SAFFORD — The Gila Valley Fiddle Festival returns this weekend.
The annual event, bringing together some of the nation’s top fiddlers, will take place at the Double R Grill at Mt. Graham Golf Club.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff on the docket for this year,” said organizer Kevin DeRusha. “We have a lot of new fiddlers coming into town, the dances on Friday and Saturday night; we’ve got a lot of activity for the community.”
The event gets underway Thursday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. with a potluck dinner and musical jam session. Friday’s events start at 6 p.m. with the barbecue dinner, followed by the open mic and dance at 7 p.m. and concert at 8 p.m. Cost for Friday’s activities is $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
Competition starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and runs to 4 p.m., followed by a concert and dance starting at 7 p.m. Cost for the dance is $6 or $10 for a couple.
A Gospel jam session starts things Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by more fiddling competition at 9 a.m. The day closes with the awards ceremony at 2 p.m.
“The musicianship is off the charts,” DeRusha said.
The golf course is offering free camping and a dump station for RVs.
For more information e-mail eafiddlefest@gmail.com.
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