It’s that time again! Mark your calendars for the 2012 Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25–26. This nationally recognized event begins with a FREE kick-off Jam Session and Gambler’s Draw competition on Friday night, Aug. 24, 6-10 p.m.Besides a championship fiddling contest, the 2012 Fiddle Festival will feature demonstrations, entertainers strolling the streets of downtown, workshops, an inside the tent Saturday night “Square Dance” and more!The Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival will award more than $6,500 in cash prizes with three (3) national judges, who will be announced soon so keep checking our Website for updates. Contest will be in the “Ozarks Music & Culture Tent” in Historic Downtown behind Dick’s 5 & 10. Prelims are Saturday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Finals will be on Sunday, August 26 from noon to 5 p.m. There is NO entree fee to contestants. However, pre-registration is greatly appreciated. Each contestant receives free admission and one free guest pass to the fiddling contest. There is a daily $3 admission to contest for adults and a daily $1.50 admission to contest for children 4-12. Children 3 and younger get in free.Workshops will be in a private conference room both Thursday Aug. 24 and Friday Aug. 25. Pre-Registration is strongly suggested. Contact Junior Marriott for information about instructors and workshop schedules; 417-683-2777 or fiddledog66@gmail.com Workshop tuitions are $25 each. A total of six (6) hours of workshops, which includes registration for both days, is $50.Remember to mark your calendars for the 24th Annual Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival and Mid-American Fiddlers Championship as well as:

Friday Night’s FREE kick-off Jam Session, which will begin with the Gamblers Draw, Aug. 24, 6-10 p.m. in the “Ozarks Music & Culture Tent.” Fiddlers and accompanists will be on hand to play their favorite tunes. There is a $5 entry fee into the Gambler’s Draw. Song titles will be placed in a hat. Fiddlers competing draw a title out of the hat and are required to play that song. If they can’t play the song, they are eliminated from the competition. The last fiddler standing will be the winner and will receive all of the entry fee money that was placed in the hat. The Jam Session will continue after the Gambler’s draw.

Saturday Night: “Square Dance” in the “Ozarks Music & Culture Tent” on Aug. 25, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets for the dance is $3 per person. Tickets for children 4-12 are $1.50 and children 3 and younger get in free. There will also be hands-on instruction on how to do these traditional square dances.

Sunday’s Gospel Celebration is 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 27. Matt’s Family Jam will once again provide uplifting and inspired music. Admission is FREE to the Sunday Gospel Celebration. The fiddling contest finals will begin following the Gospel Celebration.

Contestants please complete the 2012 Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival registration form and return it to the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA). Contact information is: 866-523-1190