From Friends of Fleetwood Parks
Pictured above: Big Valley Bluegrass performs on the Fiddle Fest Mainstage in 2024. Photo courtesy of Berks Fiddle Fest
Friends of Fleetwood Parks will present the annual Berks Fiddle Fest on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Fleetwood Park, 334 W. Main St., Fleetwood. The gates will open at 9 a.m., with Mainstage activities running from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine. Generous donations make this event possible. Donations will be accepted at the parking area as well as the festival donation buckets throughout the park.
The festival will begin with the traditional worship service, followed by a variety of Americana bands on the Mainstage as well as the popular main attraction of the all-ages fiddle competition. The Fire/Open Mic Stage will feature the Scottish Fire Qualifier, which will be a national qualifier event, and the Open Mic Area with emcee Phil Stahl. Pavilion Two will host several workshops on Mandolin, Fiddle, and Guitar. The Durty Rotten Parrots and Fiddlechix will play music throughout the grounds as well as create Jam Groups forming in the Jammin’ Area.
The Kutztown Pipe Band will play bagpipes at the salute to our veterans. Attendees are encouraged to bring their musical instruments and join in the jams, or bring a lawn chair and simply listen.
Musical acts set to perform throughout the day include Wood Flower, Walter Michael, and The Luke Hertzog Trio.
“We’re thrilled to be presenting the Berks Fiddle Fest after last year’s successful festival,” stated Patty Keeney, President of Friends of Fleetwood Parks. “We have a great day planned for families to enjoy and discover the art of fiddling along with some great food and crafters.”
“Fleetwood Park was a great new addition to the Fiddle Fest last year, and this year looks even bigger and better,” said Larry Ross, Chairman of Berks Fiddle Fest. “It’s going to be a great festival of music and events to celebrate musicians all over Berks County.”
The festival will also feature Fiddler Craft Row, where over 40 artisans will feature their crafts for sale, including handmade items and musical items. There will be a special area for crafters under 18. There will also be a special raffle of a Martin acoustic guitar and three jamming/gigging chairs, with tickets available to purchase at the event. All forms and rules for registration for competing in the Fiddle Competitions are available for download at fleetwoodparks.com.
There will be plenty of food and beverages to purchase, including burgers, hot dogs, vegetarian vegetable soup, and drinks by The Friends of Fleetwood Park, whose concession stand will also offer a “Taste of Berks” with featured specialty items from area eateries. Food vendors include Freddy Bear’s Smokin’ Hot BBQ, Pop’s Malt Shoppe, Fleetwood Community Theater’s Apple Dumplings, Fleetwood Area Public Library specialty desserts, and cannoli from the Fleetwood Rec Board.
The Berks Fiddle Fest is sponsored by the following local organizations and businesses: The Workshop Pavilion Sponsors: East Penn Manufacturing Co. and Service Electric Cablevision Inc.; Open Mic Stage Sponsors: Breakfast Brothers and Restored Auto LLC; Musician Workshop Sponsor: BoardSafe Docks (Northeast Products and Services Inc.); Open Mic Sponsors: Advanced Comfort Specialists Inc., Clark’s TV & Appliance Inc., Fleetwood Bank, Fleetwood Oriole’s Nest #32, Gotwals Trucking, Lantek, Maidencreek TV and Appliance Inc., M & M Mechanical LLC, Miller Thielen, PC, and Walbert Funeral Home & Crematory; and Fiddlin’ Friends: Boyer’s, Crow Hill, Dick’s Service Station, DooDahDaze, Fleetwood Legion Post #625, Inn on Main, Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, Kutztown Beneficial Association, Menchey Music Service LLC, Statement Apparel Inc., Tempesco LLC (Anita Trinket), The Bridge Inn, Weaver’s Ace Hardware, and White Oak Dentistry. In-Kind Donations are provided by Lori A. Gappa and Richmond Produce.
For additional information about the Berks Fiddle Fest, visit www.fleetwoodparks.com or email berksfiddlefest@gmail.com.
2025 Berks Fiddle Fest Schedule
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fiddler Craft Row: Over 40 vendors of crafts and more will be open throughout the entire day.
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Jammin’ Area: Grab your instrument and jam with other fiddlers all day long, or just listen to the music.
- 10 a.m. at the Mainstage: Gospel service. The annual tradition will kick off the festival.
- 10 a.m. at Pavilion Two: Fiddle workshop with Addison Teal. Get a special workshop on the Fiddle!
- 10 a.m. at the Fire/Open Mic Stage: Scottish Fire qualifier. Fiddlers compete to qualify in the Scottish Fire Competition.
- 10:30 a.m. at the Mainstage: Meadowood music student showcase. See the fiddlers of tomorrow.
- 11 a.m. at the Mainstage: Wood Flower. Enjoy this special concert by Wood Flower.
- 11 a.m. at Pavilion Two: Guitar workshop with William Parker. Grab your guitar and attend this special workshop with William Parker.
- 12 p.m. at the Mainstage: Walter Michael in concert. Enjoy Walter Michael in concert.
- 12 p.m. at Pavilion Two: Mandolin workshop with William Parker. Attend this special workshop with William Parker on the mandolin.
- 1 p.m.: Salute to America. A special salute to our country.
- 1:30 p.m. at the Fire/Open Mic Stage: Open mic hosted by Phil Stahl. Grab your instrument and enjoy the artists at our Open Mic Stage.
- 1:30 p.m. under the Mainstage: Fiddle competition for ages 12 and under.
- 1:30 p.m. at Pavilion Two: Fiddle workshop with David Gardner. Join in on the fun with this fiddle workshop.
- 2:15 p.m. at the Mainstage: Luke Hertzog Trio. Enjoy the sound of the Luke Hertzog Trio.
- 2:45 p.m. at the Mainstage: Fiddle competition for ages 13 to 17.
- 3:45 p.m. at the Mainstage: Luke Hertzog Trio. Enjoy the sound of the Luke Hertzog Trio.
- 4:15 p.m. at the Mainstage: Fiddle competition for ages 18 and over.
- 5:15 p.m. at the Mainstage: Fiddlemania, awards, and swing low jam.
*All stage times are appropriate.
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