The contest was originally started by the late Jodie Hall 29 years ago. The first year the contest was held at the fairgrounds, but it rained and the whole thing was moved to the courthouse. The next year the festival became an Official KY State Championship and was moved to the state park just below the dam.
Each year the festival grows with more contestants and more visitors attending. This year organizer, Brent Miller expects 150-200 contestants.
Contestants come from all across the United States to play in the festival. Players start traveling across the U.S. to attend these types of festivals in mid-March and continue until mid-October.
Many visitors attending the Old Time Fiddlers Contest have been coming to Grayson County for years. Some have been coming every one of the 28 years we have hosted the event!
Miller said, "It's like a family reunion each year, so many people keep coming back."
Every year the festival features different contests on Friday and Saturday.
Friday contests include Harmonica, Beginner Open (15 and under), Bluegrass Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Bluegrass Band.
Saturday events include Old Time Banjo, PeeWee Fiddler (10 and under), Beginner Fiddler (11-15), Sr. Fiddler (60 and over), Old Time String Band, Jr. Fiddler (35 and under), Mandolin, Intermediate Fiddler (36-59), Jig Dancing--Division I and Jig Dancing--Division II, Back Up Musician of the Year, and Fiddle Off.
The PeeWee Fiddler class is a new one this year. It divides the younger group from the older group, a necessity since many more youth are developing interests in the music.
The surge of interest is leading to a rebirth of the music and many of the newer players are learning to play by ear or by using the Suski Method.
The Old Time Fiddler Contest offers a purse to the winners and pays the judges for their services. Everyone else involved in the contest, all the organizers and people it takes to get the show together do so voluntarily.
Dedication to the music seems to have passed down from Jodie Hall to the present organizers and volunteers, including Steve Hall and Carolyn Hall, Jodie's children, who still take an active part in their father's legacy.
Carolyn Hall has developed a web page for anyone interested in keeping up with the festival. You can visit the web site at www.kentuckyfiddler.com.
Since the movie Brother Where Art Thou hit theaters Bluegrass Music has been on an upswing in popularity. Although the festival was already securely in the music world, organizers have seen attendance go through the roof.
This part of the world seems to be the Mecca of Bluegrass Music. The local AM radio station, WMTL-The Moose, is dedicated only to Bluegrass Music and the Grayson County Opry continues to entertain Bluegrass fans at the courthouse on Friday nights.
Many different organizations help sponsor the event in addition to the park. Transportation from the parking lot and the lobby of the park is provided by Leitchfield Deposit Bank and the Grayson County Rotary Club. Leo Mudd will continue his 28th year as Master of Ceremonies. The Grayson County Band Boosters will help with ticket sales and parking.
It takes a lot of hands to get everything put together and every year the people get along well and that helps everything go smoothly.
If you go take a lawn chair! The festival is held outdoors, so remember your sunscreen and umbrellas and hats.
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