Fiddle hard and stay safe this Fiddle Championship weekend

August 7, 2014 · 0 Comments

Hello visitors and welcome to Shelburne, Ontario, home of the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship!

This year, as our community celebrates the 64rd Anniversary of the fiddle contest, we are pleased to have you with us. Please enjoy any or all of the five days of fun and excitement that has been planned for you through the involvement of the Rotary Club of Shelburne, the Town of Shelburne, the Kinsmen, the Kinettes, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 220 and the Lions Club of Shelburne, plus many more who volunteer their time – with your participation, it’s sure to be the best Fiddle Championship ever!

Here in Shelburne, it’s okay to ‘fiddle around’. In fact, we encourage it! That’s why we attract the best stage performers and fiddlers from across North America. We may have a population of 6,500 but over the course of the competition that swells to more than 10,000 for a reason.

This year’s event will start with a Barn Dance and Jamboree on Wednesday, August 6, 7 p.m. at the Shelburne Arena. Come out for a fun-filled evening of open mic playing, dancing, and singing hosted by a CKNX Wingham personality. Admission is $5 payable at the door.

Not to be a name dropper, but we have a few big acts hitting the stage this year, such as the Ballagh Bunch and The Beckett Family plus many more in town this weekend to entertain you.

“The Ballagh Bunch is a group of lively, energetic performers, who put on numerous shows containing Irish, Celtic, Scottish and traditional Canadian music stylings. With a variety of musical instruments, such as fiddles, drums, guitar, vocals, feet and much more, the Ballaghs put on a thrilling and captivating show that is sure to please everyone with its unique variety. The three older siblings, Devan, Michael and Paige, have obtained multiple step dance titles, including Canadian Open Step Dance Champions in both group and solo classes.

“This award winning group starred in an eight week run of Drayton Entertainments’ production of Canadian Loonie, which was then followed by a sequel, Sorry I’m Canadian. The Ballagh Bunch have been performing as a group for 10 years at various theatres, festivals and fairs. Their creative rhythms and arrangements, along with the visible joy of making music together, make their performance quality second to none. The love for composing also comes through in their music, and their show features original material and arrangements. You will be sure to enjoy their toe-tapping show!” reads a Fiddle Contest Committee press release.

After an absence from the Shelburne Championship of almost a decade, the Rotary Club is excited to present Linsey and Tyler Beckett in concert on Thursday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m.

“The Beckett Family is sure to get your toes tappin’ with their arrangements of traditional country music and old tyme fiddling. Their show captures the corners of traditional music from Western Swing to Bluegrass, includes exhilarating step dancing, down home humour, ole tyme fiddling and special guests. The Beckett Family have three recordings available, ‘Fiddlin’ 4 Generations’, which included great grandpa, Elmer Beckett, ,Changing Times, and their latest, ,The Roots of Our Raising’.”

In addition to the great stage performances, there are many things to keep you busy this week in our quaint community. We have open air markets, a parade, 24-hour meals at the Legion, jam sessions, and of course world-class, competitive fiddling. In addition, our local shops, restaurants and markets are open to meet your needs as you enjoy a relaxing and musical week in a community that we’re proud to call home.

We remind all residents, visitors, and visiting musicians, to fiddle hard and stay safe over the duration of the fiddle contest week – please plan ahead and don’t drink and drive. The Shelburne Police and Dufferin OPP will be on patrol to ensure that all of our guests have an enjoyable and accident free weekend.

• Event Package: (Thurs. eve., Fri. all day, Sat. aft. and eve.): Adults: $45; children: $22 (12 and under)

• Beckett Family Show. Thurs. Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Adults: $20; Youth: $10 (12 Years and Under)

• Competition Playdowns: Fri. Aug. 8, 1 & 7 p.m.: Adults: $10; Youth: $3 (12 Years and Under)

• The Ballagh Bunch: Sat. Aug. 9, 3:15 p.m. : Adults: $7; Youth: $2 (12 Years and Under)

• Fiddle Championship: Sat. Aug. 9, 6 p.m.: Adults: $20; Youth: $10 (12 Years and Under). Don’t miss the judges’ showcase with Webb Acheson, Chuck Joyce, and Karen Reed on Saturday evening!

Tickets: By phone at 519-925-8620 or in person at Holmes Appliances and Music, 135 Main Street West, Shelburne, 519-925-3037.

For more information visit www.ShelburneFiddleContest.com and ‘Like’ them on Facebook. As you take in the 63rd Annual Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championships please keep in mind the importance of this event to the Shelburne community. We ARE ‘Fiddleville’ afterall and we’re proud of it.

Plus, you can feel good about where your ticket dollars are going! Proceeds of the Fiddle Championship support Shelburne Rotary’s many charitable projects, including: development of, and major financial contribution to, new BMX riding area in Greenwood Park; renovation and expansion of the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre (Shelburne Arena); Headwaters Health Care Centre (Orangeville Hospital); re-development of the Shelburne Library; Girl Guides and Boy Scouts; minor sports, such as: hockey, baseball, figure skating, lacrosse, soccer; Shepherd’s Cupboard food bank and many more!

Thank you for being a part of this years event and remember to look online at www.shelburnefreepress.ca to see if your picture made it into our photo highlights (which will also be shared with the Dufferin County Museum and Archives on permanent record). Come for Fiddlefest, return for the great shops and our small town values. We hope to see you in Shelburne again, really soon!