Press Release 2026 & 2027

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 4, 2026

95th Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is Back!

ATHENS – The 95th annual Old Fiddlers Reunion is set for Friday and Saturday, April 17th& 18th, 2026. 

Continuing this historical tradition has been important to our community. The Athens Old Fiddlers Foundation, (Traci Wilkes, Drew Boring, Bill Hullum, Camille Cain Barnes, Mary Ensign, Cody Craig, Jackie Wilkes, Marissa Hopper & contest Directors Sherry McKenzie, Cindy Roberts, Joey McKenzie, Ridge Roberts, Matthew Medford and a whole host of wonderful volunteers are excited for this momentous occasion.

“We have found that working together with the City of Athens, Athens Economic Development Corporation, Henderson County and our dedicated local sponsors is the right recipe for success. Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion was the driving force for us to start the Athens Old Fiddlers Foundation to partner with our community helping to ensure the tradition of a free, fun, festive, fiddle-flavored weekend on the courthouse square and the historic Texan Theater – A Landmark Venue continues for many more years.”

Friday’s activities on the Henderson County Courthouse Square start at high noon with live music all day, great food and a family fun fair with crafts and games for all ages. Be sure and stop by the merch table at the stage for your official Athens Old Fiddler’s T-shirt and other memorabilia! From 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm there will be a Friday night street dance starring Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys so get ready to do some boot scootin. In case of rain, we will move the street dance inside the Texan Theater. 

Friday at the Texan Theater – Open Mic for all musicians who want to show off their talents. Show up to sign up at 9am to get your spot reserved. Open Mic is from 10am to 2pm. The afternoon will have workshops and possibly the start of the new Novice Division depending on how many entries we will have for Saturdays contest.  

Saturday starting at 9:00 am in the historic Texan Theater, our Mayor Bubba Smith will welcome all our guests followed by the invocation by a local pastor. The Fiddle Contest & Lone Star Fiddle Championship will end after all contestants have played and the winners are crowned best of the best in each division. At 5:00 pm Athens Texas will be deemed and awarded the prestigious Music Friendly City Designation by the Texas Music Office through the Governor’s Office and was the first State in the US to have such as program. Starting at 10:00 am we will have live music on the main stage at Henderson County Courthouse Square starting with our wonderful TVCC Jazz Band. Bluegrass, Western Swing and Folk music are among the genres of music you will enjoy. Take your pick at the many choices of food trucks and booths that wrap around the lawn and out into the street on the square. Shout out to Connie Giles our new vendor coordinator. She has been working very hard to bring a variety of foods to us.

After the contest there will be a Saturday night street dance with Texas treasured Craig Howell Band from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Grab your chair and come early to save your spot as they always fill the dance floor on every song wherever they play. In case of rain, we will move the street dance inside the Texan Theater. 

The fiddle contest will be broken down into eight divisions with more than $10,000 in prize money at stake, so get there early to reserve your seat to hear the best fiddle players around.

The music and entertainment are free throughout the weekend with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Want to make a weekend out of it? Super 8 is offering a special Fiddlers Rate so make sure to call their office at 903-675-7511. 

We would like to thank this year sponsors for your support: City of Athens, Athens Economic Development Corp, Athens Daily Review, The Texan Theater – A Landmark Venue, Trinity Valley Electric Coop, Fiddles on Wheels, Reigning Jewels Fine Jewelry, Texas Music Office (TMO), Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), Vera Bank, KCKL, KLVQ, Bacon Auto Ranch, Super 8 by Wyndham, Athens Screen Printing, UT Health, Christus Mother Francis Health, Ralston Outdoors, Republic Services, Henderson County, Prosperity Bank, Cowboy Headquarters, Vyve Broadband, Cain Foundation. St Edwards Academy, Keep Athens Beautiful, First State Bank, Smith Lumber, Bill Hullum CPA, Craig Solutions LLC, E-Bar-B Custom Leather, SP Barkley Co., Brookshires, Karen Owen. If you are interested in being a volunteer or sponsor, contact us through our website @ https://athensfiddlersfoundation.org email us at info@athensfiddlersfoundation.org

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2027

96th Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion!

