Nationally renowned bluegrass artists Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be the featured headliners at the annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.

The event will return to the campus of Athens State University from Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 4-6. Tickets are $15 per adult for Friday, $15 for Saturday or $20 for a weekend pass. Proceeds support student scholarships and a variety of university projects.

“… This year’s Fiddlers Convention is shaping up to be one of the largest in the event’s 52-year history,” according to a release about the event.

Originally, this annual gathering of bluegrass enthusiasts was held in the school’s gymnasium. As years passed, the convention continued to grow. Now the event spans the entire campus as hundreds of contestants come from near and far to compete for an Alabama State Champion title in nearly 20 different categories of competition.

Food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and other attractions have become an event staple, with this year’s convention also hosting an Airstream Special Event Rally for the first time. The rally will be Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 2-7.

Athens native Bradley Walker will kick off the convention with a tribute to honor Muscle Shoals’ beloved bluegrass musician and songwriter Jake Landers. His performance will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at McCandless Hall.

Bluegrass group Flatt Lonesome will perform at 7 p.m. on the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Main Stage following Walker’s performance. Both shows are free and open to the public.

On Friday, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will take the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Main Stage with performances at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by the beginning of competitions.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, followed by the finals competitions. The cost to attend either of these concerts is included in the price of general admission.

“With friends, family and fans joining to support and enjoy the highly anticipated music and entertainment, this year will certainly be one to remember,” the release said.

For more information, visit http://www.tvotfc.org.