The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree cranks up this weekend, maintaining and preserving the music, dance, and craft of Appalachia.
The first Jamboree took place in 1972. President Kim Luton said their dance categories had grown from 13 to 36 and prize money had grown ten fold to $15,000.
Luton said if it is Appalachia they have it.
“We will have the J Creek Cloggers,” Luton said. “And Zeb Ross who performed at the CMAs was a TikTok sensation on clogging. And they’re going to perform here to help us keep continuing the interest, the music, the tales, you know all the stories that go along with everything we do.”
Luton said they have attracted a lot of young crafters and even master crafters.
She said their craft jurors include Tabitha Thierjung from the Appalachian Craft Center and Susan Demay who taught pottery at Vanderbilt is their main juror.
“You’re going to see 180 craft booths,” Luton said. “We’ve gone back to only handcraft. All homemade, we’re going back to our roots on that.”
On the food front Luton said there will be one street with homemade foods, spreads, jams, jellies, and even homemade ice-cream.
“That is totally new,” Luton said. “We’ve never done that before. I think even the seasoned jamboreer is really going to enjoy that street.”
Luton said this year the Grand Old Opry has invited the Fiddle-Off champions to play at the Opry.
The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree takes place June 30 through July 1 commencing at 9 am daily. The Jamboree is held in Historic Downtown Smithville on the Courthouse square.
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