Fiddlers of all ages are advised to pre-register for the Oklahoma State Fiddle Championships.
The 52nd annual championships happen Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Tulsa State Fair.
Fiddlers will be competing for more than $6,200 in prizes. The contest has been structured to pay as many fiddlers as possible.
There are five divisions, with cash awarded in each all the way to tenth place.
The pee wee, youth, and junior divisions handle contestants up to age 17.
That’s $1,270 to split among 30 young fiddlers.
The adult division (18 and up) has $650 in prize money.
The open division pays $4,300, including $1,000 to the winner, who will be named the state’s 2026 champion.
By spreading out the money, the contest hopes to encourage young fiddlers, especially classical students wanting to give fiddling a try, to feel like they have a chance of winning some cash. The same goes for the outstanding fiddlers in the open division. They typically come from surrounding states as well as Oklahoma, and want to feel confident of winning enough to help with the cost of their trip.
When they pre-register at www.tulsastatefair.com, contestants will receive:
- A free ticket to enter the Fair, worth $17
- Half-price contest entry fee ($10 instead of $20)
- A souvenir T-shirt in their selected size
The Fair ticket will be mailed ahead of time, which is why pre-registration closes in mid-September.
