National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival

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National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival The NOTFC is organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving and promoting oldt Some of the “old-timers” had trouble adapting.

History of Weiser's Fiddle Contest -

In 1953, the city of Weiser, Idaho began sponsoring an annual contest which has become one of the most formal and prestigious fiddler contests held. In this same year, a contest was held in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, which saw the result of the change in judging. It was now based on standards of skill, hokum was not allowed, and there was a strict time limit for the contestants. One of the fiddlers, Eck Robertson played “Sally Goodin” which he usually played in about eighteen different ways, and at times took five to six minutes to play all the way through. This year, he was about half way through when the whistle blew, but he just kept on playing until someone came onto the stage and took him off. He was disqualified at this contest but in 1962 he won the senior division at Weiser. The fiddle contests at Weiser today have very clear rules. Each contestant plays three tunes; one of the tunes must be a hoedown, one must be a waltz, the other is a “tune of choice” (something other than a waltz or hoedown). Some contests are held with less restrictions and include audience participation. A time limit is enforced for each fiddler. Contestants are classified into different age groups and judging is based on danceability, oldtime style, rhythm, and tone. If a contestant wins the first round they move onto the second/final round or playoff. At Weiser, competing in all of the playoffs to win the championship takes five rounds and fifteen tunes. One change that has happened in the modern era that began in 1990 or 1991 is that most contests have eliminated the separate ladies division, as acknowledgment that today’s women are as competent as the men and capable of competing on an equal basis. History of the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest & Festival -

Fiddling came to Weiser in 1863 when the Logans established a way station here and covered wagon emigrants stopped for rest and recreation. Newspaper files report fiddling contests here from 1914 to WWI. The resurrection of fiddling in Weiser was due to efforts led by Blaine Stubblefield, Chamber of Commerce Secretary from 1948 until his death in December, 1960. Blaine was raised on fiddling in Oregon’s Wallowa Valley above Hells Canyon. He had spent several years researching fiddle music for the Library of Congress. His interest in the music led him to ask the Chamber Directors to allocate $175 for a fiddle contest. Nothing happened until January, 1953, when the idea was proposed to hold the contest during intermissions of the Fifth Annual Weiser Square Dance Festival. Prize money was underwritten by two individuals and the first official fiddling event came to life on April 18, 1953. It was billed as the Northwest Mountain Fiddlers’ Contest and was a huge success. The name was changed to the Northwest Oldtime Fiddling Championships in 1956 when a regional division was added for out-of- area fiddlers. The present National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest was inaugurated in 1963 in conjunction with Idaho’s Territorial Centennial observances. Through all these years of fiddling in Weiser, the town of 5,200 people pulls hundreds of volunteers together each year in support of their nationally recognized event. This week of intense competition and endless jamming brings together young and old for the purpose of perpetuating fiddling around the world. The National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest now certifies fiddling contests in 29 states in order to facilitate interest and maintain the integrity of fiddling contests. Almost 350 contestants compete in 9 divisions each year. The week long competition also includes musical entertainment nightly from groups from around the U.S. Once you’ve been to the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest you’ll see why Weiser has been recognized as the “Fiddling Capital Of The World”!

Congrats! We're so happy to have such great community support from businesses and individuals in and around Weiser! You ...
10/01/2026

Congrats! We're so happy to have such great community support from businesses and individuals in and around Weiser! You all really make fiddle week fun!

Look what made its way home to State Street Motel!

We are so proud to officially display our 2026 Fiddle Week Best Dressed Business Award!

We went ALL OUT for our 1950s Fiddle Week theme this year. Inside, outside, the lobby, the grounds, the decorations, the outfits — we wanted the whole motel to feel like it had taken a trip back in time.

Our crew put a tremendous amount of work, creativity, and heart into making it happen, and seeing everyone enjoy it made every bit of that work worth it.

And we definitely weren’t doing it alone! Bo’s Barn was right there with us, joining in on the fun and helping make our little corner of State Street something special. We truly couldn’t ask for better neighbors. We appreciate them more than they probably know, and we’re pretty lucky to have the best neighbors ever right next door.

One of the coolest parts of all of this is that months later, we still have returning guests come in and talk about our Fiddle Week decorations and how much they loved what we did. That means just as much to us as seeing our name on this plaque.

Fiddle Week is such a special part of Weiser. Our town comes alive, visitors arrive from all over, businesses have fun with it, and our community gets a chance to show off a little of what makes Weiser, Weiser.

