WELCOME TO THE ALLEGHANY COUNTY FIDDLER'S CONVENTION 2025!
The Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention is proud to present its annual gathering of string musicians, dancers and fans in Sparta, NC. Bluegrass and old time musicians will compete (in no particular order) on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Then on Saturday night, the top 15 senior bluegrass and top 15 senior old time bands will return to the stage for a hot pickin' championship playoff!
Musicians come for friendly competition, camaraderie, and to show and hone their skills. Others come to see and hear the contest, scout around the fairgrounds for hot jam sessions, kick up their heels, see their friends and neighbors, and sample the fare of a variety of vendors.
The Saturday night show is 100 percent hot pickin' bands. The top 15 bluegrass and top 15 old time bands (as judged in Friday night and earlier Saturday competition) return to the stage starting at 7:30 p.m. for the grand championship senior band playoffs.
2025 Dates & Times
Thursday, July 17
4 p.m. - Songwriter Circle Jam
Friday, July 18
5 p.m. - Opening entertainment
6 p.m. - Competition for junior and senior bands and individuals
Saturday, July 19
11 a.m. - Competition continues for junior and senior bands and individuals
Approx.
5:30 p.m. - Dance competition for all age categories, followed by youth awards & special entertainment
7:30 p.m. - Senior band championship playoffs
Schedule of events
Friday
5 p.m. - Opening Entertainment
6 p.m. until - Competition for all categories (except dance)
Saturday
11 a.m. - Competition continues for all categories (except dance)
5:30 p.m. - Senior, junior and children's dance contests
7:30 p.m. - Senior band playoffs
Around 11:30 p.m. - Presentation of awards
On Friday night and during the day Saturday, the audience will see and hear a variety of bands, individual and duet contestants who come to the stage when they are ready to play, in no particular order.
You never know who's coming next!
1st - $100 and Ribbon
2nd - $80 and Ribbon
3rd - $60 and Ribbon
4th & 5th - Ribbons
Old time fiddle and banjo; bluegrass fiddle and banjo; and vocal duet.
All dancers compete.
16 and under, may have one adult.
1st - $70 and Ribbon
2nd - $50 and Ribbon
3rd - $30 and Ribbon
4th and 5th - Ribbon
Age 16 and under, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and acoustic bass
1st - $15 and Ribbon
2nd - $10 and Ribbon
3rd - $5 and Ribbon
4th and 5th Ribbon
1st -$50 and Ribbon
2nd -$40 and Ribbon
3rd – $30 and Ribbon
4th & 5th – Ribbon Old
time and bluegrass fiddle, old-time and bluegrass banjo, guitar, bass fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, Dobro, autoharp, vocal, and harmonica.
1st - $400 and Ribbon
2nd - $250 and Ribbon
3rd - $100 and Ribbon
4th - $75 and Ribbon
5th - $50 and Ribbon
