Contributed Photo/Courtesy Vance Bryce: Participants of the Eastern Arizona Old Time Fiddle Contest play on stage during the February 2020 event. The event has been postponed this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Contributed Article/Courtesy Graham County Chamber of Commerce
SAFFORD – The Graham County Chamber of Commerce has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Eastern Arizona Old Time Fiddle Contest: “FiddleFest,” which was scheduled for February 12-14, 2021.
Bri Morris, who planned the event in 2020, said that “The logistics of holding this event during the COVID-19 pandemic were complex, and we could not ask for sponsorship money or event participation fees without risking participants, funds, or fees.”
Vance Bryce, Executive Director of the Chamber, agreed with Morris. “Our decision was not made lightly. We considered the current state of the pandemic, coverage of event insurance, the population demographics of attendees, and the COVID outlook for the coming month. Additionally, we considered the reality of participants’ ability to travel at this time – both financial and physical. Bri and I met with the Board of Directors last Friday and found postponing the contest to be the right decision for the safety of our community and all our participants.”
The Chamber looks forward to resuming the contest in February 2022, which will give fiddlers the opportunity to practice and get ready for next time. Chamber staff is continuing to plan the Gila Valley Bridal & Event Fair in early March and the Safford Wine, Art, & History Festival in late April. If you have any questions, please contact the staff at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce at 928-428-2511 or info@graham-chamber.com.
