Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree Receives $75,000 For New Stage Cover

A new roof over the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree will be constructed thanks to a $75,000 state Tourism Enhancement Grant.

In 2019 a windstorm ripped the cover off, and the stage has not had a roof since. The original roof was built some 30 years ago, designed by Tennessee Tech students. Jamboree President Kim Luton said she hopes the grant will cover the entire cost of the roof.

“It gets so hot sometimes that even the strings on the instruments can be damaged, and it’s really hot on their fingers when they have to do that for a mandolin, banjo, whatever,” Luton said. “It’s a necessity for the stage for the Jamboree.”

Luton said she has considered reaching back out to Tech to see if they can help design the new roof. She said unfortunately, quotes she has received so far are upwards of $100,000.

“It was a group effort at that time, but now we got to start from scratch, and we are just thankful that we got this grant, because they aren’t cheap by no means,” Luton said. “So that’s our goal, get this stage up by the 2024 Jamboree.”

Luton said some of the money is also going to be used to add a handicap ramp on the left side of the stage. The right side of the stage is already handicap accessible.

“We’re going to figure out how to pull this together,” Luton said. “We do have some bids and some drawing and some measurements, but it’s a predicament with the cover because of possible damage again.”

Luton said the Jamboree rebuilt the entire stage three years ago through another tourism enhancement grant.

“When I saw this grant come available I though we may not have a shot at this since we got the last one, but we did,” Luton said. “We were surprised, happily surprised. The city of Smithville of course they applied for the grant on behalf of us and agreed to assist us with it.”

Luton said the upgrade to the stage is part of a plan to improve several aspects of the Jamboree. She said adding the roof to the stage will help in her efforts to book well-known artists for the Jamboree.

“We’ve seen a little reduction in contestants, so I’m real excited to see who will come back just because the cover is up,” Luton said. “As far as our senior fiddlers, they can’t stand up in the heat and play their fiddles and everything. I’m really excited, real excited to get it up. That’s just been my main focus for about two or three years. I’m just beyond words to tell you the truth.”

The 53rd Fiddlers’ Jamboree takes place July 5 and 6, 2024.