The Fiddler's Grove Ole Time Fiddler's & Bluegrass Festival® is held over Memorial Day weekend every year. The festival strives to maintain a low-key, family feel by limiting ticket sales to the first 5,000 takers. Tickets for the 2008 event will go on sale in February - March of 2008, and advanced ticket sales offer a significant discount for the entire festival weekend, and entry for 
children under 10 is free. Camping is available on site in this beautiful wooded area of the Brushy Mountain foothills. Motel accommodations are also available nearby.
On stage competition and workshops in all instrumental categories, as well as the informal "jam sessions" that spring up any time of the day or night throughout the festival grounds, provide an ongoing learning experience in traditional music. There are individual Junior and Senior competitions in fiddle, banjo, autoharp, mandolin, harmonica, guitar, dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, dobro, and bass fiddle.
Fiddler's Grove's instrumental focus is the fiddle, and the grand finale of the competition is the play-off for the title of "Fiddler of the Festival". The champion 1st place winners from each of the five fiddle competition categories compete for this honor. Please take a look at photos of the contestants in the 2003 "Fiddler of the Festival" playoffs. Every one is a Champion!
Each year Master Fiddler Robin Warren returns to Fiddler's Grove with Guitarist Brian Clancey as Spirit Fiddle. Robin won the "Fiddler of the Festival" award in 1977, 1980, 1982 qualifying her to be our first "Master Fiddler". Spirit Fiddle CDs are available through their website.
In addition, there are three other unique features of the Fiddler’s Grove Festival designed to keep
traditional old time fiddle music alive:
- Certified Old Time Fiddle Category - open only to fiddlers 55 years or older who play strictly by ear and who have had no formal violin training.
- Twin Fiddle Category - 2 fiddlers playing in harmony with one another.
- Heritage Tune Exhibition - a competition designed to preserve older traditional tunes. The fiddler is required to give the origin and story of the tune before performing it.
Pictured to the right are Josh Goforth, our newest (and youngest ever) Master Fiddler, and Laura Boosinger. Josh and Laura provide Special Entertainment during the festival, and Laura leads a Shape Note Singing Workshop on Sunday mornings.
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One of the unique aspects of Fiddler's Grove is its appeal to all ages. In a family friendly environment, very young children are introduced to the musical traditions and heritage of their elders. For more pictures taken at our festival, please visit our Photo Album.
Festival founder Harper Van Hoy is
flanked on stage by "Doc" Watson
and his grandson Richard Watson. |
Harper's granddaughters
Sarah and Rebecca Barker
are playing on very small
fiddles to accommodate
their very young arms. |
Although the Official Program does not begin until Friday evening, musicians and campers begin arriving early in the week, and jam sessions begin on Thursday or earlier.
We invite you to view a complete list of the prize winners at the 2007 Fiddler's Grove® Ole Time Fiddler's & Bluegrass Festival held May 25 - 27, 2007.
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Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Wanona Van Hoy passed away on March 4, 2006, following a brief illness. Wansie was a remarkable woman: educator, great grandmother, festival organizer, and more. The family invites you to read more about Wansie. And Harper would love to hear from you!
Fiddler's Grove has been in the news recently! Articles have appeared in the New York Times and in Carolina Music Ways.
 The Van Hoy Family
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