Exceptionally unique music festival every August at Felt’s Park in Galax, Virginia
Before the second weekend in August each year, lovers of country and mountain music leave their homes in time to be in Galax, VA for the Annual Old Fiddler’s Convention. For some this means hundreds of miles of travel, while for others it will be a short trip from their nearby homes. Most of these people don’t play music, and come just for the listening and renewing old acquaintances.
The Old Fiddler’s Convention was originated in the spring of 1935 when a few members of the then new Moose Lodge #733 needed something to raise funds and promote publicity. In a newspaper item at the time it was stated that the Convention was dedicated to “Keeping alive the memories and sentiments of days gone by and make it possible for people of today to hear and enjoy the tunes of yesterday”. The original purpose is held in the same regard today, and the sponsors feel that in some measure this purpose has been accomplished.