Fiddle contests and old-time music in the West
Fiddle contests and old-time music across the West, each compiled from its own sources: dates, divisions, and where the jams happen.
Point at a dot to see the place.Tap a dot to see the place.
Arizona
- Ajo Oldtime Fiddle ContestAjo · Old time fiddlers contestAn old-time fiddle contest held each February at the clubhouse of Ajo's community golf course, a former Air Force officers' club, with jamming from Thursday to Sunday.
- Arizona State Fiddle ContestPayson · State fiddle contestArizona's state fiddle championship, held in Payson since the 1960s, where in 2026 the top two fiddlers settled the title on the county fair's evening concert stage.
- Bluegrass on the BeachLake Havasu CityA bluegrass festival on the Lake Havasu State Park shoreline in Arizona, held the first weekend of March, where campers arrive Monday and jam all week before three days of concerts.
- Desert Bluegrass FestivalMarana · Bluegrass festivalA three-day spring bluegrass festival on a town soccer field in Marana, Arizona, where Friday is free and pickers draw names from a bucket to form bands.
- FFOTM Wednesday open jamFlagstaff · Open jamAn open bluegrass jam held every Wednesday at noon in Flagstaff, Arizona, in Wheeler Park in summer and beside the Flagstaff Mall fireplace in winter.
- Glendale Folk & Heritage FestivalGlendale · Folk and heritage festivalA free two-day folk festival at Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, where musicians play from the porches of an old fruit ranch and workshops teach spoons and saw.
- Matheson Music FestivalSafford · Music festivalA February festival of bluegrass, old-time and Americana at the Graham County Fairgrounds in Safford, Arizona, where the camping rules set no quiet hours for acoustic music.
- Phoenix Old Time Music Society jamsGlendale · Old-time traditional music jamsGathering around the Valley for over 20 years, playing a mix of traditional fiddle tunes, Appalachian Mountain music, Canadian, Irish & Scottish tunes (jigs, polkas, reels, waltzes, hornpipes) and more.
- Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass FestivalFlagstaff · Bluegrass festivalA three-day September bluegrass festival at Fort Tuthill's Pepsi Amphitheater south of Flagstaff, Arizona, where campers jam in the ponderosas and a Friday caller runs a free square dance.
- Prescott Bluegrass FestivalPrescott · Bluegrass festivalA free two-day bluegrass festival on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza in Prescott, Arizona, begun as a fiddle contest for a local fiddler and free since 1996.
- Salome FiddlefestSalome · Multi-day old-time fiddle festivalA multi-day old-time fiddle festival held at the Salome Lions Club, with RV parking, meals, and open jamming for fiddlers and friends.
- Southern Arizona Old Time Fiddlers weekly jamTucson · Old-time fiddle jamWeekly jams every Tuesday at 2:00 PM Mission View RV Park
- Tucson Fiddle ContestTucson · Fiddle contestAnnual public fiddle contest with age divisions, free admission, cash prizes.
- Verde Valley Old Time Fiddlers jamCottonwood · Old-time fiddle jamArizona Old Time Fiddlers chapter meeting with weekly jams.
- Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival and ContestWickenburg · Bluegrass festivalA three-day bluegrass festival and string contest held each November in Wickenburg's rodeo arena, started in 1980 by a western swing performer known in town as Buck Wayne.
- Yuma Silver Spur Fiddle ContestYuma · Old time fiddlers contestSponsored and hosted by the Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo; now in its 49th year, a weekend of competition, dancing, and community bringing together fiddlers of all ages and abilities from across Arizona and the Southwest.
California
- Berkeley Old-Time Music ConventionBerkeley · Old-time music conventionAn annual five-day old-time music convention spread across Berkeley, California, whose string band contest still pays in agricultural prizes, as its 1968 ancestor paid in rutabagas.
- California State Old Time Open Fiddle & Picking Championships (Lodi)Lodi · Fiddle & picking championshipsCalifornia's state old-time fiddle and picking contest, held each April in Jackson Hall at Lodi's Grape Festival Fairgrounds, with a 2026 field expected to span ages 7 to 93.
- Contra Dance Nevada County (Grass Valley)Grass Valley · Contra dancingA volunteer-run contra dance in Grass Valley, California, called to live music on third Saturdays on what is reportedly the oldest sprung floor west of the Mississippi.
- Fiddletown Fiddlers' JamFiddletown · Performance and event venueAn annual old-time fiddle contest and street jam in Fiddletown, California, held the third Saturday of September beneath a giant fiddle bolted to the community hall roof.
- Humboldt Folklife Festival (Blue Lake)Blue Lake · Barn danceAn eight-day summer folk festival at Dell'Arte in Blue Lake, California, begun in 1978 at a Fickle Hill dude ranch and booked with Humboldt County's own musicians.
