"A total of 16 acts with 52 musicians from 13 North Carolina counties, (some as far away as Winston-Salem) and 5 performers from South Carolina, turned up and showed out for the event" reports Ronnie Hawkins, event organizer. "As usual, some performers were there for the first time and some have participated several times over the years."
The event, held annually, is designed to benefit Ellenboro Elementary School, and is a tradition whose roots go back to the original Hollis Fiddlers' Convention that started in 1925. "The Ellenboro event is unique in that it is the only event in the area where a variety of Bluegrass musicians from pre-teens to senior-adults perform competitively and our audience listens to that many different groups and individuals perform, all while providing special equipment, library books and other materials to benefit the students." said Hawkins.