Event

Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival

Homestead National Historical Park

Fee:

Free.

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Time:

10:00 AM

Type of Event

Festival

Saturday, May 25, 2024 -Fiddle Festival workshop – 10 am -Fiddle Festival competition – Noon *** Sunday, May 26, 2024, featuring Hillary Klug -Jam Session with Buck Dancing Workshop – 12-1pm -Performance – 1-2pm


Description

Saturday, May 25: There will be fiddle competitions for juniors and seniors, a picking competition if you play a stringed instrument that’s not the fiddle, and an acoustic band competition featuring stringed instruments. There’s also a free workshop.

Sunday, May 26: Homestead National Historical Park is excited to welcome keynote performer Hillary Klug joined by musicians David Marsh and Terry Keefe.

National Champion Buckdancer, Hillary Klug is known for her fiddling and dancing. She has over 1 Million Facebook followers, more than 25 viral videos, and her biggest video has over 61 million views! Since becoming an internet sensation, Hillary Klug has performed in many different countries with big name acts and in prestigious venues; most notably The Nashville Symphony and Konzert Haus in Vienna, Austria.

The first part of this event on Sunday will be a jam session accompanied by a buck dancing workshop with Hillary. The second half will be a performance by Hillary and a demonstration of her dancing.

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**Please note, if it rains on May 25 or 26, 2024, some events may move into the Education Center, but the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival will otherwise continue as scheduled.**

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Details pertaining to competitive events on Saturday, May 25, 2024

  • There are 3 main Divisions of Competition

 —Junior–        for folks who have played less than 5 years

1st Place--$300

2nd--Place--$200

3rd Place--$150
           

—Senior–        for folks who have played 5 years or more

1st Place--$350

2nd--Place--$250

3rd Place--$200

 

—Picking–       for folks who play a stringed instrument that is not a fiddle

1st Place--$350

2nd--Place--$250

3rd Place--$200


—Band–          for acoustic bands that feature stringed instruments

1st Place --$400

2nd Place--$300

3rd Place--$250

 

  • Each contestant in the individual divisions will play 3 tunes. . .

            —a Hoedown (upbeat danceable tune in two or four)
            —a Waltz (danceable tune in three)
            —a Tune of Choice (a tune other than a hoedown or a waltz, such as jigs, polkas, rags, blues, etc.)

  • Contestants can play with one or two backup acoustic musicians,
    neither to be playing melody. A backup guitarist is available for contestants who want one.
  • Contestant will be judged on pitch, tone, rhythm, and presentation (showmanship, interpretation, flair, creativity, charisma, adherence to the rules, etc.).
  • Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the Junior, Senior, Picking, and Acoustic Band Divisions.

                                                                Rules That Apply to All Contests

  • Contestants in all divisions are encouraged to announce each tune and to give a one sentence explanation of its origin.
  • All decisions of the judges are final.

Reservation or Registration: No