2022 Fiddlers Convention Set for October 6-8

Fiddlers Aerial

Athens State University will be welcoming old time music lovers of all ages to campus from October 6-8, 2022 for the 55th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, presented by Aetos Systems, Inc.

Musical competitions will be held on the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Main Stage in front of Founders Hall, Delmore Brothers Stage in McCandless Hall sponsored by Blake Williams Communications, and at the Pettus Plumbing & Piping, Inc. Brown Hall stage with over $47,000 in prize money to be awarded. Proceeds from the convention fund student scholarships and other university projects throughout the year.

Entertainment:

The 2022 Fiddlers Convention’s star-studded concert line-up includes:

  • Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 pm – Darin & Brooke Aldridge *Free Preview Night – No Admission Ticket Required*
  • Friday, October 7 at 5:00 pm – Balsam Range
  • Saturday, October 8 at 5:00 pm – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

All concerts will take place on the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Main Stage at Founders Hall. Access to all Fiddlers Convention entertainment is included with the purchase of an admission ticket.

Competitions:

Historically, the convention has attracted more than 15,000 people for the Friday and Saturday competitions, with more than 200 musicians participating. Competitions will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 7, resume at 9:30 am on Saturday, October 8, and conclude with the crowning of the Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion on Saturday night.

Beginning this year, all competition categories will now have eight (8) award places instead of five (5) with a cash prize for each place. In addition, there will now be 20 different categories of competition, including several fiddle and guitar categories, Harmonica, Mandolin, Bluegrass Banjo, Dobro, Dulcimer, Old Time Singing, Old Time Banjo, and Appalachian Buck Dancing. All individual categories will be designated Alabama State Champion, and the open fiddle category will be designated Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion.

New for 2022, the following competition categories have been discontinued:

  • Beginner Musician
  • Junior Fiddler
  • Intermediate Fiddler
  • Fiddle-Off

The following competition categories have been added:

  • Beginner Banjo
  • Beginner Mandolin
  • Beginner Guitar
  • Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion

Instead of a Beginner Musician category, the new categories for children will now be Beginner Banjo (12 and under), Beginner Mandolin (12 and under), Beginner Guitar (12 and under), and Beginner Fiddler (10 and under).

There will no longer be a Fiddle-Off between the top contestants in the three main Fiddle categories. Instead, the Junior Fiddler and Intermediate Fiddler categories have been removed, and a new open Fiddle Category has been added – Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion. A fiddler may NOT enter more than one fiddle category. Anyone who wishes to compete for the Fiddle Championship must enter this category. The winner of this category will receive the grand prize of $2,000 and title of Alabama State Fiddle Champion.

Bank Independent Cash Giveaway:

Convention guests will also have the opportunity to enter the annual Bank Independent Cash Giveaway. This year, the cash prizes will be: $500 on Thursday, $1,000 on Friday, and $1,000 on Saturday.

Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors:

Approximately 150 booths featuring old-fashioned arts and crafts will be open for business in the Nanny’s Old Fashioned Lemonade Craft Vendor Area. Convention goers will see everything from traditional artwork to coal-fired metal works.  Food vendors will also be on hand at the Pepsi Food Court to provide anything from a quick snack to a full meal.

Tickets:

Cost of admission wristbands (sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union) will be $20 per adult for Friday, $20 per adult for Saturday, or $25 per adult for a weekend pass. Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paid adult. The preview night concert scheduled for Thursday evening is free and does not require the purchase of an admission ticket.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.TVOTFC.org or www.eventbrite.com. The purchase of an admission ticket includes access to all convention entertainment, events, and activities as well as entry to one competition category.

Airstream Rally:

The Alabama Unit of the Wally Byam Airstream Club will host a Special Event Rally at Athens State University to coincide with the Fiddlers Convention again this year.Holding the rally in Athens will give event-goers the opportunity to experience the rich culture and history of the city as well as enjoy all of the excitement the Fiddlers Convention has to offer. For further information about this year’s rally, please contact athensairstreamrally@gmail.com.

Sponsors:

Specials thanks to all of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention sponsors and supporters:

  • Aetos Systems (Presenting Sponsor)
  • Pettus Plumbing & Piping, Inc. (Brown Hall Main Stage Sponsor)
  • Nanny’s Old Fashion Lemonade (Family, Friends, Fiddlers Sponsor – Craft Vendor Area and Shade-Tree Picking Area)
  • Pepsi (Family, Friends, Fiddlers Sponsor – Food Court Venue)
  • Bank Independent (Cash Giveaway Sponsor)
  • Listerhill Credit Union (T-Shirt Sponsor)
  • Redstone Federal Credit Union (Wristband Sponsor)
  • The Orthopaedic Center TOC (Backstage Sponsor)
  • Blake Williams Communications (Delmore Brothers Stage Sponsor – McCandless Hall)
  • Breeze Airways/Huntsville International Airport (Shuttle Sponsor)
  • Johnston RV (RV Campground Sponsor)
  • Alabama State Council for the Arts
  • Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area
  • Alabama Tourism Department

For more information about the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, please visit www.tvotfc.org or call the Athens State Office of University Advancement at (256) 233-8215.

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