50+ years of Fiddling in Hallettsville (1970) Always the 4th Saturday in April

  • Home
  • Fiddle Competition
    • Fiddle Contests
    • 2023 Results
    • Hall Of Fame
  • BBQ Cook-Off
    • BBQ Cook-Off
    • Sign Up
    • BBQ Hall of Fame
  • SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY
  • Memorial Fund
  • Information
    • Where To Stay
    • Contact/Directions
    • Vendor Information
  • More
    • Home
    • Fiddle Competition
      • Fiddle Contests
      • 2023 Results
      • Hall Of Fame
    • BBQ Cook-Off
      • BBQ Cook-Off
      • Sign Up
      • BBQ Hall of Fame
    • SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY
    • Memorial Fund
    • Information
      • Where To Stay
      • Contact/Directions
      • Vendor Information
  • Home
  • Fiddle Competition
    • Fiddle Contests
    • 2023 Results
    • Hall Of Fame
  • BBQ Cook-Off
    • BBQ Cook-Off
    • Sign Up
    • BBQ Hall of Fame
  • SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY
  • Memorial Fund
  • Information
    • Where To Stay
    • Contact/Directions
    • Vendor Information

Fiddling Competitions

Forest Craig Freshman Division

Contestants must be 15 years or younger.

1st place: New fiddle

2nd-10th place: cash prize

Gone To Texas Competition

Contestants must be residents of states other than Texas

1st place: $1,400

2nd-20th place: cash prize

Guitar Accompanist Competition

Giving recognition and appreciation for those fine musicians that make the fiddle music possible.

1st place: $300

2nd-10th place: cash prize

Senior Division

Contestants must be 65 years or older.

1st place: $300

2nd-10th place: cash prize

Texas State Championship

Contestants must be residents of Texas. Top three (3) contestants will determine championship winner in a final round-robin contest.


1st place: $1,500

2nd place: $1,250

3rd place: $1,000

4th place: $600

5th place: $500

6th place: $400

7th place: $350

8th place: $300

9th place: $250

10th place: $200

11th-20th place: $125

2025 Fiddlers' Competition Schedule

FRIDAY EVENTS

Tickets for Main Hall events: FREE

Outdoors events: FREE


Friday 4/25/2025

Jam Session

4:00 pm

Pavilion

Event Details

Friday 4/25/2025

Jam Session

Bring your instrument of choice and join in the fun!

*** FREE ***

4:00 pm

Pavilion

SATURDAY EVENTS

Tickets for daytime Main Hall events: $15

Outdoors events: FREE

Saturday night dance tickets: $35 (advance) or $40 (at the door)

Saturday 4/26/2025

Forest Craig Freshman Division Fiddle Contest

9:00 am

Main Hall

Event Details

Saturday 4/26/2025

Forest Craig Freshman Division Fiddle Contest

Participants: 15 years old and younger

9:00 am

Main Hall

Saturday 4/26/2025

Gone To Texas Fiddle Contest

1:00 pm

Main Hall

Event Details

Saturday 4/26/2025

Gone To Texas Fiddle Contest

Participants: Residents of states other than Texas

1:00 pm

Main Hall

SUNDAY EVENTS

Tickets for daytime Main Hall events: $15

Outdoors events: FREE

Sunday 4/27/2025

Guitar Accompanist Contest

9:30 am

Main Hall

Sunday 4/27/2025

Guitar Accompanist Contest

9:30 am

Main Hall

Sunday 4/27/2025

Senior Division Fiddle Contest

11:30 am

Main Hall

Event Details

Sunday 4/27/2025

Senior Division Fiddle Contest

Participants: 65 years and older

11:30 am

Main Hall

Sunday 4/27/2025

Texas State Championship Fiddle Contest

1:00 pm

Main Hall

Event Details

Sunday 4/27/2025

Texas State Championship Fiddle Contest

Participants: Texas Residents Only

1:00 pm

Main Hall

Sunday 4/27/2025

Cliff & Velda Fryer Championship Play Off

5:00 pm

Main Hall

Event Details

Sunday 4/27/2025

Cliff & Velda Fryer Championship Play Off

The top 3 contestants in State Championship compete in action packed round robin to determine the championship title.

5:00 pm

Main Hall

Fiddle Contest Rules

The Judges Run The Show

We try to select competent fiddle players – several are past Texas State Champions – who are both fair and honest to judge the Texas State Championship Fiddlers Frolics. Accordingly, we give them wide latitude and discretion in determining their judging criteria and implementation of the following rules. 

Registration and Order of Play

We register contestants at the contest rather than require them to pre-register before they arrive in Hallettsville. We then have the registered contestants draw numbers for the order in which they will play, which usually occurs about five minutes before the individual contest begins. If you are running late, please let us or a friend know, so that we can register and draw for you. Any contestant not registered before the drawing begins for order of play will not be allowed to compete in that contest. 


Fiddle players may only register for a single primary event. All contestants may also participate in the Anything Goes Division on Friday night.

Acoustics and Accompanists

The contest is open to acoustic instruments, only. 


Fiddlers may have as many as three guitars–six-string or tenor–plus one bass for a maximum of four (4) accompanists. 

Types of Tunes You Will Need To Play

Judges will determine at the time of the contest the number and types of tunes to be played, based upon the number of contestants and time available. Contestants should expect to play a breakdown and tune of choice. The judges in years past have requested contestants to play waltzes, swing tunes, rags, hornpipes, reels, polkas and even a schottische. No tunes are automatically barred, but cross-tuning is not allowed. 

Time Limits & Medleys

There are no time limits per tune, and contestants are expected to play a tune completely. 


We do not require the contestants to combine tunes into a medley. 

Repeating of Tunes

Except for any round-robin playoff or as otherwise advised by the judges beforehand, a contestant may not play the same tune twice during the contest. 

Scoring

All divisions are normally judged by the same five judges. We pick up the numeric score from each of the five judges after each contestant has played each tune. We then enter those scores into a computer that throws out the high and low numeric score, and sums the three remaining scores. After the first round, the judges, using the computer scores, determine the contestants to be called back for the next round. Rounds will continue until the judges are able to rank and pay contestants, as determined by aggregate scores, in accordance with the places set forth in Prize Money. We do not post aggregate or individual scores. 

Guitar Contest Rules

The Judges Run The Show

We try to select competent fiddle players – several are past Texas State Champions – who are both fair and honest to judge the Texas State Championship Fiddlers Frolics. Accordingly, we give them wide latitude and discretion in determining their judging criteria and implementation of the following rules. 

Registration and Order of Play

We register contestants at the contest rather than require them to pre-register before they arrive in Hallettsville. We then have the registered contestants draw numbers for the order in which they will play, which usually occurs about five minutes before the individual contest begins. If you are running late, please let us or a friend know, so that we can register and draw for you. Any contestant not registered before the drawing begins for order of play will not be allowed to compete in that contest. 

Eligibility

The contest is open only to acoustic, six-string guitars, and the guitarist may not have competed as a fiddler that weekend. Each guitar contestant may have only one fiddle player on stage to accompany. 

Types of Tunes To Be Played

Judges will determine at the time of the contest the number and types of tunes to be played, based upon the number of contestants and time available. 


Copyright © 2025 Fiddlers Frolics - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept