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Jamboree set for July 4 weekend
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The 44th Annual Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts Festival is set to begin July 3 at 9 a.m., and will continue until the winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition face off for the Grand Champion Award and the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy sometime on the night of July 4.

 

Preliminaries in the following categories will begin the morning of July 3:

 

Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Solo); Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Old-Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet); Dobro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event (Spoon Clacking, Jug Blowing, Washboard, Tub, Saws-Appalachian Related Only); Autoharp, Gospel Singing (Solo); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Youth Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers); Gospel Singing (Duet,Trio, and Quartet); Mandolin and Old Time Fiddle Band.

 

The top three acts in these divisions will return that night and first, second, and third place winners will be chosen. First-place winners are awarded $125, except in the Old Time Fiddle Band category, which pays $525 for first place, and Youth Square Dancing, which pays $300.

 

Second place pays $100 and third place awards are $75, except for The Old Time Fiddle Band, which pays $425 for second place and $325 for third place. The Youth Square Dance category pays $200 for second place and $100 for third place.

 

Preliminaries will be held in the following categories on July 4:

 

Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Flat Top Guitar; Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award; Bluegrass Band; Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).

 

Preliminaries will again be held in each event, and then the top three contestants will return on Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.

 

Prize money in most categories is $125 for first place; $100 for second place; and $75 for third place, except for Junior Fiddlers and Senior Fiddlers, which is $225 for first place; $175 for second place; and $150 for third place. Bluegrass Band pays $525 for first place; $425 for second place; and $325 for third place. Square Dancing winners receive $400 for first place; $300 for second place; and $200 for third place.

 

The Grand Champion Award winner will receive $300.

 

The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held on the afternoon of July 4, and will feature competitions for children up to age twelve in Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle. Preliminaries are held in each event, and the top three finalists return to compete for first, second, and third place.

 

One competitor will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award and $125. The top fiddler will take the James G. "Bobo" Driver Memorial Trophy and $175. Prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.

 

A United States flag and a Tennessee State flag will be presented to the Jamboree goers who traveled the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to attend on Friday evening. The flags, which have flown over the state capitol, will be presented by State Senator Mae Beavers and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody.

 

Craft awards will be presented during the weekend for "Best of Show," "Best Appalachian Craft," "Best Newcomer" and "Best Craft Display."

 

For more information visit http://smithvillejamboree.com/