The 58th Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship takes place Aug. 6 to 10 here.
Sponsored by the Shelburne Rotary Club, with partners Dufferin Mutual Insurance Company, Forecast Group, and Yamaha Canada Music, the event features Canada’s top fiddlers in competition for over $20,000 in prizes.
Community events in conjunction with championship include fiddle workshops, camping, a giant fiddle parade featuring the Toronto Police Winged Wheels, arts and crafts, an open air market, non-denominational church service and community pork barbecue.
On Aug. 9 at 7:30pm, the Shelburne Rotary Club welcomes three-time Canadian Open champion Mark Sullivan back to town.
The show will feature Canadian Old Time Fiddling, Western Swing, and other traditional forms per-formed by Sullivan, with Kelli Trottier, Geoff Horrocks, and championship step dancing.
The championship starts with the playdowns on Aug. 8 at 1pm and 7pm at the Shelburne arena. Classes that will compete in the afternoon include ages 9 and under, 10 to 12, and 65 and over.
The evening features the remaining classes.
The contest finals are on Aug. 9 at 7pm and will feature entertainment by several young fiddle and stepdancing groups: the Ballagh Bunch, Triple Explosion, and Step’n Time with The Ziebarth Family.
For the first time in many years, a judges’ showcase will also be part of the Saturday night entertainment, featuring Webb Acheson, Sullivan, and Trottier.
Tickets are:
– event package, adults $40, children $20 (12 and under);
– Sullivan old time fiddle show Aug. 7, adults, $20, children: $10;
– competition playdowns Aug. 8, 1 and 7pm, adults, $10, kids $3; and
– fiddle championship Aug. 9, 7pm, adults, $20 and children: $10.
Tickets are available at Holmes Appliances and Music Shop, 147 Main Street West, Shelburne, or by phone from the Town of Shelburne at 519-925-2600 extension 230.
For more information visit www.shelburnefiddlecontest.on.ca.
