the return of our Step & Fiddle COMPETITION
After a long-awaited hiatus, the beloved Step & Fiddle Competition is making its triumphant return to the 2026 Western Fair — and we couldn’t be more thrilled! This high-energy showcase of lightning-fast footwork and toe-tapping fiddle tunes has been a crowd favourite for years, and its comeback promises to be bigger, bolder, and more spirited than ever. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-time spectator, get ready for an unforgettable celebration of tradition and talent. Dust off your dancing shoes, tune those strings, and join us September 20th as we bring back the heartbeat of the Fair!
Join us for a Judges Showcase after the competition, where the days’ judges will entertain and all competitors can hop back on stage for a final number to cap off the event!
ENTRY FEE: $10 per section
IMPORTANT DATES:
All competitions will be held on Sunday, September 20th
below are the competition times
Entry Form Closing Date:
Friday, September 11
Sign ups available in person on the day of the competition.
(Last entry received is the first to dance or play in each class)
Competition will begin at 12:00 pm—Classes will alternate between Step and Fiddle.
A Few Things to Remember:
All competitors will receive one (1) pass to the Western Fair for the day of the competition. A list of names will be left with gate staff.
All entries must be made on the Form Online. If entries in any section are not sufficient to ensure competition, the committee reserves the right to cancel any section or incorporate it with another suitable section.
A contestant may enter both fiddling and step dancing competitions, but may enter in one section only in each class with the exception of Group Step Dancing and Duet Fiddling
When age is a condition of entry it will be calculated as of September 1, 2026.
The above judging schedule is tentative and subject to change depending on entries received.
It’s always best to have chord charts ready to provide to the accompanist.
STEP DANCING
1. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS -
8 years of age and under.
One dance only.
1st $50 | 2nd $40 | 3rd $30 | 4th $20 | 5th $10
2. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - 12 years of age and under. Reel only.
1st $60 | 2nd $50 | 3rd $40 | 4th $30
3. JUNIOR GROUP DANCE - 12 years old & under. One (1) of either CLOG, JIG, or REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
4. INDIVIDUAL STEP - 18 years and under. One (1) EACH of a CLOG, JIG, and REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
5. INDIVIDUAL STEP - 19 - 39 years of age. One (1) of either CLOG, JIG, or REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
6. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - 40 years of age and over. Dance one number
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
7. INDIVIDUAL STEP DANCERS - Open Class. One (1) EACH of a CLOG, JIG, and REEL.
1st $300 | 2nd $200 | 3rd $100
8. SENIOR GROUP DANCE - Open to dancing groups with three or more members. A group may perform any type of dance that is recognized as a group number. There will be a five-minute time limit for each group.
1st $150 | 2nd $100 | 3rd $60
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Step Dancing
Scoring will be based on the following criteria: Timing, Precision of Footwork, Quality & Variety of Steps, Showmanship & Personality.
The Western Fair Association will provide an experienced violin/piano duo. All contestants must dance to live music. A panel of two experienced judges will be provided. In all cases, the judges' decision is final.
When making an entry in the Group Dance sections, the number of persons in the group and the name of the dance must be recorded on the entry form. To determine in which age category a group must compete, divide the total ages by the number of dancers in the group. (Average ages of 11.2 or 11.9 for example are considered 11 years of age and under.)
Any prize money that may be awarded to a group will be paid to the person who makes the entry.
OLD TYME FIDDLING
Scoring for this competition will be on a points basis as follows:
Time 25
Tone 25
Intonation 25
Overall Accuracy 25
Total 100
1. JUNIOR CLASS
8 years of age and under. To play one tune only, either a waltz, jig, or reel.
1st $50 | 2nd $40 | 3rd $30
2. JUNIOR CLASS
12 years of age and under. One (1) of either WALTZ, JIG, or REEL.
1st $60 | 2nd $50 | 3rd $40
3. Novice Fiddle
10-15 years of age. Must play a WALTZ and one (1) of a JIG or REEL (or breakdown)
1st $60 | 2nd $50 | 3rd $40
4. INTERMEDIATE CLASS
18 and under. One (1) each of WALTZ, JIG, and REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
5. 19-44 years of age
One (1) each of WALTZ, JIG, and REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
6. 45 and over
One (1) each of WALTZ, JIG, and REEL.
1st $100 | 2nd $75 | 3rd $50
7.OPEN CLASS
One (1) each of WALTZ, JIG, and REEL.
1st $300 | 2nd $200 | 3rd $100
8.DUET FIDDLING
1st $150 | 2nd $100 |3rd $60
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All fiddlers, professional or amateur, are eligible to compete. Each contestant will be judged solely on their performance at the Western Fair.
There will be a time limit of four minutes for each contestant.
Solo contestants must play a Waltz, a Jig, and a Reel, in that order. Duet class must play a Waltz plus a tune of their choice & must play in harmony. Contestants will be disqualified for failure to comply with this rule.
The contestant may move the microphone if they desire.
Contestants must play Old Time Canadian Style tunes.
The Western Fair Association will provide a piano and a stand-by pianist for those who do not have their own accompanist. It's always best for fiddlers to have chord charts/sheet music with chords ready to provide to the accompanist.
In the event a contestant has problems with their instrument (i.e. broken string etc.) a re-play will be allowed.
