Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts Festival

McMeans wins Fiddle-Off

helen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:36:14 +0000

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!

helen — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:51:45 +0000

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

helen — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:13:28 +0000

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.

Send Us Your Jamboree Photos!

helen — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:06:15 +0000

Hey Jamboree fans! Do you have any Jamboree photos you would like to share? We would love to include some fan photos in our Souvenir Book. Please email pictures to news@smithvillejamboree.com.

New Jamboree Website Launched

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:37:37 +0000

As of April 2009, the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree has a new and improved website! On this site, visitors will find all the latest information as it pertains to the current year’s festival as well as event history, photos and contact information. The site will add more functionality in the years to come, eventually offering online pre-registration and payment for contestants and craftspersons.

Fiddler 5K Launches Independent Website

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:36:23 +0000

The Fiddler 5K website will no longer be hosted under the Jamboree website. It is now its own entity and can be found at www.fiddler5K.com. Check out the new site and find out the latest information on this road race that benefits Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County. The 11th Annual Fiddler 5K will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. This event gets bigger and better every year and includes a one-mile fun run.

“Neil Dudney Day” Proclaimed

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:35:39 +0000

The DeKalb County Commission unanimously voted to make the opening day of our festival, July 3, 2009, Neil Dudney Day in DeKalb County. This was in recognition for all the many years of service Dudney gave to the Jamboree, both as a worker in many capacities, and as President and Director for the past 16 years.

Square Dancing Rules Revised

admin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:18:37 +0000

As of 2009, the rules for the Square Dancing competition have been modified. Judges will look for square dance routines in keeping with preservation of old style (not modern, precision dance styles). Teams will consist of 4 couples (total of 8 dancers). For complete rules, please refer to the rules and regulations listed on this website.

Two New Categories Added for 2009 Jamboree

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:34:57 +0000

New to this year’s onstage competition are Youth Square Dancing and Bluegrass Fiddle. The Youth Square Dancing category was added to allow our younger participants to compete within their own age group and to hopefully encourage more young teams to compete. This event will be held on Friday night which means that folks can watch square dancing on both nights of this year’s Jamboree! We created the Bluegrass Fiddle category as part of our continued effort to keep things fresh and new while preserving old-time music. This category will allow people to compete in a style of music truer to the core pur- pose of our event. This first place prize for Bluegrass Fiddle will be considered the Neil Dudney award in recognition for our long serving former President and Coordinator.

Jamboree Directorship Changes Hands

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:55:27 +0000

As of September 2008, the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival is under new leadership. Longtime president and coordinator, Neil Dudney, has stepped down and handed the reigns over to local business owner, Jack Barton. Dudney’s decision became official when the Jamboree Board of Directors voted to appoint Barton to the position of President and Coordinator. Dudney was recognized onstage on Saturday night of the 2008 Jamboree with a plaque presented to him by Barton. The plaque read, “This plaque is presented to Neil Dudney for 16 years of service to the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival as President and Coordinator. Your hard work and dedication have helped preserve Appalachian music and crafts for future generations. Your efforts will long be remembered. ” Dudney plans to continue his association with the event as an assistant and advisor. He is one of the founders of the festival having served as sound engineer until he took over leadership of the Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Barton is a Cookeville native who has lived in Smithville since 2001. He and his wife, Mary Ann Puckett, are huge fans of the Jamboree and are thrilled to play a part in its continued growth for many years to come. “Preserving this type of music, dance and art for future generations is so important. Without festivals like ours, our children and grandchildren will miss out on the pure, good-hearted fun and excitement of these Appalachian traditions,” said Barton