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Great Valley Gathering
Great Valley Gathering
October 2–4, 2026
Courthouse Park, Fresno

Celebrating the Living Traditions of the Central Valley

The Great Valley Gathering is a free, three-day public event celebrating the living traditions, music, dance, storytelling, craft, and foodways that shape California’s Central Valley. Produced by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and rooted in the region’s rich agricultural history, the festival highlights a broad range of cherished expressions from diverse communities—Indigenous, immigrant, occupational, sacred, and more.

See Who's Coming
3
days of free public cultural programming at Courthouse Park
~40
collaborating communities nationwide, in collaboration with the Smithsonian
100+
culture bearers, artists, community partners, vendors, and contributors
About Schedule Artists FAQ
A National Collaboration

ACTA & the Smithsonian

The Great Valley Gathering is presented by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), dedicated to supporting traditional arts and cultural heritage across California, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival  — one of roughly forty communities nationwide collaborating on “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals.”

Alliance for California Traditional Arts Of the People — The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals
With support from
California Arts Council
City of Fresno
City of Fresno Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund
County of Fresno
Kresge Foundation
Luis Chavez, Fresno County Board of Supervisors – District 3
Miguel Arias, Fresno City Councilmember – District 3
radio bilingüe
Downtown Fresno Partnership