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2024

93rd Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is Back!

ATHENS – The 93rd Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion is set for Friday and Saturday, April 19th & 20th.

Continuing this historical tradition is vital for community engagement in Athens. The Athens Old Fiddler Reunion committee, which consists of a non-profit organization, Fiddles on Wheels founders Sherry McKenzie and Cindy Roberts, Traci Wilkes (owner of Reigning Jewels), and Camille Barnes (CCB Events & Smoky B’s BBQ), is dedicated to preserving our heritage through fiddle music and local talent.

“We have found that working together with the City of Athens, Camille Barnes, Traci Wilkes, and local sponsors, Old Fiddlers is a perfect partner for our nonprofit to help ensure the tradition of a free, fun, festive, fiddle-flavored weekend on the courthouse square.”

There will be wonderful food vendors around the square, a kiddie zone, and much more, providing everything you need for a great day! Be sure to stop by the merch table at the stage for your official Athens Old Fiddler’s t-shirt!

Friday from 10 am to 1 pm, there will be a 42 domino tournament in the Texan Theater organized by the East Texas Help Center, directed by Leslie Saunders. Friday night will feature a street dance from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm with Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys, so get ready to do some boot scooting.

On Saturday, starting at 10:00 am, we will have live performances on the main stage at the Henderson County courthouse square. Enjoy genres such as Bluegrass, Western Swing, and Folk music. Take your pick of many food trucks and booths next to the main stage on the square. In case of rain, we will move the fiddle contest and the street dances inside the Texan Theater.

The Saturday fiddle contest will run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, featuring all ages and offering over $5,200 in prize money at stake. After the contest, there will be a Saturday night street dance with Texas treasure Jake Penrod and his Million Dollar Cowboys from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Grab your chair and come early to save your spot, as they always fill the dance floor with their lively performances.

The fiddle contest will be divided into seven divisions, allowing for broad participation and showcasing local talent. In case of rain, the contest will be moved inside the Texan Theater. The music is free, with seating on a first-come basis.

The entire community is getting involved for this year’s Reunion, highlighting the importance of music education and the continued interest in traditional music.

We would like to extend our gratitude to this year’s sponsors for their support: Fiddles on Wheels, Republic Services, City of Athens, Athens Daily Review, The Texan Theater – A Landmark Venue, Reigning Jewels Fine Jewelry, Morton Small Animal Clinic, Trinity Valley Community College, East Texas Independent Business Alliance, First State Bank, KCKL, KLVQ, Bacon Auto Ranch, Athens Screen Printing, and Hope Springs Water. If you are interested in making donations or becoming a volunteer or sponsor, contact us on our Facebook page @athensfiddlers or email athensoldfiddlersreunion@gmail.com.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2025

94th Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion!

ATHENS - The 94th Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion is set for Friday, April 18th & Saturday, April 19th, 2025, celebrating our community's rich heritage of fiddle music and traditional music.

Fiddle Jam Friday on the square:

· Stephanie Gade will MC for the day, engaging the community with lively announcements.

· 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Experience live performances (Fiddle Jam Friday) on the Courthouse Square. Band lineup includes: 12pm – Classic Country, 1:30pm – Wright Family, 2:30pm – EB Steward Family String Band, 3:30pm – Tiger Lillie’s, and 4:30pm – The Western Flyers.

· 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm – Enjoy multi activities for kids and families in the Texan Theater, promoting music education through fun events like an Easter Egg decorating competition, family games, gymnastics, and more.

· 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Explore food & merchandise vendors on the square, with merchandise vendors hosted by Keep Athens Beautiful encouraging community engagement.

· 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Join the Street Dance featuring Jodie Nix & Band on the square, showcasing local talent.

Saturday Activities around town:

· Stephanie Gade will MC on the square, while Scott Tuley will MC at the fiddle contest, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere.

