The Downtown Branson Main Street Association, The Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners,
The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB, The Branson Landing and The City of Branson
are proud to announce…
August 28 -30, 2009
When
- “Big Smith” concert: 8:00 pm, Friday, August 28th
- Fiddle Prelims: 10:00 am – 7:00pm, Saturday, August 29th
- Gospel Celebration: 10:00 am, Sunday, August 30th
- Fiddle Finals: 12 noon – 5:00 pm, Sunday, August 30th
Where
The Concert and Contest will be held “On the Banks of Lake Taneycomo” at The Branson Landing. The Historic Downtown area will host fiddling seminars and other activities in the Ozarks Music & Culture Tent; additionally, there will be street performances, sidewalk sales, a Farmers Market and more throughout the Downtown area.
Facts
- Over $5,000 in cash prizes!
- There are six divisions: Pee Wee (9 and younger), Junior (10 through 16), Senior (60 and older), Cross Tuning, Seconding (Guitar/Bass accompaniment) and Open.
- Additionally, all division winners (except the Cross Tuning and Seconding) will compete Sunday afternoon for a Grand Prize title.
- There is no charge to enter the contest. All events will be free to the public.
- There will be special guest appearances by Branson musicians and entertainers throughout the contest!
To enter or for more information call (417) 334-1548.
“ROSIN UP THE BOW AND HERE WE GO!”
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lynn Berry, 417-243-2137
lberry@bransoncvb.com
BRANSON, MO – Time to pull out those fiddles and rosin up those bows. The 21st Annual Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival & Mid-American Fiddlers Championship is coming to the banks of Lake Taneycomo in late August.
Fiddlin’, according to event producer Bill Lennon, is an integral part of the fabric of the Ozarks. “The Ozarks and Fiddlin’ should be like New Orleans and Jazz,” Lennon said, and this event has brought together the best in Ozarks fiddlers for the last two decades.
The weekend kicks off Friday night, August 28, with a concert by Springfield third generation family bluegrass legends “Big Smith” in front of the fountains at Branson Landing.
Free and open to the public, Big Smith’s concert is only the beginning of a weekend packed with the best fiddle performances anywhere.
On Saturday, August 29, the competition will begin with preliminary heats, running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Then following a gospel service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, the finals will get underway at noon and run until 5 p.m.
More than $5000 in cash prizes will be awarded to winners, who will compete in six divisions: Pee Wee (ages 9 and younger,) Junior (10-16,) Senior (60 and older,) Cross Tuning, Seconding (guitar/bass accompaniment) and Open. All division winners, with the exception of Cross Tuning and Seconding, will also compete Sunday afternoon for the Grand Prize title.
In addition to the competition, there will be seminars held in the Ozarks Music and Culture tent up the hill from The Landing in Branson’s Historic Downtown area. Street performances and sidewalk sales will also be part of the happenings in Historic Downtown, and throughout the weekend, Branson musicians and entertainers will be making special guest appearances.
The event is sponsored by The Downtown Branson Main Street Association, The Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners, The Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, The Branson Landing and The City of Branson.
As Branson’s reputation has grown, the fiddle festival’s reputation has grown along with it, and Lennon thinks the sky’s the limit. “There’s no reason why this event can’t be an event of national importance,” he said.
To enter the Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival or for more information, call 417-334-1548.
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