New Singing Category for 2013!

Saturday, March 9th, 2013

New Category added for 2013!  Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing:  Duo, Trio, or Quartet.  Open to all ages.  Find a friend and start practicing!

Craft Booth Changes

Friday, March 8th, 2013

New for 2013:  The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival has made several changes to its craft booth rules.  First, we will allow homemade food items (including, but not limited to  jams, jellies, or ciders) that have been prepared in a commercially approved kitchen.  Please submit a copy of your proof of inspection when you turn in your Crafts Registration Form.  We do request that food items not be packaged for immediate, onsite consumption.

Second, the Jamboree will consider the addition of vendors who may sell or resell unique, cultural, or regional items, subject to the approval of the majority of the Board.  These booths will be located on a separate street from the handmade arts and crafts, and the booth fee will be $200.  These booths will not be eligible for the craft awards.

The Jamboree will also have a government related, informational booth section available.

If you have questions about any of the above changes, please feel free to contact us.  We look forward to working together to improve the quality and variety of unique, handmade artwork and crafts.

Help needed for the 2013 Jamboree!

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Join us now as we make plans for the 42nd Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival!   This year we will be revisiting our contest rules and judging criteria, we will look at making changes to our food booth rules, and we will also investigate the possibility of bringing back the Community Chorus.  If you would like to help in one of these areas, or if there is another area that interests you, please let us know!

Contestant Rule Changes

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

This year, in an effort to ever improve the Jamboree, we made several changes to the Contestant Rules.  One change we made was to define the Youth Square Dance average age as 12 or under.  We are now modifying this to say “Average age of 7 of the 8 members must be 16 or under.”  We hope that this will still preserve the “youth” aspect of the category but allow for an older (or shall we say, “wiser”) dance leader to keep those little feet stomping where they are supposed to stomp.

A summary of the other rule changes is as follows:

1)  Appalachian Folk Singing, Solo/Duet:  You may compete once as a soloist and once as part of a duet.  This is the only category in which you may compete twice.

2) Performers in individual instrument categories may not be accompanied by an instrument of the same type (except for Flat Top Guitar).

3) Youth Square Dancing:   Time will begin when dancers begin to dance in unison.

4) Square Dancing:  Time will begin when dancers begin to dance in unison.

5) Old Time Fiddle Band:  You may only compete in one band.

6) Gospel singing duet, trio, or quartet:  You may only compete in this category once.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us!

Craft Booth Space Still Available!

Thursday, June 7th, 2012

Do you have artwork or a craft that you would like to sell?  We have booth space available!  It is not too late to turn in an application. Visit the “Arts and Crafts” section of our website to find a Crafts Registration Form.  Contact us if you need additional information.  We hope to see you in Smithville!

Change to Contestant Rules

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Attention Contestants!  In an effort to address some confusing parts of our rules, we have made the following changes:

1)  Appalachian Folk Singing, Solo/Duet:  You may compete once as a soloist and once as part of a duet.  This is the only category in which you may compete twice.

2) Performers in individual instrument categories may not be accompanied by an instrument of the same type (except for Flat Top Guitar).

3) Youth Square Dancing:  Average Age must be 12 years or younger.  Time will begin when dancers begin to dance in unison.

4) Square Dancing:  Time will begin when dancers begin to dance in unison.

5) Old Time Fiddle Band:  You may only compete in one band.

6) Gospel singing duet, trio, or quartet:  You may only compete in this category once.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!

Change to Schedule of Events

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Competitors, please take note…we have made a minor change to Friday’s Schedule of Events.  The category Youth Square Dancing has been moved to later in the day after the Autoharp Category.  We hope that this change will make the Jamboree a more enjoyable experience for all!

McMeans wins Fiddle-Off

Friday, July 8th, 2011

After a fantastic fiddle-off between Senior Fiddle winner Don Sadler and Junior Fiddle winner Will McMeans, McMeans took home top honors from the 40th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival.  McMeans is a long-time competitor in the Jamboree and resides in Lester, Alabama.  He celebrated the win by playing Orange Blossom Special, and he even joined the dancers on stage with a victory clog.  McMeans took home the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy.  Winners in the other 24 categories can be found at www.smithvillejamboree.com under “Contestants.”

Craft Booth Space Available!

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Do you have artwork or a craft that you would like to sell?  We have booth space available!  It is not too late to turn in an application. Visit the “Arts and Crafts” section of our website to find a Crafts Registration Form.  Contact us if you need additional information.  We hope to see you in Smithville!

Food Booth Space Available

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Are you part of a non-profit organization in DeKalb County?  We have food booth space available for you!  Contact us at (615) 597-8500 to take advantage of this fundraising opportunity.  The Jamboree does not allow commercial food vendors in the official Jamboree spaces; this opportunity is only for DeKalb County non-profits.