· 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - Witness the Fiddle Competition inside the Texan Theater, a landmark venue that fosters music education.

· 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - Enjoy live performances on the courthouse main stage featuring Hotel Drifters (10am to 12pm), Cody Reilly (12 noon to 2 pm), Wesley Pruitt (3pm to 5:00pm), and Stage Notes Performers.

· 10:00 am to 10:00 pm - Discover food & craft vendors (craft vendors directed by Keep Athens Beautiful), with food vendors hosted by Athens Farmers Market and AOFF, encouraging donations for local initiatives.

· 10:00 am to 10:00 pm - Participate in the Kiddie Fair, hosted by St Edwards Academy, promoting family-friendly engagement.

· 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Check out the Bacon Auto Classic Car Show on their lot.

· 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Dance the night away at the Street Dance with Craig Howell and Band.

· 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm both Friday & Saturday - Enjoy the Wine & Beer Garden on the square at Freelancers Café, Athens Brewery.

Note: The Athens Old Fiddlers Facebook page will live stream the fiddle competition online, ensuring that everyone can participate in this celebration of our community’s heritage. Live Stream Link will be sent to nursing homes and announced during the fiddle competition.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 23, 2022

91st Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is Back!

ATHENS – The 91st Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion is set for Friday and Saturday, May 27th and 28th. 

Continuing this historical tradition has been important to our community. The Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion committee consists of: a non-profit organization, Fiddles on Wheels founders Sherry McKenzie and Cindy Roberts; Traci Wilkes (founder of East Texas Independent Business Alliance and owner of Reigning Jewels); Camille Barnes (CCB Events & Smoky B’s BBQ); Kristin Willingham (Director of The Athens Chamber of Commerce); and Mary Ensign, as she continues to mentor our committee. 

Fiddles on Wheels wrote, “Our nonprofit has been helping with the Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion the past few years and we quickly realized that it would take a team of people to fill Mary Ensign's shoes!”

“We have found that working together with the City of Athens, Camille Barnes, Kristin Willingham, Traci Wilkes and local sponsors, Old Fiddlers is a perfect partner for our nonprofit to help ensure the tradition of a free, fun, festive, fiddle-flavored weekend on the courthouse square.”

Our Friday night kick-off begins with a Classic Car Show at 6pm and ends with a street dance from 7pm to10:30pm with master of Honky-Tonk and Athens native, Jake Penrod & His Million Dollar Cowboys.

Saturday’s fiddle contest will run from 10am to 6pm followed by our Saturday night street dance with Amber Digby & Midnite Flyers from 8:30pm to 11:30pm. Grab your chair and come early to save your spot as they always fill the dance floor on every song. 

The all ages fiddle contest will be broken down into seven divisions with more than $5,000 in prize money at stake, so set up your chairs on the courthouse lawn and get ready for some great music. 

There will be wonderful food vendors around the square, so we have everything you need for a great day! Be sure and stop by the merch table for your official Athens Old Fiddlers t-shirt! 

The carnival will be in town Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the city parking lot behind The Texan. Tickets are $1 each, or purchase a $25 wristband for unlimited rides. Hours are: Thursday and Friday 5pm - 11pm; Saturday noon - midnight. 

Athens Farmers Market will be joining the festivities on West Tyler Street beside the Henderson County Annex from 9am - 3pm.

This year, The Texan will be host to additional vendors as well as a Chili Cookoff from 11:30am - 2pm. If you would like to be a vendor in The Texan, contact Whitney or Camille at texaninfo@athenstx.gov.

All music is free so bring your lawn chairs and arrive early to get a good spot. Call 903-681-5185 for more information.

The entire community is getting involved for this year’s Reunion; 

211 Gallery, located just a block north from the competition, will be hosting a Canvas & Cork painting session from 1pm - 3pm on Saturday. Registration will be required so stay tuned for more details. 

