Doors will open on Saturday at 8:00 AM for registration and sign-up. Introduction of judges/questions from audience at 9:00 AM. The contest will begin promptly at 9:30 AM.

The Nevada State contest is certified by the National Old-Time Fiddlers Association for the following open divisions: Small Fry (age 8 and under), Junior-junior (up through age 12), Junior (age 13-17), Adult (age 18-54), Senior (age 55-69), Senior-senior (age 70+), Grand champion (all ages), Nevada State Junior champion, and Nevada State Adult champion. The highest scoring Nevada resident up to age 17 from the Junior-junior or Junior open divisions will be declared the Nevada State Junior champion. The highest scoring Nevada resident 18 years and older from the Adult, Senior, or Senior-senior open divisions will be declared the Nevada State Adult champion.

A contestant may register in either an open division or the grand champion division but not both.

Contestants will play 3 tunes: 1) hoedown, 2) waltz, and 3) tune of choice other than a hoedown or waltz.

Contestants must be able to perform at contest level.

Contestants must play their tunes in 5 minutes or less, but are allowed a 10 second grace period. Time begins when contestant plays the first note of their first tune, and ends when contestant plays the final note of their last tune. If the contestant exceeds the allotted time, a penalty of 1 point per second will be deducted from their score. 

Playing order will be according to sign-up sheet. Please do not change the playing order after signing your name on the sign-up sheet.

Contestants will be scored on intonation/tone quality (25 points), rhythm/danceability (25 points), old-time fiddling style (25 points), and degree of difficulty (25 points) per age division for a possible total of 100 points.

There will be 2 rounds for each open age division with scores accumulative. There will be 2 rounds for the grand champion division.  Contestants must play a different set of tunes for each round per division. Three points will be deducted for violation of this rule.

Contestants may play with or without an accompanist. Up to four accompanists are allowed. If the contestant needs an accompanist, one will be provided.

No sheet music may be displayed by contestants in the contest area.

Contact microphones or other amplification of instruments are not permitted. Show tunes, trick or fancy fiddling will not be allowed during the contest, nor will plucking of strings, cross tuning, or hokum bowing be allowed (aka “outlaw fiddling”).

If a string breaks during performance, the contestant will have the option to either continue or stop at that point. If play is stopped, they will be allowed to continue that tune and complete the program later in the contest.

In the event of a tie for 1st , 2nd , or 3rd  place, a tie breaker hoedown will be played (2 minutes allowed).