Fiddle Associations, Contests & Festivals

The Idaho Open Fiddle Contest is a certified regional contest which will be held in the Nampa Civic Center each year.

The Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival is typically held every year in August. Admission is FREE, with only a one-time parking fee of $5. Wholesome food at low prices will be available, but feel free to bring a picnic. The festival is held at the Cheshire Fairgrounds, Swanzey, NH.

The National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest and Festival is an annual event offering many opportunities to listen and learn from some of the finest musicians in the world.

The Topanga Band and Fiddle Contest is a contest and festival combination with food and entertainment as well. There are around 45 folk arts booths and several merchant booths featuring weaving, ceramics, woodcarving, inlaying, leather craft, metal work, jewelry, needlework, painting, glass and more.

The New England Fiddle Contest is located at Manchester Community College, at the Manchester Bandshell in Manchester, CT. This contest is a positive event for the community and is supprted by the mayor of Manchester.

The Grand Master Fiddler Championship will be held yearly in Nashville, Tennessee during the IBMA Bluegrass Fan Fest. The Preliminary Round is open to all fiddlers. Last year, over 50 contestants from the US, Canada, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands competed in the competitions.

The Western Open Fiddle Contest takes place in the 3rd full week of October each year. There is also a Hill Billies concert that takes place during the festivities.

Since 1969 Spokane's Annual Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest has been host to a variety of ages and talents. It is one of the largest competitions in the area. You will hear fiddler’s from WA, OR, ID, MT, ND, SD, Canada and more.

California State Old Time Fiddler's Association Contests hold semi-annual fiddlers contests. Check the website for festival dates.

The Boston Scottish Fiddle Club holds monthly seminars with a differnt musical instructor providing members with a variety of teaching and playing styles while still carrying on the tradition of learning about and playing Scottish fiddle music.

The Wyoming Old Time Fiddle Association holds a series of contests and festivals throughout the year.

The Colorado Old Time Fiddler Association is responsible for providing and supporting fiddle contests held in Colorado, and is dedicated to the perpetuation and preservation of Old Time Fiddling in Colorado. Each year more and more people are exposed to fiddling due to the work that COTFA does.

The Long Island Traditional Music Association hosts Contradances throughout the year. They present many music and dance events and also sponsor programs to give musicians a chance to learn to play and sing traditional music.

A contestant must have lived in Oregon six months before the contest. A contestant must be a member of OOTFA but may join as late as the contest. Each contestant plays a hoedown, a waltz and a tune of choice. Tunes may not be repeated in the second/third rounds. Contestants must register at least 45 minutes before his or her round begins.