Just over a week away from the 54th Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and four new dance categories.
Event President Kim Luton said the four new categories are traditional line dance, traditional duo line dance, precision team, and hoedown team. Luton said clogging represents a rich part of the Appalachian heritage.
“You can just hear them on stage, the roaring sound from the taps of the shoes,” Luton said. “It’s just, it’s a sound that most people that are familiar with old-times clogging dancing are very familiar with.”
Luton said she has been looking for more dancers and fiddlers over the past few years to improve the festival. The Festival begins July 4.
“We are constantly looking for fiddlers and especially the old-time senior fiddlers,” Luton said. “I mean, the breed, it’s kind of like a dying breed, and therefore that’s why we have the festival to try to keep this ongoing.”
Luton said the jamboree will contain fiddling competitions, crafts, and food vendors. Luton said people will get the chance to hear the recipient of the 2025 Blue Blaze Award, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. Luton said people from all over the country come to Smithville every year to attend the festival.
“I think they would really enjoy the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and the square dancing, and the clogging, and I could go on and on and on, believe me, but there is just so much to see and do and it’s well worth the trip here to see it.”
