If you're going

No tickets are sold in advance; they're only available at the gate.
Parking spots outside the park fill up early in the day, but Galax is a small city and if you park your car downtown or on a side street, the walk to the park is relatively short.

73nd Annual Old Fiddler's Convention

When: Monday through Saturday

Where: Felts Park, Galax

Founded: 1935

Ticket prices: $6 each for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; $10 for Friday; $12 for Saturday; $40 for entire week; children younger than 12 admitted free with escort who has paid

Camping: $70 per campsite (Felts Park campground opens Aug. 3)

Prizes: $775 to best bluegrass and old-time bands; $185 to best bluegrass and old-time fiddlers; $110 to best performers with autoharp, guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, bluegrass banjo, Dobro and dulcimer; $145 for best folk song and flatfoot dance; and $135 to best all-around performer.

Directions: From Interstate 77's Exit 14; take U.S. 58 west 10 miles to Galax; turn left onto Main Street (state Route 89); go about 1 mile to Felts Park, site of the fiddler's convention, on the left.

Details: www.oldfiddlersconvention.com