If there is one musical instrument most identified with the Ozarks, it might be the fiddle. From front porches to county courthouses, fiddle music has entertained generations of music lovers across the Ozark region. The Ozark Folk Center State Park celebrates this legacy with the annual Arkansas State Fiddle Championship and Workshops, September 18th through the 20th.
Co-sponsored by Old Time Ozark Traditions, Inc., this three-day event consists of fiddle and guitar workshops (Thursday September 18th) and two days of contests for all divisions of players. The Traditional Old Time contest is Friday September 19th and the Contemporary Style contest is Saturday September 20th. Contests run from 10:30 until around 4:30 each day and prizes will be awarded after each round. Contestant registration for each day of competition is $10. For those wanting to watch the contest each day, admission is free. However, admission fees apply to the workshops ($50 per day), Craft Village ($12 adults, $7 children ages 6-12 and under 6 free) and evening music concerts ($12 adults, $7 children ages 6-12 and under 6 free).
For a full rundown of workshop information, contest times, division and registration information please visit the Music page at ozarkfolkcenter.com or call 870 269-3851.
Some of the best fiddlers in the region will also be performing as part of the event. Evening concerts (7pm-9pm) at the Ozark Folk Center State Park will feature the following musicians;
Friday September 19th: Pepper Sauce Alley, The Keezletown Strutters, Casey Penn, Charley Sandage & Dave Brancecum and The Lazy Goat String Band.
Saturday Sept 20th: Caleb Cobb and The Cobb Brothers, Brad and Brandon Apple, Roger Fountain, Aarun Carter and Jonathan Trawick and Rough and Ready.
Admission for the evening shows is $12, no reserved seating. Doors open at 6pm each night. Tickets can also be purchased the day of each performance at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
The mission of Ozark Folk Center State Park is to perpetuate, present and promote the Ozark way of life in an educational and enjoyable manner; through craft demonstrations, musical programs, the Heritage Herb Garden, workshops and other special events. For more information on this and other events visit ozarkfolkcenter.com or call 870 269 3851.
