For 90 years, the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention has stood as one of the nation’s most cherished celebrations of traditional music and culture and the longest running fiddlers convention in the nation.
If you’ve never experienced the convention, the first thing to do is forget whatever image the word convention brings to mind. This isn’t a brightly lit convention center filled with display booths and vendor exhibits. Instead, since its founding in 1935 by the Galax Moose Lodge, the Old Fiddlers Convention has transformed Felts Park in the heart of downtown Galax, Virginia, into a vibrant musical village for eight days and nights each August. Thousands of musicians, campers, families, and music lovers gather to jam and take in the sounds of fiddles, banjos, guitars, mandolins, dulcimers, and other traditional stringed instruments in this small city nestled in the musically rich Blue Ridge Mountains. Part friendly competition, part family reunion, and part musical training ground, the convention is an immersive celebration of Appalachian heritage, where music is shared as freely around campsites and in impromptu jam sessions as it is on the contest stage.
What began during the Great Depression as a local competition to preserve the region’s musical traditions has grown into a nationally recognized and beloved event. Known simply as “Galax” by its devoted attendees, the convention draws local residents alongside musicians and music lovers from across the United States and around the world. Through the decades, it has helped sustain the traditions of old-time and bluegrass music, inspiring countless musicians and serving as a gathering place where seasoned performers and young artists share tunes, techniques, and traditions. Its influence extends far beyond Southwest Virginia, earning Galax the well-deserved title of the “World Capital of Old-Time Mountain Music.”
Over its 90-year history, the Old Fiddlers Convention has weathered wars, economic hardships, changing musical tastes, and even a global pandemic. As the event continues its recovery from the pandemic, organizers are working hard to restore attendance to pre-2020 levels. To help celebrate this milestone anniversary, the Center for Cultural Vibrancy is sponsoring additional prize money to encourage even more musicians to compete during this special year.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong attendee, the 90th anniversary is the perfect time to experience the magic of Galax. Join us beginning with the popular Youth Night competitions on Monday, August 3, and continuing through the championship contests on Saturday, August 8. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit Old Fiddlers Convention.
Listen to this excellent NPR feature on the Old Fiddlers Convention here.
