The Hoppers perform at the 2022 Great Western Fan Festival in Visalia. Dean Hopper is in the silver jacket. Photo contributed

The Great Western Fan Festival returns to the Visalia Convention Center May 4-6, welcoming fans of Southern gospel music from across the United States and Canada.

After taking place in Fresno and Sacramento in the early 2000s, Visalia has hosted the three-day music festival a dozen times since 2010, pausing only in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The festival combines classic gospel music with “toe-tappin’ melodies that fill everyone’s heart with joy and happiness,” a press release from Visit Visalia reads.

“We are so very excited to be coming back again to Visalia and to continue to bring this music to the West Coast,” said Dean Hopper, North Carolina-based vice president of operations with the festival. “It’s an experience like no other with top performers singing the music you love in a kind and friendly atmosphere.”

Well-known artists including Mark Lawry, Triumphant, Booth Brothers, The Hoppers, Liberty and more will perform at the Great Western Fan Festival. Comedian Mickey Bell will also perform, bringing his high-energy act to festival goers, according to the release.

 

“I try to choose artists that have made the run out to California at different times in their career,” Hopper said. “These artists that are popular with the attendees are the ones we try to bring, along with some new [artists].”

Several hotels are already fully booked for the weekend, Hooper said. However, a list of participating hotels can be found at the Fan Festival’s website. Guests can save a few dollars by telling participating hotels that they are in town for the festival.

Last year, the festival drew around 8,000 attendees from as far north as Vancouver, Canada and as far east as the Mississippi River and beyond.

Hopper expects similar numbers this year.

“We change it up a little bit every year to give it a little bit of flash,” Hopper said.

Additionally, the West Coast Fan Fest Golf Tournament will tee off on Friday, May 5 at Valley Oaks Golf Course. Tournament proceeds will go to the Hopper Heritage Foundation, which supports students embarking on ministry-based career paths. Golfers will get the chance to play with some of the performers in a “pro-am” style golf tournament.

Ticket prices and packages are available online at www.itickets.com/events/464723 or by calling 1-800-965-9324.

For more information about the festival, golf tournament, hotels and more, visit www.fanfestivals.com.