Save the Date! The 2026 Old Time Fiddle Workshop & Contest Weekend is June 4-6, 2026. Updated details coming in 2026!
2026 Fiddle Workshop & Contest Brochure – Coming Soon!
2026 Fiddle Weekend Registration Form – Coming Soon!
Workshops – June 4 & 5, 2026
International Music Camp presents the thirtieth annual FIDDLE, GUITAR, BASS, and 5-STRING BANJO WORKSHOPS June 4 and 5, 2026. The Fiddle Workshop will offer instruction in Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Métis, Canadian Old-Time, and Bluegrass Fiddle styles. The Guitar/Banjo Workshop will focus on flat-picking and finger-picking styles. Both styles are used in folk and bluegrass music. The Bass Workshop will focus on finger picking accompaniment skills. Participants will learn new techniques to accompany old-time fiddling. The workshops will begin each day at 9:00 am Central Time and will conclude at 4:00 pm. Break-out sessions will be offered again with topics such as mandolin, bluegrass, and more!
Who May Enroll: Beginning through advanced players, all ages.
2026 Fees: Full Workshop Package: $220 USD Includes tuition, meals, and lodging for Thursday and Friday ($205 USD early bird registration if registered by June 1, 2026). Cancellations by June 1, 2026 will be refunded all but $25. No refunds after June 1. Workshop participants staying on to compete in the Fiddle Contest will be exempt from paying the Fiddle Contest entry fee.
Family Rate: $150 USD per family member for three or more participants from the same home.
Location: International Music Camp at the International Peace Garden. All events at the International Music Camp are subject to the International Peace Garden Gate Fee. 2026 Admission is either $12 per day per person or $50 for a family annual season pass. If you do not have a passport, a birth certificate (everyone) and photo ID (16 and older) is required to cross the border. Check the IPG website for the more details – www.peacegarden.com.
How to Register: Call the IMC Office at 701-838-8472 or mail us the registration form found on the Old Time Fiddle Brochure.
Festival of the Arts Concert – June 5, 2026
The 2026 Friday Night Spectacular will feature Ryan D’Aoust!
Ryan D’Aoust is an award winning fiddler from the Norway House Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. Ryan learned to play fiddle through the Frontier School division’s Fiddling program offered in his school when he was in grade 6. His exceptional passion, talent, and commitment to his community soon led to his becoming a much sought after fiddler at a very young age. Ryan has played at countless square dancing and jigging contests throughout Manitoba.
His first album “South Side of the Strings” recorded in 2006 when he was still a teenager won a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for best fiddling album of the year. His second album entitled “York Boats And Legends” included four original compositions which drew inspiration from his home community and supportive family.
Ryan’s style of fiddling is rooted in the tradition of Metis fiddling which goes back over 350 years in Northern Manitoba and is also influenced by the classic Canadian fiddle style purveyed by fiddlers such as Don Messer, Graham Townsend and Calvin Vollrath. Ryan is a magician with his bow and is known for his musical articulation, tone and danceable style. He is highly respected within the Fiddling community and appreciated not only for his playing, but for his sense of humour and warm demeanor.
Ryan performs both as a solo artist and as co-leader of the Band Highway 373 with his brother Clayton and has been a fiddle instructor for the Frontier School Division since 2011. He currently teaches in his home community of Norway House. In addition to performing across Canada, Ryan organizes and teaches fiddle workshops, arranges out of town performances for gifted players and helps promising students attend summer music camps.
Tradition and legacy have resonated with Ryan for his whole career. As both a player and teacher his goal is to transmit the joy and sense of community that comes with the fiddle music. Ryan is also enriching that legacy by creating new compositions that add to the canon of Metis music comprised of traditional music and tunes written by the great Metis fiddlers of bygone era including Andy DesJarlis, Reg Bouvette, and Marcel Meilleur. His hope is that his artistic contributions to the fiddling craft will help inspire and motivate young players in the future.
The Festival of the Arts Concert will take place at the International Music Camp in the International Peace Garden. Tickets are required if not registered as a Fiddle Workshop participant. Tickets for the concert are $10 USD. Gate admission to the International Peace Garden is also required. If you do not have a passport, a birth certificate (everyone) and photo ID (16 and older) is required to cross the border. Check the IPG website for more details – www.peacegarden.com.
Contest – June 6, 2026
Now in its 49th year, the INTERNATIONAL OLD-TIME FIDDLERS CONTEST draws fiddlers from both sides of the border to compete in categories ranging from Small Fry to Seniors. Some of the best fiddlers around the region will compete for cash prizes and trophies, plus the title of overall champion. Whether you come as a fiddler on stage or listener in the audience, you are sure to enjoy this day of great old-time music. Cash prizes totaling $2,000 and trophies will be awarded.
Who May Compete: The International Old Time Fiddlers Contest is open to contestants from all states and provinces. All contestants must enter in their age-specific groups. See Contest Rules for more information.
Fees: $25 USD entry fee for International Old Time Fiddle Contest participants. Small Fry and Junior-Junior contestants, and those registered for the Fiddle and Guitar Workshops on Thursday and Friday are exempt from the $25 fee. Entry fee can be sent in advance or paid upon arrival for the Contest. Contest admission for audience members is $12 USD for the entire day.
Registration: Registration and Check-In for the 2026 Contest Participants is open on Friday evening (5:30 to 7pm) and on Saturday morning (7:30 to 8:30am). The General Meeting begins promptly at 8:45 am on Saturday, with the First Round starting immediately after.
