BRIGHT ON A RAINY NIGHT — Four spectators brave the rain alone in their lawnchairs after donning brightly-colored ponchos to get a closer view of the band competition on a rainy Saturday night. The area in front of the stage was wide open after spectators rushed to the covered grandstand when the rain started. On stage is "Southern Pride" of Galax, Va., which took first place in the old time band competition.

Rain fails to dampen fiddler's convention

Despite a steady downpour on Saturday night, the 10th annual Alleghany Fiddler's Convention had good attendance overall and was deemed a success by its organizers.

The event is operated by the Sparta-Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department as a fundraiser.

Fireman Tommy Calhoun, who handled registrations for the event, said he hadn't had time to calculate the number who participated as of Tuesday, but said there seemed to be a good turnout. "I think we had a good show and a good number of contestants," he said. "Everything seemed to work well."

The firemen were busy on Sunday and Monday washing mud off the paved areas of the fairgrounds after campers pulled out.

"The rain may have hurt a little on attendance (Saturday night), but it didn't seem to hamper the show too much," said Calhoun.

Groups continued to perform during the steady downpour on Saturday night and the crowd stayed mostly dry underneath the grandstand cover. Sparta Fire Chief Terry McGrady said the department registered more than 150 campers this year, which was up from last year.

He said attendance estimates ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 this year.

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