The East Texas Arboretum will be displaying one hundred or more wooden fiddles painted by the community and supporters of the Arboretum. They will be on display the entire week of Fiddlers Reunion.   

Be a part of fiddlin’ and fishin’! Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will be offering FREE admission to anyone who brings their fiddles to jam. So, come to fiddle or fish! Hours are Monday thru Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday 11am - 2pm; Sunday 1pm - 4pm 

For all you fiddle fans and boot scooters who want to make a weekend out of it, there are many lodging options in the area. For registered contestants ONLY, Super 8 is offering a special fiddler’s rate, so make sure to call their office at 903-675-7511.

We would like to thank this year sponsors for your support: Fiddles on Wheels, Republic Services, City of Athens, Visit Athens, Reigning Jewels Fine Jewelry, The Texan Theatre, Morton Small Animal Clinic, Trinity Valley Community College, East Texas Independent Business Alliance, Athens Daily Review, First State Bank, KCKL, KLVQ, Bacon Auto Ranch, Athens Screen Printing, Hope Springs Water, Christus Mother Frances Health System, Lilly Enterprise McDonalds, Fieldstone & Fireplaces, Shelli Nichole Photography, Athens Chamber of Commerce, East Texas Arboretum, Allen Family Dentistry, Hannigan Smith Funeral Home, Oh Baby Ultrasound, Caring Companions, First State Bank, Railway Café, Dana’s Herb N Juice Coffee Garage, Urban Zen Farmacy, Loft 175, Honeycomb Home, Super 8 Motel, Cornerstone Payments, Bar C Enterprises, Yoga Babe’s, Loft 175 Hair Salon, Kathys Boutique, Pink Pineapple Boutique, Back 40 Firearms, Come and Take It, Railway Cafe. 

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2023

92nd Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is Back!

ATHENS – The 92nd Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion is set for Friday May 26th & Saturday May 27th, 2023. 

Continuing this historical tradition has been important to our community. The Athens Old Fiddler Reunion committee which consists of a non-profit organization, Fiddles on Wheels founders Sherry McKenzie and Cindy Roberts, Traci & Jackie Wilkes (owners of Reigning Jewels), Camille Barnes (CCB Events & Smoky B’s BBQ).

“We have found that working together with the City of Athens, Camille Barnes, Traci Wilkes and local sponsors, Old Fiddlers is a perfect partner for our nonprofit to help ensure the tradition of a free, fun, festive, fiddle-flavored weekend on the courthouse square.”

Thursday night VIP Dinner and Dance fundraiser for The Rotary Club at The Texan Theater – 6pm to 10pm

Friday starting at noon there will be a variety of food trucks and booths around the square, a kiddie zone and much more, so we have everything you need for a great day! Friday night will be a street dance from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm with Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys so get ready to do some boot scooting. 

Take your pick at the many choices of food trucks and booths next to the mainstage on the square. 

Saturday’s fiddle contest will run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The, all ages, fiddle contest will be broken down into seven divisions with more than $5,200 in prize money at stake, so set up your chairs on the courthouse lawn and get ready for some great music. After the contest there will be a Saturday night street dance with Texas treasure Jake Penrod and his Million Dollar Cowboys from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Grab your chair and come early to save your spot as they always fill the dance floor on every song wherever they play.

A Classic Car Show and hamburger cookout will be sponsored by The Athens Masons in the Texan Theater parking lot from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. 

As always, the Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion is a free event with seating on a first come basis.

Want to make a weekend out of it? Super 8 is offering a special Fiddlers Rate so make sure to call their office at 903-675-7511. 

We would like to thank this year sponsors for your support: Fiddles on Wheels, Republic Services, City of Athens, Athens Daily Review, The Texan Theater – A Landmark Venue, Reigning Jewels Fine Jewelry, Trinity Valley Community College, First State Bank, KCKL, KLVQ, Bacon Auto Ranch and Hope Springs Water. If you are interested in being volunteer or sponsor, contact us on our facebook page @athensfiddlers or email athensoldfiddlersreunion@gmail.com