East Benton Fiddler's Convention

The Last Sunday In July Every Year! "Rain or Shine"

The East Benton Fiddler’s Festival began in 1972 when Colby College student and bluegrass enthusiast, Greg Boardman sprouted a simple idea: why not bring a fiddler’s competition and bluegrass festival to Maine? The idea came into fruition when Boardman, then just a student, met Shirley Littlefield, an employee at his college who moonlighted as matron of the Littlefield family farm in East Benton. 35 years later Boardman has come a long way since his college days, but he and countless other premier fiddle talents across Maine still gather together at the Littlefield Farm to celebrate the rich tradition of their bluegrass music, the spirit of East Benton in July, and that special something about the Littlefield family that has left this unique festival nearly unchanged for a generation.

Shirley Littlefield passed away in 2004, but the Littlefield family has kept the festival going each summer, just as “Mum” would have wished. In her life Shirley kept busy – heading the Fiddler’s Convention each year while mothering nine children, as well as working with Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and handicapped children. In the 1980’s Shirley won the Jefferson Award for her work with mentally challenged children, and in 1982, she began a Special Olympics Program in Fairfield. Shirley also worked at Colby College for over 30 years, befriending, as well as offering her hospitality to many Colby students each year. Most notably, Shirley connected disabled children with Colby students by helping to develop the “Best Buddies” mentoring program. Since Shirley’s death, the family-oriented Fiddler’s Convention has evolved into a celebration not only of the music that headlines it, but also of the outstanding spirit of the woman who began it.

Family owned and operated, the East Benton Fiddler's Convention is Maine's oldest music festival, for 35 consecutive years bluegrass fans have gathered at the Littlefield Farm in East Benton to listen to premier fiddle and bluegrass talents from across the state of Maine. Bring the whole family (except the dog) to the Littlefield Farm, in East Benton on the last Sunday in July every year.