There’s no better way to experience the spirit of the Old West than enjoying the electrifying musical delights of a fiddlers’ contest in an 1800s-era opera house. Every spring, hundreds of visitors and locals alike flock to historic downtown Eureka for their fill of Western tunes in one of the best-preserved mining districts in the Silver State. Dozens of competitors go head-to-head at this beloved event to see who can take home the title of best fiddler in all of Nevada.
The fiddle fun begins Friday evening with a hot fiddle contest, twin fiddling, a jam session, and a performance by the event judges. On Saturday, two rounds of competition—certified by the National Old Time Fiddlers Association—take place. Grouped into numerous divisions (including junior-junior and small fry), fiddlers perform tunes in hopes of being awarded Grand Champion at the end of the day. Hear hoedowns, waltzes, or tunes of choice, with or without accompaniment, performed on the historic Eureka Opera House stage before the event culminates in the Grand Champion Hoedown.
Interested in competing at the Nevada Old-Time Fiddlers’ Contest? Click here for contest rules and registration.