National Oldtime Fiddlers' FestivalWeiser, Idaho, USA
6/21/2010 - 6/26/2010
DescriptionSettlers making their way westward along the Oregon Trail could bring along only the most portable of old-world musical instruments, and as immigrants stopped to rest and entertain themselves, the compact fiddle was often the instrument pulled out from covered wagons.
The first recorded fiddle festival in Weiser, an old Oregon Trail outpost that saw its fair share of these settlers, was in 1914, though travelers were jamming on fiddles way back when the outpost was established in the 1860s.
Like a trip back to the days when home-grown fiddle music dominated American popular entertainment, the week-long National Old-time Fiddlers' Contest draws the most prestigious old-time fiddlers in the country, with a non-stop array of contests, jam sessions and tributes to those fiddlers who are helping to preserve old-time music.
Participants compete in this popular contest by playing a waltz, a hoe-down and a tune of their choice, with a maximum of two accompanists. Crowd favorites can always be found in the national senior (over 65) and national small fry (under 13) classes, and organizers gush with pride over the number of younger players who have been picking up the fiddle in recent years.
Every outdoor activity imaginable, except for maybe skyscraper climbing, can be done within minutes of Weiser.
PerformersPeople from all over the United States, Canada, even Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Australia.....wherever there is love of fiddling, people come to compete!
VenueThroughout the city
DirectionsCheck mapquest for whatever point of origin.
TimesDaytime Performances are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Evening Performances are 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm (approximately)
Admission & ParkingFree Parking. Admission varies whether day or evening performances. Day - $1.50 - $2.50. Evening - $6.00 - $19.00
Websitehttp://www.fiddlecontest.com/index.htmlInfophone208--414-0255
Emailadmin@fiddlecontest.com