- Oroville Old-Time Fiddlers monthly jam (CSOTFA District 1)Oroville · Circle jams & open mic performancesCalifornia non-profit corporation formed to educate about and perpetuate fiddling as an art form and cultural treasure.
- Santa Cruz Contra Dance at Live Oak GrangeSanta Cruz · Traditional social dancing eventContra Dance is a traditional social dancing event with origins in New England and Appalachia. Each dance is taught beforehand and prompted by a caller using gender neutral terms (Larks / Robins). No dancing experience or dance partner is necessary.
- Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk FestivalCalabasas · Music festival and competitionAn annual Sunday contest and folk festival at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, begun in 1961 by two housewives raising money for their church building fund.
Colorado
- Black Rose Acoustic Society jamsColorado Springs · Music jams in a variety of different genresOpen acoustic jams of the Black Rose Acoustic Society, held most weeks around Colorado Springs and, in summer, before Friday concerts in a 1929 log hall in Black Forest.
- Colorado Fiddle ChampionshipsDenver · Fiddle championshipThe contest is annually held the first weekend in the Beef Palace Auction Arena at the National Western Complex. The Colorado Fiddle Championships draws nationally recognized fiddlers, including previous Grand Champions of the National Oldtime Fiddlers' contest, Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest, Texas State Championships/Fiddlers Frolics and Grand Masters Champions.
- High Plains FiddlefestKiowa · Fiddle contestA Sunday fiddle contest held during the Elbert County Fair in Kiowa, Colorado, where local and national fiddlers play for cash prizes on fairgrounds open free to all.
- Louisville Old Time Fiddle ContestLouisville · Fiddle contestA free old-time fiddle contest held on Colorado Day at Louisville's Steinbaugh Pavilion, inside the Saturday farmers market, where first prize is an antique violin restored by a local luthier.
Idaho
- Idaho Bluegrass Association SpringFestBoise · Bluegrass festivalThe Idaho Bluegrass Association's free Memorial Day festival at Boise's Green Acres Food Truck Park: nine local bluegrass bands and a community square dance in the grass.
- Idaho State Fiddle and Picking ContestMountain Home · Fiddle and picking contestThe Idaho state fiddle and bluegrass picking contest, held in Mountain Home, where the 2026 contestants ran from a six-year-old to a seventy-year-old.
- Magic Valley Folk FestivalBurley · Week long event featuring music and dance from around the worldAn Idaho cultural event with authentic costuming, live music, and dances of the world.
- National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & FestivalWeiser · Performance & event venueFor 67 years, the National Oldtime Fiddlers have been keeping the iconic tradition and homegrown sound of the American fiddle alive in the northwest. The competition has a long history of being one of the best in the United States, and it happens the third full week of June every year.
- Western Idaho Fiddle ContestBoise · Fiddle contestThe Western Idaho Fiddle Contest is a celebration of fiddle music, bringing together talented musicians and enthusiastic audiences from across the region. Our contest provides a platform for musicians to showcase their skills and passion for fiddling, creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
Montana
- Glacier Fiddle FestivalKalispell · Old-time and folk musicAn annual old-time fiddle contest in a Kalispell church on U.S. 93, where fiddlers from four to past eighty play a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice.
- Lake Missoula Old TimeMissoula · Old time music and dance organizationCreates opportunities to engage with one another around old time music and dance through jams, workshops, and beginner-friendly square dances.
- Métis Heritage FestivalChoteau · Old-time and folk musicMétis people gathered in Choteau June 12-13 at the ninth annual Métis Heritage Festival to remember, celebrate and preserve the history and culture of their people.
- Missoula Folklore Society contra and square dancesMissoula · Contra and square dancesMFS events include contra and square dances, English Country dances, International Folk dances, concerts, music jams, and shape-note-singing.
- Montana Fiddle CampMonarch, Montana · Instructional acoustic music campA spectacular opportunity to unplug and enjoy music in the old-time acoustic tradition, Montana Fiddle Camp provides a retreat from daily demands and a fully immersive musical experience. Take in the raw beauty of the Little Belt mountains with hiking trails, historical points of interest, and the Belt Creek bordering the camp facilities near Monarch, Montana.
- Montana Folk FestivalButte · Old-time and folk musicA free outdoor music festival in Butte with multiple stages of continuous live performances and Folklife demonstrations.
- Montana Old-Time Fiddler's PicnicLivingston · An annual event put on by musicians for musiciansA 3-day event organized in an informal jam format meaning there is no formal schedule of performances or musical events. It's all impromptu and spontaneous. The picnic was the brain-child of James "Doc" Allison.
- Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association annual bluegrass festivalVictor · Spring bluegrass festivalA one-day spring bluegrass festival in Victor, Montana, where about eighteen bands take turns at a single microphone in a church-run hall, every one of them playing for free.
- Montana State Old-Time Fiddlers' Association ContestLolo · Fiddle contestCornerstone Church in Lolo is a non-denominational, family friendly environment with a great mix of current and familiar worship music, with relevant messages from God's word. Members of our congregation come from all walks of life and life experiences, but we promise you'll feel like you've found family on your first visit! Services are 10am on Sundays.
- Yellowstone Bluegrass Association weekly jamBillings · Weekly jamOur jams are open to the public and many people who simply come to listen have become members just because they enjoy listening to Bluegrass and Old Time Music and want to keep it alive in our state.
Nevada
- Jam On! monthly old-time jam at the Western Folklife Center (Elko)Elko · Free monthly jam sessionAll musicians and spectators welcome at this free monthly jam session. Mix of old-time fiddle tunes, folk songs, country tunes, ballads and more.
- Nevada State Old-Time Fiddlers' Contest (Eureka Opera House)Eureka · Old-time fiddlers' contestMay 14 & 15, 2027 at the Eureka Opera House in Eureka, Nevada
- Southern Nevada Old-Time Contra Dancers (Las Vegas)Las Vegas · Old-time contra danceContra Dance
New Mexico
- Albuquerque Contra DanceAlbuquerque · Contra dancesA fourth-Sunday afternoon contra dance at the Albuquerque Square Dance Center, run by a folk society that a few musicians founded in 1983 and later renamed for dancers.
- Bluegrass & Bagels JamSanta Fe · Monthly bluegrass jamA free second-Sunday bluegrass jam in Santa Fe's Railyard Park, where players take turns calling songs around a circle, with bagels and coffee from Boultawn's.
- Lea County Fair Fiddler's ContestLovington · Fiddle contestAnnual open fiddler's contest held on the Saturday of Lea County Fair & Rodeo week in the Yucca Building in Lovington, NM, with a Friday-evening Fiddler's Jam and awards by age group, twin fiddling, and accompanist categories.
- Pickamania Acoustic Music FestivalKingston · Acoustic music festivalAn acoustic music festival on the lawn of Kingston's Black Range Lodge, held each early September, that began in the 1980s on a garlic farm along Animas Creek.
- Queen Bee Folk JamSanta Fe · Monthly jam, free and open to the publicOpen to all levels and all instruments, come jam your favorite folk tunes. Don't know a bunch of tunes? No problem, we'll bring song books to select from.
- Queen Bee Old-Time JamSanta Fe · Old-time jamLed by Eric Carlson, we'll be playing and sharing our favorite old-time fiddle tunes by ear! All instruments are welcome, but we most commonly see fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and upright bass.
- Santa Fe Contra DanceSanta Fe · Contra danceContra dance is a form of traditional American social dance with its roots in western European folk dance. The structure of contra dance is long line sets down the dance hall with your partner across from you.
- Virginia Creepers Old-Time JamAlbuquerque · Hosted open jamOpen Old-Time Jam - Hosted by the Virginia Creepers Every Monday, 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the ABQ Press Club
Oregon
- OOTFA District 7 Youth Fiddle Contest, Oaks Park, Portland ORPortland · Youth fiddle contestCome watch and spread the word to support our next generation of fiddlers
- Oregon Old Time Fiddlers monthly jam, Roxy Ann GrangeMedford · Monthly old-time fiddlers jam
- Oregon State Open Fiddle Contest (OOTFA), Lebanon ORLebanon · Oldtime fiddlers' contestContestants play several tunes of different styles before a panel of judges with the public invited; the fiddler is accompanied by up to three rhythm players, and contests are divided into age divisions.
- Portland Old-Time Music GatheringPortland · Grassroots volunteer-run festivalA volunteer-run January festival of Appalachian string-band music held in Portland since 1999, whose 2026 Saturday square dance rotated eleven callers through three bands.
- Spencer Creek Grange winter square dances, Eugene OR (Lane County)Eugene · Old-time community square danceThree Winter Square Dances will be taking place at the Spencer Creek Grange over the course of the first three months of 2026. Dances will be held on Saturday evenings between 7:30 to 9:30 on January 10th, February 14th and March 14th.
- Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp, Enterprise ORWallowa · Week-long camp formatWallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp began in 2005, offering affordable group instruction to individuals and families in a relaxed, week-long camp format.
- Wheeler County Bluegrass FestivalFossil · Wheeler county bluegrass festivalA free bluegrass festival on the Wheeler County Courthouse lawn in Fossil, Oregon, begun in 2000 as a concert in memory of track coach Bill Bowerman.
