COLUMBIA — Annual devotees from near and far will gather to compete and cheer on contestants for the 42nd time at this year’s Fiddle & Bango Contest on Saturday, September 26. Presented by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, this full day of performance starts at 10:30 a .m at the Gazebo in Columbia Historic State Park. All ages and abilities are welcome to participate. Attendance and parking are completely free to the public.
The event’s unique name traces back to the first contest in 1983 when the word “Banjo” was spelled incorrectly on t-shirts already printed to sell. The community embraced the mistake when Master of Ceremonies, Steve LaVine, famously changed the event’s banner with a brush stroke to match the misprinted shirts right there in front of the audience, cementing “Bango” as a beloved and permanent fixture of Columbia’s local lore.
This year’s contest carries a special significance as the community gathers to honor LaVine’s memory, who passed away earlier this year. For decades, he served as the heartbeat and voice of the contest, welcoming generations of acoustic musicians to the stage with his signature warmth and wit. Stories of Steve will be shared throughout the contest and a special lunchtime performance by Cactus Bob, Prairie Flower, and friends will highlight many of his original songs.
Stepping into the spotlight to carry the torch this year is the event’s new Master of Ceremonies, Jessie Valentine. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome Valentine to the stage as host of this year’s contest. Valentine was a close friend of LaVine’s and has a rich history with Columbia’s street music community. “The grief we all feel for Steve’s passing earlier this year is a testament to the beauty he brought into our lives. I am incredibly honored to be the bridge carrying his legacy forward as the new MC.” said Valentine about her new role as host of the event.
Contestant registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the event. The fee for adults to compete is only $15 per entry, while youth musicians 19 and under compete for free. Categories include fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, vocal, miscellaneous, and original song. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third placements in every category, followed by a run-off of first place winners from each category (except original song) to square off for the highly anticipated $250 cash grand prize. Another cash pot starting at $200 will be awarded to the player who receives the most votes from the audience for the special “People’s Choice” award.
Organizers decided to forgo the customary gold nugget for a cash prize this year because the rising value of this precious metal meant a significant shrinking of the coveted grand prize. Event Coordinator, Jodi Barnett says the decision was not made lightly. “It is important that we preserve the contest’s quirky culture, so it remains accessible to performers of all skill levels. The grand prize needs to be something special that will spark friendly competition.” The contest winner will also receive a commemorative trophy to mark the occasion.
In addition to the Fiddle & Bango Contest, Columbia will also play host to the notorious Poison Oak Contest at the St. Charles Saloon, as well as a chili cook-off between many of the eateries in town. Barnett concluded by saying that “Columbia is the place to be for affordable family friendly fun on the 4th Saturday of September!” For more information about this year’s contest, please follow the Fiddle & Bango Facebook page or contact organizers at fiddlebangocontest@gmail.com.
