Nevada Old-Time Fiddlers’ Contest

There’s no better place to strike up an old-school good time than the Nevada Old-Time Fiddlers’ Contest. Each spring, fiddlers and fans gather in the Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road for a weekend of lively competition, toe-tapping tunes, and small-town charm that draws a crowd—and nearly doubles the local population. In a historic opera house in the heart of Eureka, this springtime contest fills the weekend with hoedowns, waltzes, and plenty of fiddle-fueled Nevada charm. The music begins Friday evening with a hot fiddle contest, twin fiddling, and performances by the event judges, setting the stage for a full Saturday of certified competition. Across multiple divisions, contestants take on hoedowns, waltzes, and tunes of choice as they compete for top honors and the title of Grand Champion. For spectators, it’s a chance to settle in and enjoy a whole lot of bow-on-string brilliance in a one-of-a-kind setting. Between the historic opera house, Eureka’s old mining-town atmosphere, and a weekend packed with Western tunes, this beloved event hits all the right notes.