Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival Prize Money Raised to $3,350!

Date: May 25, 2016

The sound of fiddlers playing hoedowns, waltzes and other tunes from the homesteading era will fill the air on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival at Homestead National Monument of America! The day begins at 10 a.m.with fiddling and harmonica workshops led by Deb Greenblatt and David Seay. The competition begins at noon with fiddlers competing for $3,350 in award monies, along with a chance to win a new violin! Chairs will be provided at this outdoor event or guests can bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. 

Registration opens at10 a.m.for all divisions. Fiddlers can register in the Junior (five years or less of playing), Senior (more than five years of playing) or the Legends division (have won the Senior Division). The Acoustic Band competition follows the divisions competition. In addition, there will be Tune Writing Competition, and the best left-handed fiddler and the youngest fiddler will be recognized. But you don't have to be a fiddler to come! Everyone is welcome to enjoy this great music. Food will be available for purchase from Back Alley Eatery.

"We have fiddlers return year after year to play and we also have new competitors. In fact, we have one family who is starting their second generation of competitors at the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival," said Superintendent Mark Engler. "I am confident that this year will be even better and visitors will get to listen to the most talented fiddlers in the area," added Engler.

This event is made possible by generous donations from the Coffin Family Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and Eastern National who operates the bookstores at Homestead National Monument of America.

Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2016. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (Homestead National Monument of America).

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska or 45 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska. Current hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit https://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm.