WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-Athens to host 43rd Old Time Fiddler's Convention
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By Bobby Shuttleworth - bio | email
ATHENS, AL (WAFF) - If you like old time mountain music, Athens is where you need to be this weekend.
This weekend it will be home to the 43rd Annual Old Time Fiddlers Convention.
Co-Chair Rick Mould says up to 15,000 people from 30 states gather around Athens State for the convention and competition.
The competition kicks off Friday night at 7:00 p.m., and Satuday the gates will open at 7:00 a.m. with the contest starting at 8:30 a.m.
Tickets on Friday are $8, Saturday $10, and $15 for both days. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a parent.
"We'll have about 200 musicians who will perform over the weekend," said Mould.
There are 18 different categories, including several fiddle and guitar categories, harmonica, mandolin, bluegrass banjo, dulcimer, old time singing, banjo, and buck dancing.
The convention culminates in a "fiddle-off," between the top two fiddlers.
The winning fiddler is declared "tennessee valley old time fiddle champion," and takes home a trophy and $1000.
A total of $11,850 will be awarded to contestants.
Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press will headline Friday night.
There is music, fun, and food says Necedah Henderson in the Athens University Club.
"There's just anything you can think of we have to eat here at this convention," said Henderson.
There will be approximately 150 booths featuring old-fashioned arts and crafts are part of the convention.
Convention goers will see everything from traditional artwork to coal-fired metal works.
In addition to the musical competition, hundreds of musicians will participate in the numerous jam sessions conducted across the athens state campus during the weekend.
Many people camp in travel trailers and even tents during the event on the university property.
To find out more about the 43rd Annual Old Time Fiddlers Convention go to www.athens.edu/fiddlers.
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C'mon, play. You know you want to. The boss will never know.
