The Ultimate Guide to Fiddle Camps: Where to Rosin Up, Jam Out, and Level Up Your Playing (U.S. + Worldwide)

Warning: attending a fiddle camp may result in excessive joy, new best friends, and a suitcase that smells like session sweat and pub chips.
If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of reels drifting across a field, spending your days soaking up bowing wisdom from master musicians, and ending your nights in joyful, slightly chaotic jam circles… congratulations. You are fiddle camp material.

Fiddle camps are part music retreat, part community reunion, and part “I can’t believe this many people also obsess over triplets, ornaments, and tone.” Whether you’re a session newbie or a seasoned melody mischief-maker, there’s a camp out there with your name on it—and probably a late-night jam that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime.
Below are some of the best fiddle-centric camps in the U.S. and around the world, especially if you love Celtic, Scottish, Cape Breton, Nordic, and folk styles.

Top U.S. Fiddle Camps
Swannanoa Gathering (North Carolina)

A beloved week of multi-style fiddle immersion, from Irish to old-time to swing. Days are packed with workshops, and nights bring wall-to-wall sessions. If you want variety, this one delivers.

Sierra Fiddle Camp (California)

Founded by Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, this camp is overflowing with community spirit, dance, ensemble joy, and nightly jams under the trees. If you want your playing to feel more alive, this camp will breathe on it.

Valley of the Moon Fiddle Camp (California) 

 my personal favorite!
Another Alasdair Fraser gem, this camp focuses on Scottish tradition and soulful ensemble playing. Inspiring, heart-opening, and filled with musicians who return year after year.

Boston States (Vermont)

 Artistic Director and extreme fiddliest Katie McNally offers a long weekend residential program with a unique immersive deep dive into Scottish and Cape Breton traditional music. Bonus: Non-stop dancing, jamming and toe tapping may occur.

Top International Fiddle Camps

Blas International Summer School – Ireland
If you want trad by day and sessions by night, Blas is your dream. Hosted at the Irish World Academy, it’s the perfect blend of serious study and pure musical joy.

Feis Rois – Scotland

A famously friendly, wildly musical gathering on the Scottish coast. Reels, jigs, dancing, seaside sessions—it’s the full “I’m actually living inside a Celtic film” experience.

Celtic Colours – Cape Breton, Canada

Not just a camp, but an island-wide celebration of fiddle, dance, and Cape Breton culture. Workshops, concerts, and community events bring the whole island to life.

Haugaard’s International Fiddle School – Germany

A rare blend of Nordic depth and Celtic energy, this camp attracts players from around the globe. Expect harmonies, heart, and a ton of musical inspiration.

What You Should Expect (Besides Sleep Deprivation)

 

Workshops

 

That break down bowing, ornamentation, phrasing, and groove Workshops that break down bowing, ornamentation, phrasing, and groove

Sessions

The Tune Hoarder (knows 900 tunes, plays 4)
The Human Metronome (lives to correct everyone’s tempo)
The Whisper Fiddler (volume permanently on 2)

Dancing 

Especially at Cape Breton and Scottish-focused camps

Community — it’s instant, loyal, and delightfully weird
Growth — you will level up faster in 5–7 camp days than in 6 months alone

How to Pick the Right Fiddle Camp

Ask yourself:
1 : Want party energy? Go Feis Rois or South Sligo.
2 : Want soulful musical breakthroughs? Go Sierra or VOM.
3 : Want hardcore technique focus? Blas 
4 : Want Cape Breton bow-drive? Celtic Colours or Boston Staes
5 : Want Nordic mystery-vibes? Haugaard.

If you really want to supercharge your playing, pick one U.S. camp and one international camp and alternate each year. Your Irish triplets and Scottish lift will thank you.

Pack Your Fiddle and Go Already

Life is short. Tunes are forever. Go to camp. Learn. Laugh. Jam. Become the fiddler your 10-year-old- self wanted you to be.

One Last Thing…

Want clever music goodies, camp-worthy swag, and inside-joke gear that only fiddlers understand?