SELMA – With one of the community’s biggest annual events around the corner, the Selma District Chamber of Commerce is preparing to help Selma live up to its name as the world’s raisin capital.
From April 30 to May 3, the city of Selma will gather at Lincoln Park for the 46th Raisin Festival. The return of this long beloved tradition will see a full-blown carnival experience, live entertainment, vendors and much more.
“The carnival has all of the balloons and everything you’d expect when you go to a big fair, and they bring all of that right here to our small community,” said Karen Foster, administrative assistant and board treasurer for the chamber. “It’s very well received, and I’m not sure what the city would do if we stopped this annual carnival.”
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased for $30 at the chamber office, Nelson’s Ace Hardware or Fox Drug Store. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for $40.
Looking back on the festival’s legacy within the community, Foster shared that she remembers the festival coming around during her high school days, and the feelings of excitement leading up to it. Part of what makes the tradition so special is that it’s the only carnival-style event that comes to the city all year, she said.
As a decades-long staple of the city, organizers aim to keep that momentum going and bring residents together for a weekend of fun and community pride.
Each day of the festival will see live entertainment, with this year’s acts including: Elvis impersonator Jeremy Pearce, Elena Betancourt, The Dirty Poppas with Tina Marie and Ruben Betancourt.
No carnival would be complete without a host of food and vendor options, and the 2026 roster includes around 30 entries. From art and craft vendors like Airbrushed Artwerks to savory sellers like Cheese Me Please Me, there will be plenty of offerings for attendees to explore.
On May 1, the main event will be the crowning of the Raisin Queen. Each candidate has been sponsored by a local organization, and has been connecting with the community to sell raffle tickets in the leadup to the festival.
She who sells the most tickets shall be crowned as raisin royalty, earning a $500 scholarship from the chamber, and the winner of the raffle will receive a $1000 prize.
This year’s Raisin Queen candidates are Maycee Benavidez, sponsored by the Central Valley Lioness Lions Club; Abigail Cabezas, sponsored by the Selma Ag Boosters Club; and Vanessa Pena, sponsored by the Selma Rotary Club.
With no shortage of things to do across its four days, the 46th Raisin Festival is sure to bring some big fair fun to the city of Selma.
Updates, start times for the entertainment and a full list of vendors can be found on the chamber’s Facebook, or on Instagram @selma_chamberofcommerce.
