Old Time Fiddle Championships in Oroville (Chico, Yuba City: RV park, homes, school)

[WesternPilgrim]

On March 16 and 17, Oroville (Butte County) will host the California State Old Time Fiddle and Picking Championships at the Memorial Auditorium, 1200 Myers Street. I first attended this event as a child in the '70s and it's still going strong.

The CSOTFA festivals are a little-known California treasure. Although the events are competitive, the best part about them are the delightful impromptu music jams everywhere. The atmosphere is wholesome, family friendly, and relaxed. Participants generally come from small towns and rural hamlets throughout the state. There are many impressive young fiddlers, and homeschoolers are well represented too.

Here's a contest piece from 2010:


California State Fiddle Championship 2010 Anything Goes - YouTube

[WesternPilgrim]

I almost forgot: the evening before the contest, on March 15, the Old Time Fiddlers will be hosting a "Country Gospel Jam":

"Oroville’s Old Time Fiddlers proudly announce their Annual Country Gospel Jam which will take place at Oroville’s Municipal Auditorium on Thursday March 15th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Talented and inspired musicians from all across California, who have come to Oroville for the Annual California State Open Fiddle and Picking Championship Contest will participate. Local acoustic music groups, church choirs, gospel music makers of all persuasions from around Butte County and beyond are also encouraged to sign up to take the stage. Groups will be scheduled perform 3 Gospel numbers during the Group Session scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 PM. After 6:30PM, individuals or groups wishing to perform more will be invited to sign up and take the stage in turn to perform 1 or 2 songs."

[BeauCharles]

See, it really is the Hillbilly capital of California!

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by BeauCharles

See, it really is the Hillbilly capital of California!

I can't argue with that!

[jeffredo]

I'm there! Actually, my big sis lives in Chico - might see if she would like to go.

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by jeffredo

I'm there! Actually, my big sis lives in Chico - might see if she would like to go.

You're in for a treat, Jeffredo. There's lots of RV parking available.

[countryway]

Sounds wonderful. I would love to attend, however I am not going to be in California at that time. The Country Gospel Jam is of particular intrest to me being a country/gospel musician. I never knew that this festival went on in Oroville when I lived near Yuba City several years ago or I would have come up!

WesternPilgrim: Are you involved musically in this event?

[Fiddlehead]

Sounds fun.

Why did the OP have to add home schooling? How does that relate to fiddling?

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by countryway

Sounds wonderful. I would love to attend, however I am not going to be in California at that time. The Country Gospel Jam is of particular intrest to me being a country/gospel musician. I never knew that this festival went on in Oroville when I lived near Yuba City several years ago or I would have come up!

WesternPilgrim: Are you involved musically in this event?

Countryway, if you're in CA later this year, Weaverville has a contest in September, and Red Bluff has another in October. Stay in touch and we can meet up. Would love to show you around.

I'm not a musician myself, but I've got three or four kids competing, plus one accompanist.

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Sounds fun.

Why did the OP have to add home schooling? How does that relate to fiddling?

Is there some reason why I shouldn't have mentioned it? I think it adds to the uniqueness of the event and the culture of old time fiddling in California.