The Florida State Fiddlers Association
presents the
Official State Fiddle Contest
at The Florida Folk Festival
Memorial Day Weekend, May 24th-26th, 2024
Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center
White Springs, FL
http://www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest/
Fiddlers of all ages are invited to enter the official Florida State Fiddle Contest. The contest will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the “Under the Oaks” Stage near the food vendors on Saturday, May 25th.
The contest has five categories (in the order that they appear): Junior (up to 12 years old), Youth (13 to 19 years old), Open, Old Time, and Twin Fiddles.
Contestants may enter one individual category and the twin fiddle competition if they wish. Contestants may have no more than two back-up musicians.
Fiddles, drums and electric instruments may not be used as backup instruments.
To enter the contest, fiddlers who have not preregistered must sign up at the Under the Oaks Stage beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Entry fees are $10 per division.
Pre-register with FSFA before May 1st for a full camping/weekend pass, available for fiddle contestants.
The cost is $50 which includes Festival entry for one adult, a campsite, and a fiddle contest registration. A limited number of these registrations are available and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Each campsite accommodates the contestant and family (maximum of four people, please). The others will need to purchase their own weekend passes at the festival.
To pre-register, send your check for $50 payable to FSFA along with the following information:
Name of Contestant:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Email:
Number of people in camping party:
Number of vehicles:
Email this information to:
floridafiddlers@gmail.com
by May 1st, 2024
Please mail your check (payable to FSFA) to:
Florida State Fiddlers Association
P.O. Box 20824
Tallahassee, FL 32316
Scan the QR Code to pay online:
Official fiddle contest rules are available online at:
http://www.nettally.com/fiddler/contest_guidelines.pdf
Below is an online Link for Pre-Registration:
https://forms.gle/dp1dtAfEzRuj2y3MA
Cash Prizes for 2024
Junior (through age 12)
1st – $50
2nd – $30
3rd – $20
Youth (13-17)
1st – $60
2nd – $40
3rd – $30
Adult Open
1st – $100
2nd – $60
3rd – $40
Adult Old Time
1st – $100
2nd – $60
3rd – $40
Twin Fiddles – All Ages
(prize total is for the duo, and would be split between the 2 contestants)
1st – $100
2nd – $60
3rd – $40
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Florida Fiddle Contest
Junior:
1st – Nina Ryker
2nd – Elena Ryker
3rd – Elizabeth Ayres
Youth:
1st – Katy Hill
2nd – Simone Seely
3rd – Allie Dollar
Twin:
1st – Tom & Michael Lubben
2nd – Abigail Gruber & David Strickland / Duval County
3rd – Allie Dollar & Tom Van Treese
Open:
1st – Tom Lubben
2nd – Rosalee Walsh
3rd – Gabriel Acevedo
Old Time:
1st – Rosalee Walsh
2nd – Abigail Gruber / Duval County
3rd – Teresa O’Neill
List of Fiddle Contest Winners from 1981 to present!
Florida Fiddlers Association 
Is there going to be a fiddle contest this year too? Or was it just 2016?
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There is always a Fiddle Contest at the Florida Folk Festival, sponsored by FSFA. It is the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend each year. See the link at the top of our website.
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Thank you! Are they accepting any more participants for the fiddle contest? I couldn’t find anywhere to sign up.
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You can sign up on-site, but if you’d like to do it early we should have a pre-registration form up on our website soon (on the Fiddle Contest page.) There will be an option to register for the contest and camping for $50, or just the contest for $10 (camping is limited, so the earlier the better if choosing this option.)
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Thank you so much! You’ve been very helpful!
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There is a contest every year. It is held during the Florida Folk Festival weekend, on the Saturday.
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Where and when do we need to arrive to sign up for the fiddle competition onsite?
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Heritage Stage (outside Auditorium building) at 10:00 for registration. There will be a sign-up table. Contest starts at 11:00. Good luck!
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The fiddle contest is now held at the “Under the Oaks” stage
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Sending in my pre-registration and check for $50 today. I am bringing a camper and family will join me at the camp but not compete. I don’t need to per-register for 2 addl. family members do I? Thanks Kay.
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No, they can register for weekend or day passes at the welcome center when they arrive, Brett. Once we get your pre-registration for contest and camping, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Good luck with the contest!
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Is it too late to get a camping pass?
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Yes, sorry Michael. We have already sent out list to FFF and they are being very strict about it this year.
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Thanks, I understand. See you next year!
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Hi, I sent in my registration a couple of months ago with my check for contest and camping and haven’t received or heard anything yet. Would you be able to tell me my status? My name is Paula.
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Hi, Paula. We sent you an email confirmation. You might want to check your spam filter. In any case, we have you registered for camping and the fiddle contest, Twin and Contemporary Divisions. Camping is for 4 people and 2 cars (second car will have to unload and park out in the parking lot just outside the campground, only one allowed to stay in campground). One full weekend pass is included for your contestant, others will need to purchase weekend festival passes when picking up your packet at the welcome center just outside Stephen Foster Park. Good luck with the contest!
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Brett Waller asked me to accompany him in the fiddle contest on Saturday. I can’t stay all day and I’m not camping. I will probably sign up for the contest, too. Can I get a pass to get in to play in the contest?
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Tommy, I’ll pass this along to our President (Carol Whisler) and ask her to get in touch with you about it.
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Hi Tommy, I very sorry, but I am required to have all the names in by May 1st. The Folkfest has already sent out the tickets. Carol
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