end was inevitable. I am saddened by the loss (even if it is just one year) but I doubt a return is in the offing. Not many games can survive even a one year loss of income, Grandfather, Stone Mountain, and Loch Norman being the exceptions. Hope a new venue and pricing plan is revealed soon.

Adrienne Bliss

3/30/2023 12:24:55 pm

I was following on Facebook - never saw this posted. It should have been.

Jill Eder

4/9/2023 08:22:21 am

I am incredibly disappointed that the festival in Decatur has been cancelled! I would love to know the real reason....did the Decatur powers who be not cooperate? If yes, do they realize how much money they lose by not cooperating?

4/19/2023 04:49:28 pm

Sooo, how much money needs to be raised to hold a festival?

Aron Hayes

4/26/2023 09:46:47 am

This is really sad news!! We were so looking forward to this!! Why hasn’t this been shared on Facebook. I was about to make hotel reservations.

Clan Buchanan

5/10/2023 09:49:34 am

This is a massive amount of work each year but we need to ask what the time frame is to produce a decision on whether or not there will ever be a like event in the future or what form it will specifically take, and when/where it will be. Míle buíochas for all that you do and have done!

Thomas Bores

6/27/2023 09:46:13 am

I was shocked to hear that this event was cancelled. I believe that their are some locations in the state that would accommodate the event. Fort Parker State Park; Groesbeck. TRF, in Plantersville. Scarborough Fair. Etc.
I believe that if enough people come together, we can come up with a place to hold this event annually.

Richard landeck

11/5/2023 06:06:59 am

Have you considered Fort Richardson State Park in Jacksboro

John McInnis

1/1/2024 10:06:00 am

A festival site must be readily accessible to the largest possible number of both participants and guests and not require an expensive overnight stay for the participants. Plenty of parking, gobs of open space, running water, ample electricity, access from several directions, overnight security, shade and decent weather. I went on several site hunts for Ray McDonald and found at least one major flaw in every possible location - mostly parking and security. These days, insurance has become the major obstacle and has to be paid first before any income arises.

Duane E Park

2/10/2024 09:56:38 pm

Ah, some of the best memories I've been gifted with from the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games for the years located at Maverick Stadium! The music, dance, food and vendor merchandise makes for wonderful memories for the young and old alike. These events are precious to me and I desire to pass them on to my grandchildren. I pledge my support and promotion of each of these events to the best of my ability. I'm looking forward to the next event, hosting my grandchildren and parents! Food, Dance and Music! Love the North Calidonian Pipes and Druns as well as the Celtic Rock music such as The Kildares, Cleghorn, and many others! .

Jerry Stewart

4/26/2024 07:34:29 am

Maverick Stadium was the best. Close-in to the city with many hotels and things to do outside of the games at night, etc. Moving from there was really the beginning of the end.

Pattie Wilson

3/2/2025 07:36:28 am

I agree that Maverick Stadium UTA was perfect. Decatur was too difficult to walk around and there were fewer seller stalls, tents and music. I vowed never to return. I went to all the festivals at UTA. not knowing why it was moved in the first place, then being disappointed at the new venue ended my interest. I wish you luck in finding a new place more like UTA. I miss my annual Scottish fix.

Joy

3/17/2024 09:35:51 am

Any updates for 2024?

4/23/2024 07:54:16 pm

Tried to email asking about an update and the email account has been suspended. Sadly our games seem to have come to an end.

Ted Lindsley

4/25/2024 08:32:56 pm

So what has been accomplished in the past 14 months. It's end of April 2024. Where will the new event be held? If it won't, I propose a new team take over and resurrect it.