PORT TOWNSEND — The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes kicked off its 34th year Sunday with a pair of concerts that filled the McCurdy Pavilion in Fort Worden State Park.
Program manager Peter McCracken said that about 300 people were taking part in the weeklong event, with some traveling from as far as the Basque region of Spain and Ireland.
Most of the attendees came from the United States and the far reaches of Canada, he said.
McCracken said that attendance levels were about the same as last year.
The two shows Sunday included an afternoon performance, “Old World, New World,” with a demonstration of fiddle playing from diverse locations.
The evening’s Fiddle Grand Finale featured Irish, Canadian and Native American fiddlers, in a show that preceded the annual fireworks display.
Prior to the concert, groups of fiddlers populated the lawn outside the pavilion, practicing and interacting.
Josie Toney, 20, traveled to the festival from Olympia with her father, Lindon.
The pair improvised with other participants prior to the early performance.
Josie Toney said this was her 10th Fiddle Tunes and that she has been playing since she was 5 years old.
“The music here is amazing, and I love the sense of community,” she said.
Workshops continue all week, culminating with a pair of concerts Friday night.
For more information, go to www.centrum.org/fiddle/ft-concerts.html.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.