Canadas fiddle championship in 60th year; annual event runs Aug. 4 to 8 in village

The 60th Canadian Open Old Time Fid­dle Championship takes place Aug. 4 to 8.

The event features Canada’s top fiddlers in com­petition for more than $17,000 in prizes.

Community events in conjunction with the cham­pionship include camping, a giant fiddle parade featuring the Metropolitan Toronto Pol­ice Winged Wheels, an open air market, a non-denominational church service, and 24-hour meals and entertainment at the Legion. New this year will be a Sat­urday morning fiddle jam  and a fiddle and step-dancing show following the parade.

Woods returns

On Aug. 5 at 7:30pm, the Rotary Club will welcome back the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Champion and Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Cham­pion Scott Woods, of Fergus, who along with his band, will per­form what’s expected to be a crowd-pleasing show.

Two-time winner of the Canadian Open Fiddle Contest, two-time winner of the Cana­dian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships, and Canadian Fiddle Entertainer of the Year are perhaps Woods’ most-prized titles.

However, he has won competitions and perform­ed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. He can turn somersaults and step dance while playing the fiddle.

For more information about Woods, visit scott­woods.ca.

The championship starts with the playdowns on Aug. 6 at 1pm and 7pm at the Shel­burne arena. Classes that will com­pete in the afternoon in­clude age 9 and under, and ages 10 to 12, and 56 and over. The evening features the remaining classes. The finals are on Aug. 7 at 6:30pm and feature en­ter­tainment by the Jenish Sisters and The Third Degree, as well as a revived judges’ showcase.

Past champions will also perform as part of the Saturday evening entertainment.

There are all kinds of ticket packages and prices. For tickets, phone 519-925-8620.