The Union Grove Old Time Fiddler’s Convention was started by H.P. VanHoy as a way to help raise funds to support North Carolina’s Union Grove School in 1924.  This charity fiddle contest grew exponentially, attracting some of the top bluegrass musicians in the world, until, by the 1960’s, it drew massive crowds of over 100,000 attendees.  Problems with such large crowds in such a small town were inevitable and, in 1979, the last Old Time Fiddler’s Convention was held.
Casey VanHoy looks back on the festival his grandfather started with great nostalgia.  After thirty two years, Casey has decided to promptly revive the festival to continue celebrating the old time music that was once inseparable from his family name.  The revived festival will be held on April 6th and 7th at the VanHoy Farms 107 acre campground featuring 49 full hookups and 20 water-electric sites as well as space for any sort of primitive camping, and will feature several contests as well as a myriad of free workshops focusing on the playing and upkeep of a wide variety of instruments.  There are two stages planned: the first in the covered H.P. VanHoy Arena, built in 1977, and a second near the old tobacco barn.  Casey places emphasis on the fact that this convention is designed as a family event with strict prohibitions on less-than-reputable behavior.  He also stresses that it is and always will be about the beauty of the music produced and nothing else. For more information visit: http://www.vanhoyfarms.com/