Fiddlers to gather in Sparta

Pickers and fans of bluegrass and old time music will gather in Sparta this Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, for the ninth-annual Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention.

It will be held at the Carlisle Higgins Agricultural Fairgrounds on U.S. 21 north in Sparta.

The convention will have competition for junior and senior bands and individuals in old time and bluegrass categories. Winners will share $2,850 in cash prizes and will also receive ribbons. Fans will see a continuous show of competition and special entertainment Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night. Competition begins at 6 p.m. Friday for all categories and will continueuntil all those who want to compete that night have played. The contest will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by dance competition and entertainment.

A highlight of the show is the senior band playoffs on Saturday night. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the best 15 old time bands and best 15 bluegrassbands, as judged in earlier competition, will return to the stage for championship playoffs.

Tickets are $6 for Friday, $7 for Saturday, or $10 for both days. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Sonia Joines and Harold Mitchell will be returning as emcees. Vendors will also be on site with food and a variety of other items.

Categories include bluegrass bands, old time bands, old time and bluegrass fiddle, old time and bluegrass banjo, mandolin, guitar, acoustic bass, autoharp, dulcimer, dobro, vocal and harmonica. Junior categories (age 16 and under) are band, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass.

Dancers will compete in three age categories — senior (16 and up), junior (9-15) and children's (up to age 8). Registration for all categories is backstage at the convention. Camping is available first-come, first-served for $10 per night per space.

The fairgrounds opened to campers at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. Proceeds from the convention will benefit the Sparta-Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department. For more information, see the convention's website at www.alleghanycountyfiddlersconvention.com; email the department at savfd@skybest.com; or call 372-8809.

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