The Long Way
Washington County
Four musicians play acoustic guitars on stage.
Plate I. Musicians on stage, National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest. From fiddlecontest.org

National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival

Weiser, Washington County, Idaho. Performance & Event Venue; third full week of June every year.

Details

Map. Weiser, Washington County, Idaho. Larger map
Where
Slocum Hall, 2235 Paddock Ave, Weiser, ID 83672. Directions
When
Third full week of June every year. Last held June 21–27, 2026; next year’s date not yet stated.
Fees
VIP tickets $175 per chair.
Access
In-person viewing at Weiser High School; live stream on YouTube and Facebook. Campgrounds: Fiddletown, Slocum Hall and Stickerville.
Walk-in or reserve
VIP day and night tickets by reservation; call (208) 414-0255 to reserve VIP seating.
Phone
(208) 414-0255
Website
fiddlecontest.com
Managed by
National Oldtime Fiddlers, Inc.
Established
67 years.

For 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.

Notable Events

  1. 1863The Logans established a way station where covered-wagon emigrants stopped for rest and recreation, bringing fiddling to Weiser. fiddlecontest.org
  2. 1914Newspaper files report fiddle contests in Weiser from 1914 until World War I. fiddlecontest.org
  3. 1953The contest was first held during the Fifth Annual Weiser Square Dance Festival under the name Northwest Mountain Fiddler's Contest. lib.uidaho.edu
  4. 1956The contest was renamed Northwest Oldtime Fiddling Championship. lib.uidaho.edu
  5. 1963The present national contest was inaugurated with Idaho's Territorial Centennial observances. fiddlecontest.org
  6. 2004Contest organizers formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation separate from the Chamber of Commerce, enabling tax-deductible donations and grant eligibility. fiddlecontest.org

People

  • Gary Schuh, Festival director (2024).
  • Dale Morris, Sr., Texas fiddle player who attended the contest multiple times over the years.
  • Blaine Stubblefield, Architect of the contest and Idaho Chamber of Commerce secretary (1948-1960).
  • Dad Roberts, First National Grand Champion (1953).
  • Frank and Julie Eisenhauer, oversee contestant staging at the contest; linked to the contest for 56 years (56 years).

Sources

  1. visitsouthwestidaho.org/things-to-do/national-oldtime-fiddlers-inc
  2. facebook.com/notfc
  3. lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fiddlers/about.html
  4. fiddlecontest.org
  5. weiserareamemories.org/cms/national-oldtime-fiddlers-contest
  6. boisedev.com/news/2024/06/19/its-fiddle-week-weisers-annual-contest-grew-from-humble-start
  7. fiddlecontest.org/history
  8. archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv863292