Great Valley Gathering: FREE Three-Day Festival Presented by ACTA & Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Fri, Oct 2, 2026 - Sun, Oct 4, 2026 4pm - 10pm
Location
Courthouse Park
1100 Van Ness Ave
Details
The Great Valley Gathering is a FREE, three-day folklife festival celebrating culture bearers and the rich cultural diversity of California’s Central Valley, from the Tulare Basin in the south to the Sacramento Valley in the north, here in Fresno. Hosted by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) and co-presented with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Great Valley Gathering will invite people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the traditions, stories, music, dance, foodways, craftsmanship and community expressions that make the Central Valley unique.
The Great Valley Gathering features music and dance performances, Native Ways programming, craft demonstrations, foodways, lowrider culture, community conversations and more. Here are the event times for all three days:
10/2 - 4 PM - 10 PM
10/3 - 10 AM - 10 PM
10/4 - 11 AM - 6 PM
As part of the Smithsonian’s Of the People initiative celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, attendees can also share their own stories and “self-evident truths.” The Great Valley Gathering is one of approximately 40 gatherings selected nationwide for this initiative.
Use the hashtag #greatvalleygathering when posting.
