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Showcasing the Finest Fiddlers on the Planet at the Branson Fiddle Festival

Branson, Missouri is a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination with live shows around every corner, lush nearby wilderness begging to be explored, and world class attractions throughout the city.

 

Finding things to do in Branson is not a difficult task. You know your vacation is going to be special when your destination is known as “The Live Music Show Capital of the World”. There are at least 50 different live music venues, where you can find a variety of great live shows. Museums and attractions in Branson are plentiful, and you won't need to travel far to find locations such as Titanic Museum, Silver Dollar City, and the Hollywood Wax Museum. Just outside the city proper and beyond all the lights and attractions, you’ll encounter the lush wilderness. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this is the place for you. You’ll be instantly impressed by the selection of activities that range from ziplining to horseback riding. Branson is also a city that enjoys a great festival. To soak in a fun and authentic Branson experience, make your way to the Branson Fiddle Festival.  

 

For nearly three decades the Branson Fiddle Festival has been showcasing the finest fiddlers in the world. This family friendly event takes the top performers and has them compete in separate age bracketed competitions. Cash prizes are awarded to the top contestants and the prizes are determined by the level of applause from the crowd. The festival is held at the fun and entertaining Grand Country Waterpark Resort. Without leaving the property you’ll find great dining options, plenty of fun entertainment and, of course, the festival. Let the music that helped define and grow this city be the backdrop for your next unforgettable getaway and head to the Branson Fiddle Festival. We got the chance to interview Andy Holloway, Assistant General Manager for the Grand Country Music Hall, to talk about this one-of-a-kind Festival.

                                   

RAL: How long has the event been running?

AH: The Branson Fiddle Festival is celebrating its 28th year.

                   

RAL: How many annual participants do you draw and who are they demographically? Children? Families? Couples?

AH: We can expect to have 60 contestants and 400+ spectators at the Branson Fiddle Festival. The festival literally does attract all ages. The contest has a Pee-Wee Division (10 and under) all the way thru to the Seniors Division (60 and over), so the contestants alone cover all ages. Among the spectators you will see a lot of families cheering on siblings, parents and even grandparents in the competing in the contest.

                   

RAL: What makes the event unique?                   

AH: Contestants can win cash prizes ranging from $15 to $1,000 and there is no entry fee. If you’re a contestant, the festival is free. Spectators get to hear traditional fiddle songs that you won’t hear on the radio or see in most concert settings.

                   

RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.

AH: The first night, Friday August 26th, will be the outdoor Anything Goes Contest. Anyone can compete and there are no rules or judges. The winners will be decided by the spectators and their applause. This is a nice way to get to know the contestants in a relaxed atmosphere. Even if you are not competing, you can stick around after the competition that night and listen to and/or play along with the multiple jam sessions that take place all over the property.

                   

Grand Country will be in full operation so you can also enjoy everything our property has to offer from indoor and outdoor mini golf courses to a huge arcade with laser tag, bumper cars and more. Plus, you can try the indoor waterpark, free to our hotel guests.

 

On Saturday, you can enjoy breakfast at our Grand Country Buffet while listening to contestants warm up for the competition. Then make your way across the hall into our theatre to watch the opening of the competition at 9:00 am. After the Pee-Wee Division and Junior Division compete, we will break for one hour giving you enough time to enjoy lunch at one of our restaurants. All are a very short walk from our theatre. After lunch, winners from the Pee-Wee and Junior Division will be announced. The contest resumes with the Accompanist, Senior, Adult and Open Division. At the end of the day we will announce the finalist to compete on Sunday.

                   

RAL: What will attendees find for dining options?

AH: Grand Country has the Grand Country Buffet and Papa Grands Pizza Buffet located onsite. Grand Country is located in the middle of Branson so you can find just about any kind of dining experience nearby.

                                       

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

AH: We have 319 hotel rooms, three restaurants, a live theatre, three mini golf courses, a huge arcade, and an indoor waterpark that is free to all of our hotel guest. While this sounds like a business run by a corporate franchise, we are not. The owner personally operates this whole complex, giving us the hospitality of a mom-and-pop company while offering guests everything they need to have a great vacation experience. If you prefer a more intimate lodging experience, Branson has everything from a bed and breakfast to luxury hotels. There is something for everyone here!

                   

RAL: Are there any lodging specials that are set up specifically for the event?

AH: If you use the Promo Code: Fiddle16, Grand Country will be offering a hotel rate of $69.95/night. That is $50 off of our normal rate! Other hotels may offer discounts at this time as well.

                   

RAL: What does the event mean to the community?

AH: This event helps keep the traditional roots of our Mountain Music tradition alive. It allows us to experience the kind of music that was a part of our early settlers in the Ozark Mountains.

                   

RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?

AH: Branson’s biggest industry, hands down, is tourism, so this event definitely helps drive business to our local economy. Some people experience Branson for the first time at these events and they come back to experience all that Branson has to offer at later dates as well.

                   

RAL: Does lodging hit max occupancy during the event?

AH: We have scheduled the Fiddle Festival to run just after the busy summer schedule and before the big fall season, allowing hotels to have enough room to accommodate anyone who would like to come.

                   

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

AH: The Fiddle Festival is a great experience for people looking for that traditional fiddle sound. In this day of commercial music, you don’t get to hear much of that anymore. Having the contestants ages range from small children all the way to seniors, along with a number of pro fiddle players, makes this a great way for people to get introduced to traditional music.


For more information about the Branson Fiddle Festival, please visit their website.