So thank you to everyone who stopped by, took pictures, complimented the decorations, laughed with us, supported our little motel and cheered us on. And a huge thank you to our State Street Motel crew and our wonderful neighbors at Bo’s Barn for helping bring our 1950s vision to life.

Our plaque now has its place in the lobby, and we’re pretty darn proud to see:

STATE STREET MOTEL
2026 BEST DRESSED BUSINESS

We love being part of this community.

Now the only problem is figuring out how we’re going to top ourselves next Fiddle Week!

Hospitality that feels like Home.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of the great Texas fiddle player Dale Morris, Sr. Many of...
09/15/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of the great Texas fiddle player Dale Morris, Sr. Many of you will remember that Dale attended the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival multiple times over the years and his influence spanned generations of fiddle players. Dale was a fantastic teacher and left quite a legacy. He, supported, won and judged many competitions, and performed with many country music stars in his lifetime. Dale Morris was a kind soul and will be missed by many.

Our thoughts and condolences, as are many others', are with Dale’s family.

People have been asking what they can do to support the community that supports all the folks who attend the National Ol...
08/07/2026

People have been asking what they can do to support the community that supports all the folks who attend the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival and associated activities. We will share more information and ways the music community can extend support as resources develop. The ranchers in and around Weiser have had their lives devastated... read the message below and Donate or share here:
https://gofund.me/09fb4b163

The recent wildfires have devastated our Weiser-area farming and ranching community. Families have lost pasture, hay, fencing, equipment, livestock, structures, and almost all of the grazing range sits in ashes. The financial losses are already in the millions of dollars, and the road to recovery will be long.

My name is Brent Roberts, and I was born and raised here in Weiser, and many of the people affected by the fires are family and close friends. Like so many others, I couldn't stand by and watch our community suffer. My wife and I spent the first days of the fire alongside family, friends, neighbors, and firefighters, helping battle spot fires and doing whatever we could to help.

I'm organizing this fundraiser to provide direct assistance to farm and ranch families whose agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by these fires. The focus of this effort is specifically on those who rely on farming and ranching as their primary livelihood and are now facing the enormous challenge of rebuilding. Every dollar donated will be used to purchase critical recovery supplies, including hay, railroad ties, T-posts, fencing materials, and other verified needs.

I am not taking any compensation for organizing this effort. I am simply a member of this community who wants to help our neighbors recover. I will provide regular updates so donors can see how funds are being used, what has been purchased, and the impact your generosity is making. In the meantime, everyone is still in crisis mode - putting out fires and focusing on the imperatives to keep cattle alive - so I am still in the information-gathering stage of identifying all of the ranches impacted and what is going to help them the most. Rather than distributing cash, I will work directly with affected families to identify their most urgent needs and purchase essential supplies so donations provide the greatest possible benefit.

While this fundraiser cannot replace everything that has been lost, it can provide relief and help these families begin rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.

If you are able, please consider donating. If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser with your family, friends, and social networks is another meaningful way to help. Together, we can stand with our neighbors and remind them they are not facing this alone.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

Donate or share here:
https://gofund.me/09fb4b163

What a wonderful article from Bluegrass Today! Thanks so much for coming by for the week and we'll surely see you next y...
07/09/2026

What a wonderful article from Bluegrass Today!
Thanks so much for coming by for the week and we'll surely see you next year too!

It was another wonderful week and a half filled with music—jam sessions of every kind, workshops covering a huge variety of instruments and styles.

06/28/2026

Well another great year in the books. A huge shout out to the Weiser Chamber of Commerce and all the businesses for a fun Fiddle Parade. Thanks to all that decorated their stores and got into the fiddle vibe. It was a great week at the contest with amazing artists.
Thanks to all the volunteers that help each year to make the National Fiddle Contest a success. It is appreciated!!😀

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2026 National Grand Champion Results
06/28/2026

2026 National Grand Champion Results

Grand Champion Round 4Addition of a time penalty
06/28/2026

Grand Champion Round 4
Addition of a time penalty

Grand ChampionRound 4 Order of Appearance
06/28/2026

Grand Champion
Round 4 Order of Appearance

06/28/2026

This is the live stream for the 2026 National Oldtime Fiddle Contest - Saturday Evening

Address

2235 Paddock Avenue
Weiser, ID
83672

Telephone

+12084140255

Website

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