The Western Fair Association will provide a panel of judges who will consider the following in making their decision. Tempo (must be suitable for old time dancing), Tone, Style, Technique and Accuracy.
In all cases the judges' decision is final.
Meet the Judges!
The competition is back, and so is the talent. Meet the judges who will be watching every step, note and performance on September 20.
Celina Marie DiCecca (Fiddle Judge) is a notable Canadian fiddler, music educator, and artistic director based in London, Ontario. She is widely recognized for her leadership in preserving and promoting traditional Canadian fiddle music. Celina is the owner of the prominent London, Ontario music school, Celina's String Studio. It is there, where she and four other music educators, share their love and passion for music through weekly private and group lessons as well as ensembles like the Forest City Folk Orchestra (aka Folkestra), the Fiddle Rascals, and the London Youth Fiddlers. Celina founded a popular touring production called The Great Canadian Fiddle Show in 2012, which showcases and preserves diverse regional fiddle styles from across Canada. She also is the founder of the Fiddle Collective and serves as the organizer of this monthly online workshop and concert series. In 2023, Celina was chosen as 1 of 5 Ontario fiddlers to compete at the Canadian Grandmaster Fiddling Championship. When she is not teaching or touring with the Great Canadian Fiddle Show, Celina can be found performing with her husband Tony in the progressive folk-roots duo, Greyhound Riders and the events group The Amores. Celina is proud to be back for her 4 times as a fiddle Judge at the Western Fair.
Shane Cook (Fiddle Judge) A Canadian and U.S. National fiddle champion, Shane Cook relies on his deep foundation in the traditional music of Ontario for the core of his sound, yet also draws on Celtic, folk, bluegrass and swing. Shane Cook & The Woodchippers premiered the music of their debut album with The International Symphony Orchestra, and have since toured the U.S., Scotland, England, Germany and Canada, including performances at Celtic Colours in Cape Breton in 2024 and Celtic Connections in Glasgow in 2025. The band and album are Canadian Folk Music Award nominees for Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year.
Kyle Waymouth (Stepdance Judge) is a five-time Canadian Open Step Dance Champion, Canadian Open Clogging Champion, and 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award winner for Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year. He has performed worldwide with artists such as Ashley MacIsaac, Shane Cook and the Woodchippers, The Fitzgeralds, Allison Lupton, and Dan Stacey, thrilling audiences across North America, Europe, and Singapore. Known for his innovative footwork and infectious energy, Kyle continues to inspire through performance, teaching, and collaboration.
Kerry Fitzgerald Kerry is a Canadian fiddler and step dancer, with musical roots in Ottawa Valley and Celtic fiddle traditions. On the competition scene, she is a Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Finalist and Ontario Step Dance Champion. Kerry tours internationally with her sibling band, The Fitzgeralds, with recent tours spanning North America, Ireland, UK, and Germany. The band has 3 albums to their name, with nominations for the Ontario Folk Music Awards “ACTRA Recording Artist of the Year” and the CFMA “Instrumental Group of the Year”. In addition, Kerry has toured with notable artists including Canada’s Natalie MacMaster, Leahy, The Stepcrew, Ireland’s Nathan Carter, and New York’s Cherish The Ladies. On the solo front, she won a 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award (CFMA) nomination for "Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year”. When not on the road, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Eric, daughter Mabel, and most recent addition to the family...baby Nicholas!
Kendra Norris (House Piano Player) - Kendra studied classical violin and piano from age eight. She is a multiple winner of the Canadian Open Fiddle Competition in the 19-45 Class and 3X winner of the Canadian Open Duet Fiddling Class with her brother, Scott. She teaches private violin and piano lessons at her home in Guelph, ON and has an Hons BMus, BEd and A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Kendra has had a long career teaching music in elementary school but is now touring full time with The Scott Woods Band since she retired from the school board in April 2016. She has a gift for writing harmony and arranging. Kendra and her husband, Joel, enjoy travelling with their Airstream trailer.
Leo Stock (House Fiddler) - Leo Stock began his life in traditional music at the age of 5, when he started learning Ontario-style step dancing to traditional fiddle music. At the age of 9, he began learning to play the fiddle and the Ontario fiddle music that he had grown to love. From there, he has branched out into many other styles, including country music, Texas-style, bluegrass, Celtic, and many more. Along the way, he has developed a unique style of step dancing that is as technical as it is high-energy. Although he was born and raised in Southwestern Ontario, his love for the fiddle and for music has taken him across Canada and into the United States. Leo began performing at the age of 11, and since the age of 13, he has been a regular member of the Scott Woods Band, touring all across Canada, Florida, and Germany. He has also performed alongside country music greats, such as Larry Mercey and Marie Bottrell. In 2022, he was a cast member in the 2022 Drayton Entertainment musical production of Sorry, I’m Canadian 2. He has performed with the Barn Dance Society and made numerous appearances at the Purple Hill Country Opry. Leo is a three-time Ontario Open Fiddle Finalist, and is a multiple 18 & under fiddle champion. As a step dancer, he is a three-time Canadian Open Step Dance Champion, as well as a three-time Ontario Open Step Dance Champion. Leo recently released his second musical album, titled "Orthodoxy". He also offers lessons in fiddle, step dance, and American-style clogging from his home in Stratford, ON, and enjoys working with dancers of all levels, from beginner to advanced
