photo by: Mike Yoder

Musicians gather for a jam session in South Park during the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.

The Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships returned to Lawrence this weekend, culminating in a slew of performances and contests Sunday in South Park for its 40th annual celebration.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lucy Buckland, 3, right and her mother, Alyssa Buckland, Lawrence, watch different activities in South Park at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A mask hangs from the guitar of a participant in the miscellaneous Instruments contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Evan Ogborn, Wichita, goes over tunes before performing in the mandolin contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park. Ogborn is a member of the band Pretend Friend, who will be one of the featured groups at this year’s Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Sept. 16-19.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Skinny Webb, Omaha, Neb., rehearses tunes on his guitar before taking the stage in the flat-picking guitar contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Jim Pikaart, Pentwater, Mich., waits behind the contest stage to compete in the open fiddle contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park. Pikaart is a former resident of Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Edith Sigler competes in the open fiddle contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Ru Yother, Lawrence, competes in the youth fiddle contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Audience members at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park, watch contest performers on stage during the youth fiddle competition. The quilts keep the contest judges from seeing the contest entrants.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The Wakarusa Roundabouts play through a fast fiddle tune during their concert at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park. From left are Jeanie Wells, Kit Cole, Trey Durkin, Virginia Musser and Matt Kappenman.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Levi Platt, 2, enjoys a short toss in the air as he and his father, Alex Platt, Lawrence, listen to music at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.

photo by: Mike Yoder

In the shade of South Park trees, a crowd enjoys a concert by Spencer and Rains, far right, at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Jim Krause, Lawrence, warms up to participate in the finger style contest at the 40th Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in South Park.