- Willamette Valley Fiddle Contest, Benton County Fairgrounds, Corvallis ORCorvallis · Fiddle competitionOne of the longest-running competitions on the West Coast; brings national champions from all over the United States who are looking to get certified for the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest.
Utah
- Dixie chapter old-time jamSt. George · Old-time jam sessionTwice-monthly Wednesday-evening jam of the Dixie Chapter of the Utah Old Time Fiddlers in St. George, a group the town's pioneer museum credits with over 50 years of playing.
- Pahvant chapter old-time jamsDelta, Fillmore and the surrounding area · Old-time fiddlers chapter jam sessionsThe Pahvant chapter serves the general Pahvant County area (Delta, Fillmore and the surrounding area).
- Salt Lake chapter old-time jamSalt Lake City · Old-time music jamThe Salt Lake City chapter serves the greater Salt Lake City area. This chapter holds jam sessions the second and fourth Saturdays of each month – from 11 AM to 1 PM – at the Redwood Recreation Center (3060 Lester [3100 South and Redwood Road]).
- Utah County chapter old-time jamsOrem · Jam sessionThe public is invited at no cost or obligation; any "fiddle compatible" instrument is welcome (guitar, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, dulcimer, etc); the public may join in or just sit and enjoy.
- Utah State Fiddle ContestFillmore · Fiddle contestCategories span Junior Fiddle through Harmonica across age groups; awards for winners will be presented at the conclusion of the contest.
Washington
- Festival of American Fiddle Tunes (Centrum), Fort Worden, Port Townsend WAPort Townsend · All-day music festivalA week of fiddle classes, dances and late jams at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington, whose concerts fill a converted balloon hangar.
- Fiddlers on the Peak fiddle contest, Addy WAAddy · Old time fiddle and pickingAn old-time fiddle and picking contest held each May in the Addy Grange, Stevens County, Washington, and named for its first home near the 49 North ski resort.
- Oly Old Time Festival, Olympia WAOlympia · Annual old-time music festivalA four-day midwinter gathering of old-time string music and called square dances in Olympia, Washington, begun in 2008 at house jams, with every daytime workshop free.
- Sisco Heights Community Club old-time jams, Arlington WAArlingtonThis is a friendly, non-threatening, circle-jam, and a lot of fun. Acoustic instrument players of all ages and levels welcomed, as are listeners and (if we are lucky) dancers.
- Tumbleweed Music Festival, Howard Amon ParkRichland · FreeThe Tumbleweed Music Festival is a free acoustic gathering each Labor Day weekend in Richland's Howard Amon Park on the Columbia, run entirely by volunteers since 1997.
- WAMA Pickersfest, Oakview Grange, Centralia/Winlock WACentralia · Acoustic music festivalAn acoustic music festival of workshops, genre jams, and campground picking, held each August at Oakview Grange in north Centralia since leaving Winlock's Winolequa Park in 2024.
Wyoming
- Nowoodstock Ten Sleep Music FestivalTen Sleep · Music festivalA three-day August festival of Wyoming musicians in Vista Park, Ten Sleep, begun in 2001 after a jam session at the town coffee shop.
- Occidental Saloon Thursday Night Bluegrass JamBuffalo, Wyoming · MusicWeekly Thursday evening bluegrass, western and folk jam in the Occidental Saloon at the Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming; started in 2006; open to the public; never a cover charge; visiting musicians welcome to sit in.
- Quadra Dangle Square Dance Club at Gray's GablesLaramie · Old-time and folk musicBuilt in 1928 by the Union Pacific Railroad as an athletic club for employees and Laramie residents, the large log building on Grays Gable Road is now home to the Quadra Dangle Club.
- Targhee Bluegrass FestivalAlta · Bluegrass festivalCelebrate the 36th annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, one of the West's premier mountain music festivals.
- Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass FestivalWorland · BBQ championship and bluegrass festivalA KCBS-sanctioned barbecue championship and bluegrass festival held each third weekend of August since 2004 at the Washakie County Fairgrounds in Worland, where purchases are made in Bone Bucks.
- Wyoming State Fiddle Championships / Rocky Mountain Region Fiddle ChampionshipsCasper · Fiddle contestWyoming Fiddlers' Association District #4, established in 1977, perpetuates the art of oldtime fiddling and oldtime music. Hosts the Wyoming State Fiddle Championships and the Rocky Mountain Region Fiddle Championships & Music Festival simultaneously each year at the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo in Casper. Meets the second Sunday of each month for potluck, monthly meeting, and informal jam session.
More under The Calendar: Fairs & Rodeos, Town Festivals, and Holiday Celebrations.