10,000 in cash prizes are up fro grabs during this year’s Northern Ontario Country Open Singing Contest.

The Billy Barber Complex is again the site for the contest, now going into its 29th year. President of the Nipissing Country Music Association, Harleay Renaud says the contest has evolved and undergone many changes in those 29 years.

“We honed in on different things that we’ve had to do, like having a chart the bands goes through. Now the band even has the charts made up and the rehearse ahead of time. It gives a little more flavour to the contestants.

A diverse group of talent is expected as well. Renaud says singers range in age from 4 years old to over 80.

“We also have a rule in the contest where they must do a song from before 1990. It gives us a chance to show off old and new country.”

The contest kicks off at 2pm Friday from the Billy Barber Complex with the early rounds of singing. The other preliminaries begin Saturday morning and run through Sunday evening.