Musicians Come To Oklahoma For National Fiddle Fest In Grove

Toe-tapping Americana music is the focus of an upcoming festival in Grove.

The American Heritage Music Festival is June 6-8 and brings people from all over the United States to Oklahoma to play together. At the heart of it is the Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest with a $1,000 prize given to the Fiddle Grand Champion.

Jana Jae founded the contest in 1998. "I am classically trained from age two, but my granddaddy was an old-time champion fiddle player and oh I just thought that was so much fun," she said.

Jae believes people who pick up the instrument are responsible for preserving it.

"It is normally passed down from generation to generation live, so a lot of these fiddle players do not read music at all," she added.

That is why her nonprofit, Grand Lake Festivals, Inc., holds events like this for the community.

"I caught fiddle fever at a very early age and that is what we are hoping people who come to the festival will catch the spirit of this and pick up an instrument and play," Jae said.

The American Heritage Music Festival kicks off Thursday night with a dance. The contest is all day Friday and Saturday at HAR-BER Village.

For more information or to register to play visit GrandLakeFestivals.com