Location: International Music Camp at the International Peace Garden. All events at the International Music Camp are subject to the International Peace Garden Gate Fee. 2026 Admission is either $12 per day per person or $50 for a family annual season pass. If you do not have a passport, a birth certificate (everyone) and photo ID (16 and older) is required to cross the border. Check the IPG website for more details – www.peacegarden.com.
Old Time Fiddle Weekend Schedule
Workshop Schedule
| WEDNESDAY | June 3, 2026 |
| 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Registration/Check-In |
| THURSDAY | June 4, 2026 |
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration/Check-In/Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Orientation |
| 9:00 a.m. | Workshops Begin |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Break-out Sessions |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch – Peterson Dining Hall |
| 1:00 p.m. | Workshops |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Workshops |
| 4:00 p.m. | Free Time/Practice |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:30 p.m. | Other Events |
| FRIDAY | June 5, 2026 |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Break-out Sessions |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Workshops |
| 3:00 p.m. | Workshops Conclude |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Registration/Check-In |
| 7:00 p.m. | Friday Night Spectacular – Ryan D’Aoust ($10 USD admission for those attending the concert only) |
All times are Central Time. Times listed are approximate and will be finalized upon arrival.
Contest Schedule
| FRIDAY | June 5, 2026 |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Registration/Check-In |
| SATURDAY | June 6, 2026 |
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration/Breakfast |
| 8:45 a.m. | General Meeting with judges and drawing for First Round Competitions |
| 9:00 a.m. | First Round Competitions for Senior, Adult, and Small Fry Divisions |
| 10:15 a.m. | First Round Competitions for Junior, and Junior-Junior Divisions |
| 11:30 a.m. | Announcement of top 5 scores for Championship Draw, and Drawings for all Second Round Competitions |
| 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Second Round Competitions for Senior, Adult, Junior, and Junior-Junior Divisions, and One Tune Division |
| 3:00 p.m. | Second Round Competition for Championship Division
Announcement of top 4 in Junior, Senior, and Adult divisions for final draws. Present awards to winners of Junior-Junior and Small Fry divisions |
| 3:45 p.m. | Drawings for Finals Round |
| 4:00 – 5:45 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:00 p.m. | Band Contest and FINALS for the Junior, Senior, Adult, and Championship Competitions (Top four in Junior, Senior, and Adult Competitions; top five in Championship Competition). |
ADMISSION FOR NON-PARTICIPANTS: $12 USD
AWARDS CEREMONY – Winners of all competitions will be announced. Selected Small Fry and Junior-Junior Competition participants will perform.
All times are Central Time. Times listed are approximate and will be finalized upon arrival.
Contest Categories
The International Old-Time Fiddlers Contest is open to contestants from all states and provinces. All contestants must enter in their age-specific groups. The division categories are as follows:
Small Fry Division – Contestants age 8 & under
Junior-Junior Division – Contestants age 9-12
Junior Division – Contestants age 13-18
Adult Division – Contestants age 19-64
Senior Division – Contestants age 65 or over
Band Division – Contestants of any age
One Tune Division – Contestants of any age
At the end of the first go-around, the top five scorers in the Junior, Adult, and Senior Divisions will be moved from their registered division to the Championship Division.
Cash prizes totaling $2,000 and trophies will be awarded.
Contest Rules
- Each contestant must play a hoedown, a waltz, and a selection of his or her choice (not a hoedown or waltz), in that order. Small Fry contestants are only required to play a hoedown and a waltz. Novelty tunes such as “Orange Blossom Special,” “Listen to the Mockingbird,” and “Rocky Mountain Rag” will not be permitted. All tunes must be of danceable quality. You must use different tunes for each go-around.
- Contestants in all divisions except Small Fry will play at least two go-arounds each. Contestants will draw for their position in each go-around of the contest. Contestants advancing to the Finals will play one additional go-around (three go-arounds total).
- Small Fry Division contestants will be required to play one go-around only. They will not advance to the Finals round. Contestants will, however, have an opportunity to perform while finals are being tabulated on Saturday night. Certificates and a small cash prize will be awarded to each contestant in this category.
- Junior-Junior Division contestants will be required to play two go-arounds only. They will not advance to the Finals round. Prizes and trophies will be awarded in the Junior-Junior Division based upon the cumulative points of the two go-arounds. Junior-Junior contestants will, have an opportunity to perform while finals are being tabulated on Saturday night.
- Band Division will be required to play one go-around only. The contestants can select two tunes of their own choosing. Bands can consist of any number of performers and instrumentation.
- One Tune Division contestants will play one go-around only. Music on stage allowed, but novelty tunes are still not permitted.
- A maximum of five minutes will be allocated to each contestant for his/her performance in each contest go-around.
- Scoring by the judges will include the following point system:
- Technical Ability: 0 to 100 points
- Tone Quality: 0 to 100 points
- Rhythm: 0 to 100 points
- Intonation: 0 to 100 points
- All points earned will be cumulative.
- All contestants will be allowed one or two accompanists. No accompanist will be allowed to use a bowed instrument. However, the acoustic string bass may be used if it is plucked. One standing microphone will be provided for each participant, but no contact microphones will be allowed.
- No sheet music shall be displayed in the contest area.
2026 Old Time Fiddle Workshop Scholarship Information
IMC is offering scholarships for anyone 18 and under who is participating in the fiddle workshop. Please click the link below for the scholarship application and information. The application is due on May 15, 2026.
2026 Fiddle Workshop Scholarship Form
International Peace Garden Information
All events at the International Music Camp are subject to the International Peace Garden Gate Fee. 2026 Admission is either $12 per day per person or $50 for a family annual season pass. If you do not have a passport, a birth certificate (everyone) and photo ID (16 and older) is required to cross the border. Check the IPG website for more details – www.peacegarden.com.