The courthouse square will be swarming with lovers of Appalchian music, crafts and fun on July 5 and 6.
The Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival will begin for the 42nd time at 9 a.m. on July 5.
Friday preliminaries in the musical competitions will include the following categories:
•Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Solo);
•Flat Top Guitar; Junior Clogging (ages 13-39);
•Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39);
•Old-Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet);
•Dobro Guitar;
•Mountain Dulcimer;
•Hammer Dulcimer;
•Novelty Event (Spoon Clacking, Jug Blowing, Washboard, Tub, Saw-Appalachian Related Only);
•Autoharp, Gospel Singing (Solo);
•Country Harmonica;
•Old Time Banjo;
•Youth Square Dancing (Four Couples-Eight Total Dancers);
•Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio and Quartet);
•Mandolin, and
•Old Time Fiddle Band.
The entertainers judged to be the top three in each category will return for the finals on Friday night and first, second and third-place overall will be awarded.
The first-place Old Time Fiddle Band winners will receive $525, and the Youth Square Dancing leaders will win $400.
All other first-place winners get a $125 prize.
The Old Time Fiddle Band second-place winner will receive $425, and third place wins $325.
The second-place team in Youth Square Dance will be awarded $300 and $200 goes to third place.
Second-place in all other categories pays $100, and third-place winners take home $75.
A United States flag and a Tennessee State flag will be presented by State Sen. Mae Beavers and State Reps. Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody on Friday evening.
The flags will have been flown over the state capitol, and will go to the Jamboree visitors who have traveled the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get to the festival.
Awards for the best crafts will be presented on Saturday.
Best of Show, Best Appalachian Craft, Best Newcomer and Best Craft Display awards will be awarded.
Preliminaries in the following musical competitions will be held on Saturday as well:
•Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39),
•Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39),
•Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over),
•Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over),
•Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over),
•Bluegrass Banjo,
•The Fiddle Contest for the Neil Dudney Award,
•Bluegrass Band,
•Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over), and
•Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).
The top three finalists in the preliminary rounds will return Saturday night to compete for first, second and third place.
Junior Fiddlers and Senior Fiddlers are awarded $225 for first place, $175 for second place and $150 for third place.
Bluegrass Band winners compete for a $525 first-place prize, $425 for second place and $325 for third place.
Square Dancing awards are $400 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place.
Prizes in the remaining categories are $125 for first place, $100 for second place and $75 for third place.
The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will face each other at the conclusion of the competition on Saturday night to find out who will take home the Grand Champion Award and the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy.
The winner will get another $300 in prize money.
The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be also be held Saturday afternoon.
The competition features categories for children up to age 12, including:
•Buck Dancing,
•Clogging,
•Dobro Guitar, Mandolin,
•Five String Banjo,
•Flat Top Guitar, and
•Fiddle.
Preliminaries will again take place in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.
Prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second place; and $50 for third place.
One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award along with $125.
The top fiddler will receive the James G. "Bobo" Driver Memorial Trophy and $175.