2008 National Flatpick Champion Tyler Grant performing on stage during the 2008 contest. Photo courtesy Walnut Valley Festival.

Winfield, Kansas — The 38th annual Walnut Valley Festival is scheduled to take place this fall at the Winfield Fairgrounds. Each year acoustic music fans come from around the world to experience what festival regulars have come to love. Locals still call it bluegrass, though it is much more than just bluegrass music, musicians often call it Winfield. Regardless of what you call it, the Walnut Valley Festival has become a springboard for musicians trying to get their careers off the ground. The festival is the host each year of championship contests that bring together the world’s top players to compete against each other playing their chosen instrument. Over the years the contests have attracted later to be famous musicians such as Alison Krauss, Mark O’Connor, Martie Erwin of Dixie Chick fame, and Grand Ole Opry performer/comedian Mike Snider.

The Walnut Valley Festival holds eight different instrument contests during the festival. The longest running and the flagship contest of the festival is the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship. Held every year since the festival started in 1972, the Flat Pick contest has become the high water mark for a lot of guitarists who have gone on to reach great heights with top bluegrass bands.

Other instrument contests held include the International Autoharp Championship, the International Finger Style Guitar Championship, the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship, the National Hammer Dulcimer Championship, the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship, the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship and the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Championship. Each of these contests can include up to 40 contestants from around the world. This year contest entries have been received from Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Australia and Japan as well as the United States. This year contestants will be competing for a total prize package valued over $96,000 in cash and custom made instruments.

The festival begins on September 16th with hands-on workshops and a Wednesday evening concert featuring some of last year’s contest winners. All four stages will be open beginning on September 17th through the 20th. The various contests are held each day throughout the festival dates. Fans are encouraged to attend the contests and enjoy watching the competitions. Advance tickets are on sale and may be obtained by calling 620-221-3250 or by stopping at the festival office, 918 Main Street in Winfield, Kansas. For more information go to www.wvfest.com or call the office.