Are you interested in creating a fair or festival in your community? Are you involved in a local festival that could benefit from substantial improvements? The SDSU Extension Community Vitality and 4-H capstones are jointly creating a Festival Development program. This program is designed to help rural communities best attain the many economic, social, and cultural benefits that fairs and festivals can provide. We are looking for people who would like to lead the creation of a festival in their community or are involved in a festival that would benefit from improvement.
You and your community may be eligible for participation in the Festival Development Pilot Program beginning in mid-Fall 2026. As participants in the pilot program, your involvement would be at no cost. It will require a commitment of attending multiple in-person planning and development sessions, held locally, over about one year.
Communities with multiple, committed volunteers and local assets for hosting a festival will be prioritized.
The in-person planning and development sessions will include the following topics:
- Asset Mapping and Stakeholder Recruitment
- Envisioning the Festival and Success
- Strategic Planning and Marketing
- Logistics, Safety Considerations, and Constraints
- Vendors, Entertainment, and Activities
- Pre-Festival Planning
- Post-Festival Evaluation
Please note that SDSU Extension will operate in a facilitation role. We will not do the work for you, but will be there to guide and advise you along the way.
Our Experts
If you are interested in being selected to be part of the pilot program or would like more information, contact one of the experts below.
