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 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 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.