The Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention, officially known as the Blue Grass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention, brings together musicians and fans for two full days of competition, jam sessions, dancing, singing, education, and family entertainment. This popular festival, established in 1972, is dedicated to old-time and bluegrass music, as well as dance. The Fiddlers Convention features solo and band competitions whose winners are awarded cash prizes.
Jams
My favorite thing to do at these events is to roam among the campsites and take in the great impromptu music played by anyone with an instrument who wants to take part. Here’s one such jam at the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention from a few years back.
Workshops at the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention
Free Old-Time and Bluegrass workshops at the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention will be offered Tuesday-Friday, May 31 – June 3, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm in the Grandstand at Veterans Park. Workshops include fiddle, banjo, vocals, guitar, jams, dance, and more. Instructors and bands include Emily Spencer, Martha Spencer, Kirk Sutphin, Kevin Fore, Chester McMillian, Wes Clifton, Trish Fore, Mustard Cutters Band, Pilot Mountain Bobcats Band, Nancy and Bill Sluys, Darrius Flowers, and others. A complete schedule of workshops, jams, and dances will be available at the gate. These special workshops all week long are made possible by grants from the Grassroots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, and additional special funding from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in honor of the 50th anniversary of the convention. Email justyn@surryarts.org with questions.
Places to Stay Near the Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention
You can camp on-site or for future visits, consider Pilot’s Perch Cabins in Fancy Gap, VA, just 30 minutes away.
More Info
See here to find out more.
Schedule
Tuesday-Friday
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Old-Time and Bluegrass Workshops in Grandstand
Thursday
7:00 p.m.
Junior Sisk Band in concert on the Main Stage
Friday
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Old-Time Workshops in Grandstand
7:00 p.m.
All Bands Perform
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Folk Song in Grandstand
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Bluegrass & Old-Time Banjos and Fiddles
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro, Bass Fiddle, Dulcimer, Autoharp
5:45 p.m.
Youth Dance and Awards
6:00 p.m.
All bands perform
Adult dance after the completion of the band competition
Contact Info
Veteran’s Memorial Park
P.O. Box 445
Mount Airy NC 27030
Office Phone (please leave a message):
336.755.2362
Phone for Camping Questions:
336.710.3014 (please call after 5:00 p.m. EST)
Email for Convention Questions:
Randy Hiatt at rmhiatt1966@gmail.com
Doug Joyner at streetglide0709@yahoo.com
Email for Camping Questions:
Doug Joyner at streetglide0709@yahoo.com
Email for Contest Questions:
judithmappa@ymail.com
