JOIN US FOR THE
76th Maritime Fiddle Festival
July 4 & 5, 2025
NSCC Ivany Campus, Dartmouth NS
SEVEN FIDDLE CLASSES & TWO STEP DANCE CLASSES
Join us during the day on Friday and Saturday for the heart of the Maritime Fiddle Festival – the competitions. With seven different fiddle classes and two step dance classes, the stage will be packed with incredible talent, energy, and musical passion. Come support the participants and enjoy some good Old Time Fiddle music.
TWO GREAT EVENINGS OF MUSIC
Join us on Friday and Saturday evening for two great nights of music. Friday night kicks off with a lively Social, Jam, and Dance session – so don’t forget your fiddles and dancing shoes! Then on Saturday, we wrap up the festival with our Closing Concert, featuring performances from festival winners, judges, some very special guests: Twin Fiddles (Gordon Stobbe & JJ Guy)!
A Brief History of the Maritime Fiddle Festival
The Maritime Fiddle Festival, established in 1950 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is Canada’s longest-running old-time fiddle contest and the largest in the region. Originally organized by St. Thomas More Church as a fundraiser, the festival has grown into a significant event dedicated to preserving and celebrating traditional fiddle music. Held annually in early July, the festival features seven fiddle classes and two step-dance classes, offering two days of competitions, performances, and social events. Over the years, it has attracted notable fiddlers such as Ivan & Vivian Hicks, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, April Verch, J.P. Cormier, Scott Woods, Shane Cook, and many others. The festival plays a crucial role in maintaining the rich heritage of Canadian fiddle styles, including Cape Breton, ‘Down East,’ and Acadian traditions, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of the Maritimes.
Schedule of Events
DAY ONE
FRIDAY – JULY 4, 2025
Join us as we kick off the 76th Maritime Fiddle Festival! We’ll start with Competition Preliminaries for all our fiddle classes (excluding 9 Years and Under and 10-12 Years).
After a well earned dinner break, join us again in the evening for a lively Social, Jam, and Dance hosted by Twin Fiddles (Gordon Stobbe and JJ Guy).
1:00 PM - COMPETITION PRELIMINARIES
Fiddle Classes:
- 60 Years & Over
- 19-59 Years
- 18 Years & Under
- Group
- Open
Presentations:
- Oldest Fiddler Award
- Fiddlers Participant Prize
7:30 PM - SOCIAL, JAM, DANCE!
Bring your fiddles, bring your dancing shoes, or just bring yourself for a great night of music and dancing.
Stay tuned for more details on our special guests!
DAY TWO
SATURDAY – JULY 5, 2025
Join us on Saturday as the competition continues with the 9 & Under and 10–12 fiddle classes in the morning.
Not participating? No problem! You’re invited to join a group of fiddlers visiting local senior homes around Dartmouth to share some tunes and brighten the day.
In the afternoon, we start off with the step dance classes preliminaries and then wrap up the competition with the finals for all fiddle and step dance classes.
Then, cap off the weekend at our Closing Concert, featuring performances by our festival winners, judges, and special guests Twin Fiddles (Gordon Stobbe & JJ Guy)!
9:00 AM | YOUTH COMPETITION
Fiddle Classes:
- 9 Years and Under
- 10-12 Years
Presentations:
- Youngest Fiddler Award
- Fiddlers Participant Prizes
Note: The Youth Competition participants will not need to participate in the finals. Awards for both these classes will be given by the end of the morning.
10:00 AM | SENIORS VISIT
If not participating the the Youth Competition portion of the festival, join us as we visit some local senior homes and play some classic fiddle tunes. All musicians are welcome!
Note: Please meet in the Lobby of the NSCC by 10:00AM at the latest.
1:00 PM | FINALS & AWARDS
Step Dance Classes (Preliminaries):
- 15 Years & Under
- Open
Fiddle Classes:
- 60 Years & Over
- 19-59 Years
- 18 Years & Under
- Group
- Open
Step Dance Classes (Finals):
- 15 Years & Under
- Open
7:30 PM | CLOSING CONCERT
A closing festival concert filled with lots of great music! Enjoy the showcase of the Festival of Stars, all our first place winners from the festival, performances from our judges as well as our special guests! Stay tuned – we’ll be announcing our special guests for the evening soon! The Tara Lynne Touesnard Award will also be presented during the closing concert.
76th Maritime Fiddle Festival’s
Awards & Prizes
The Maritime Fiddle Festival is proud to support over $4,400 in awards for our 76th annual celebration of music and dance!
A heartfelt thank you to all of our award donors for their generosity — your support helps us celebrate talent, dedication, and the rich tradition of fiddle music in the Maritimes.
Want to see the full breakdown of awards by category?
Click the link below to view the full awards list.
VOLUNTEER
From helping at the door to guiding performers and setting up for events, there’s a role for everyone. Whether you’re available for a few hours or the whole weekend, your time and energy make a huge difference.
SUPPORT OR SPONSOR
Are you a local business, artisan, or organization looking to support live music and cultural events? Let’s chat about sponsorship or partnership opportunities.
PERFORM OR PARTICIPATE
Interested in competing, performing, or being part of our jam sessions? Keep an eye out for registration info — or reach out to us directly!
How you can get involved
Want to be part of the magic? The Maritime Fiddle Festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible community — and we’d love for you to join us!
Ready to help our or want to learn more? Email us at MFFPlanning@gmail.com to get started.
Interested in Competing in This Year’s Festival?
Think you’ve got what it takes to take the stage? We’re calling all fiddlers and step dancers to join us for the 76th Maritime Fiddle Festival Competition!
With seven fiddle classes and two step dance categories, there’s a place for every age and skill level. Whether you’re a first-time competitor or a returning champ, we’d love to see you take part in this beloved tradition.