January 15, 2021
By: Shan Stout
The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree Board voted Tuesday to erect the current festival stage on the courthouse square in the coming days for the purpose of an upcoming stage renovation and restoration project. The Tennessee Tourism Enhancement Grant provided the festival with necessary funds to build an improved stage, along with an ADA compliant handicap ramp, helping the festival to be more inclusive to all.
“We are grateful to the state for approving these funds to help make the Jamboree better than ever before,” said President & Coordinator Sam Stout, “The new stage plans include a deeper porch and a few esthetic improvements while maintaining the classic look and feel of the original stage style. With last year’s Virtual Jamboree, we had several contestants with disabilities that competed, and they are making plans to attend the festival in the future. With that said, we have made it a primary goal to help the Jamboree be more accessible to those with disabilities. The new ADA compliant ramp will be the first of many upcoming improvements, along with new Inclusive Competition Categories for music and dance.”
The Jamboree Board wants to thank the city and county government for allowing the erection of the stage during this unusual time of year, and looks forward to the upcoming 50th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree on July 2nd & 3rd, 2021.