4th Annual
2023 Elliott County
Fiddlers Convention
July 7 & 8, 2023 

The Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention is a get together for old time music enthusiasts held the second weekend of July every year at the Little Sandy Lodge in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. Based on the other fiddler’s conventions that have been held in the Appalachian Mountains and abroad for over 100 years, the Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention is focused on contests. A way for an attendee to show off what they have been working on, a little good-natured competition amongst friends, and a chance to win a little money. Contests held in the past have been old time fiddle, old time banjo, mandolin, singing, dancing, youth fiddle, youth banjo and string band contests. Winners receive a cash prize. 

 

Additionally, Friday night of the Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention

is always local music night. We try to incorporate the best of

traditional old time and early bluegrass music from people

that learned to play the music in the old ways. Saturday evening

after the contests have wrapped up, we have various old-time music

performers, and the entire planned weekend wraps up with a dance

Friday night. Jamming will continue into the wee hours of Sunday morning. 

 

The Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention is a weekend event, held on the grounds of the Little Sandy Lodge in beautiful Sandy Hook, Kentucky. In attempts to showcase the traditional music, art, and beauty of the landscape of the area, we coordinate with the Laurel Gorge Cultural Center to have that space open during the festival for hiking and looking throughout the facility. We have also planned it to where a visitor could spend the week at the Lodge soaking up all that Sandy Hook has to offer and visit the Minnie Adkins Day folk art festival the following weekend. 
                                                     

Accommodations on site for the Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention include the Little Sandy Lodge and on 

site primitive camping. Food trucks are on-site each year, not to mention the best pizza around available just

down the road at the local Giovanni’s and a Save-a-Lot in very close proximity. 
   

Consider making the Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention a permanent fixture on your old-time festival circuit.        Truly a festival by musicians, for musicians and lovers of old time and traditional bluegrass music. Enjoy the          natural beauty of Elliott County, Kentucky, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.  We will be updating the page as the musical line-up and competition schedule is finalized!

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Schedule for Convention

 

Friday July 7th

5:00 p.m. – Festival Opens to Public

• Contest Sign Ups will Begin

6:00 p.m. - 4/4 Hymn

7:40 p.m. – Josh & Mick

8:30 p.m. – Little Sandy Stringband

 

Saturday July 8th

Contests will receive places 1st, 2nd, 3rd excluding String Band, which only pays for 1st place.

 11:00

• Contest Sign Ups

12:00pm-4:30pm

• Individual Contests Yougin's (10>) & Youth (11-16) Banjo & Fiddle

• Adult: Banjo Contest

​1:00pm

• Workshop - Dulcimer Workshop - Sarah Kate Morgan

​1:30PM

• Ballad Contest

2:00pm ​

• Workshop - Introductory Fiddle - Lucian Parker

2:30pm

• Adult: Fiddle Contest

3:00pm

• Workshop - Upright Bass Workshop - Nick Lloyd

3:30pm

Adult & Youth: Dance Contest

4:00pm

• Break for Supper

• Break off into String Bands for upcoming Band Contest

5:30pm

• String Band Contest

6:30pm

• Concert: Albert, Lloyd & Ryster

8:00pm

• Concert: Karly Dawn Milner

8:30pm

• Concert: Empty Bottle String Band

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