40th Annual Fiddler’s Jamboree Set for July 1 & 2

The 40th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, July 1 & 2
Jack Barton, Fiddler’s Jamboree Coordinator, said this year’s festival promises to be a little extra special with the 40th anniversary, but don’t expect much change in the program.
In addition to hundreds of crafts displayed along many of the downtown streets, the Fiddler’s Jamboree will once again offer plenty of delicious foods for sale at local food booths, lots of shade tree picking, and great on-stage music and dancing competitions.
Visit the Fiddler’s Jamboree website for more details at www.smithvillejamboree.com
Last years Grand Champion Fiddling Title went to Bill Birchfield of Roan Mountain, Tennessee.
(Click here to see video clip of 2010 Fiddling Champion Bill Birchfield of Roan Mountain, Tennessee)
Preliminaries will be held in the following categories on Friday, July 1 starting at 9:00 a.m.
Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (solos and duets); Flat Top Guitar; Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Dobro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event; Youth Square Dancing, Old Time Fiddle Band; Autoharp; Gospel Singing (solos); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Gospel Singing (duets, trios, and quartets); and Mandolin.
The top three acts in each category will be called back for the finals on Friday night and a first, second, and third place will be awarded.
On Saturday, July 2 starting at 9:00 a.m., preliminaries will be held in the following categories:
Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Bluegrass Band; Bluegrass Fiddle, Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing. The winner of the Bluegrass Fiddle will receive the Neil Dudney Award, named for the former longtime President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree.
Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.
The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.
Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held Saturday afternoon during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.
Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.
One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer and the top fiddler will get the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Trophy.
WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE and on-line at www.wjle.com.