The 2023 Arkansas Fiddle and Banjo Championships and Concerts returns to the Ozark Folk Center State Park in scenic Mountain View August 5th.
Free audience admission for two state championship contests from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Talented banjo players will compete in the morning and fiddlers will compete in the afternoon.
In the evening, join us for a special show from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring fiddle & banjo extraordinares Betse & Clarke, Roger Fountain, Fiddlin' Banjo Billy Matthews & the Old Time Players, and the Ozark Folk Center Square Dancers. Get your tickets now
2023 Music & Craft Season Passes are honored for this event. Learn more about season passes,
Registration Procedure and Concert Info
Registration for the contests will be in the lobby of the Ozark Highlands Theater on the day of the contests. There is no online or advance registration for the fiddle or the banjo contest. Registration fee is $10.00 cash at the door. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for registration.
Banjo and fiddle contestants can attend our evening concert for free with their contest badge.
The registration process will be set up for self-service that will allow for continuous playing in the contest where all divisions will play back-to-back without having a break between divisions.
Registration procedure works as follows:
- Pick up a registration packet for your division
- Read the rules and complete and sign the registration card including the tune selections
- Take the completed registration card and $10.00 to the registration table
- Drop the $10.00 registration fee into the fee jar
- Draw a letter tile to determine the order in which you will play
- Stick the letter tile onto your completed registration card
- Print your name on the registration list for your division
- Leave your registration card in the basket for your division and walk away from the table
Read Carefully: All contestants must park in the large parking lot at the bottom of the hill from the Ozark Highlands Theater. Instruments may be delivered to the theater before the contest begins; however, automobiles must then be returned to the lower parking lot. Shuttle buses are available for transportation between the parking lot and the theater.
Schedule of Events
All events will be in the Ozark Highlands Theater and audience admission is free for the contests.
9 a.m. Doors open at Ozark Highlands Theater and registration begins
10 a.m. Registration for Banjo Contest ends for all divisions
10:30 a.m. Banjo contest begins for all divisions
11:30 a.m. Break for lunch (Fiddle Contest registration continues during lunch break)
12:30 p.m. Registration for Fiddle Contest ends for all divisions
1 p.m. Fiddle Contest begins for all divisions
5 p.m. Contests end
7 p.m. Evening fiddle & Banjo show begins
9 p.m. Show ends
Fiddle and Banjo contest schedule and prizes
Fiddle Contest Information and rules
Banjo Contest Information and rules
Fiddle Contest Judges
Fiddlin’ Banjo Billy Mathews
Emily Lawless
Betse Ellis
Banjo Contest Judges
Clarke Wyatt
Emily Lawless
Duane Porterfield
Get tickets for the evening show featuring fiddle & banjo extraordinares Betse & Clarke, Roger Fountain, Fiddlin' Banjo Billy Matthews & the Old Time Players, and the Ozark Folk Center Square Dancers.
