PFC is a day camp for kids in Portland, Oregon founded in 2008 by local teacher and musician Kate O'Brien. It is the only day camp of it’s kind in the PNW! Sophie Enloe joined Kate in 2013 and we have grown from 12 campers over one week to more than 120 campers over 2 weeks! In this day camp, we make fiddle music accessible to all kids, beginner to advanced, from age 6-16, on violin, viola, cello and guitar.
Yes, violas and cellos can play fiddle music!

Our aim is to support the growth and positive experience of all campers as well as the continuation of this uniquely American song-form, whose roots spread to all parts of Europe, Africa and the Caribbean islands.
Most of all, we like to have FUN while we do it!

We work hard to maintain a strong connection to each child’s experience. In our camp, players are mindfully grouped into 3 levels of study according to age, ability level and interest. Read about our Program offerings here. We are so excited to welcome esteemed, multi-genre cellist, Kevin Jackson, and renowned Oldtime fiddler Gabrielle Macrae to our stellar teacher line-up!

Our popularity and the demand for growing with our students motivated us to launch two new programs in 2026: “Viola & Cello track” and a “Teen Camp.”

Teen Camp is designed for advanced high school players to engage in more challenging tunes, playing back-ups and arrangements. It features an optional Teacher Training module for Teens interested in becoming Portland Fiddle Camp counselors. Exactly ALL of our PFC counselors were once young fiddle campers. So cool!

Camp highlights include a special guest "Fiddle Hero or Heroine", an outdoor square dance with a live dance band and our amazing end-of-week outdoor concert. Previous Fiddle Guests have included James Mason, Andrew Ehrlich, Annie Staninec, Marilee Hord, Andy Emert, Celeste Johnson & Gabrielle Macrae.
We require campers have at least 1 year of private study to attend fiddle camp.  Note reading is not required but is helpful.

Email Kate if you have more questions.

Come check us out - we’re excited to play music!