Swedish Festival in Kingsburg, California

Kingsburg is home to the nation's largest box of raisins built by students from California State University Fresno. Kingsburg headquarters Sun Maid Raisin Growers of California vineyards, which plant mainly raisins and table grapes and is the largest producer of dried fruits. Since1921 Kingsburg has been made up of mostly Swedish-American citizens and held onto its heritage with it's Swedish architecture and village Atmosphere.

The Annual May Swedish Festival

Once a year Kingsburg hosts the annual Swedish Festival the third week of May. Vendors line the streets with a multitude of food, drink and arts and crafts. Festivities usually last for three days and include a parade, pancake breakfast, entertainment, a carnival, folk dancing and a May Pole. The May Pole is a large multicolored pole, decorated with flowers and flags. People dance around the pole. There is not much known about the history of the May Pole. According to Ancient history, Germans used it as a pagan fertility pole. If you're into photography be sure to bring your camera.

Shopping and Restaurants

Kingsburg is a great place for shopping for collectors. There are two Fifty's Stores, antique stores and other gift shops. The main attraction is the 50's Place. The 50's Place has a huge variety of collectible memorabilia from the past. My friend and I go for the Coca-Cola collectibles. You will also find Mountain Dew, Pepsi Cola, Betty Boop, Elvis, James Dean, Lucy, the Three Stooges and Marilyn Monroe. There are neon clocks, kitchen accessories, books, signs and a lot more. The 50's Place is located on Draper Street, which is the main drag for Kingsburg. The 50's Place even decorates, caters and provide a jukebox and D.J. for class reunions, birthdays and community events. If you can't make the trip or just want to see a preview of Betty's shop go to her web site, the 50's Place and take the virtual tour.

For Mexican food you can go to Las Tres Casuelas. Other restaurants include Gino's Italian, (open for dinner only), Diane's Village and Bakery, China Gardens and Johnathan's for steak lovers, all on Draper Street. There are other casual dining and fast food restaurants in the surrounding area.

The Kingsburg Recorder Features Owner of the 50's Place-by Megan Reilly

It was always Betty Sommerville's dream to open a Fifty's shop. Betty's friends encouraged her and with the support and a check from her husband she opened the shop. Betty's friend called vendors for her and since then she has collected lots of inventory from back east. Many of Betty's regular visitors call her Betty Boop or the 50's gal. Word has spread overseas as well. She just shipped three packages to Sweden. Betty has also received national recognition from the Biltmore Who's Who Among Executives and Professional Women. She will be listed in the 2007 "Honors Edition" of the Who's Who Registry among thousands of accomplished individuals.

Review of Near by Hotels

In Kingsburg is the Kingsburg Swedish Inn. About six miles away is The Holiday Inn-Selma on Pea Soup Anderson's Blvd. Thirteen miles away is The Best Western Colonial Inn in Selma. All three hotels offer cable tv, fax, copier, high-speed internet, microwave and a coffee maker in the room. There's also a Fitness Center, spa, a pool and a Laundromat. Two of the hotels, The Swedish Inn and Holiday Inn-Selma provide wheel chair access. Inside the Holiday Inn-Selma you'll find the Spoken Rail Restaurant offering steak, pasta and sea food. Next to the Kingsburg Swedish Inn you'll find the King's Buffett. If you stick around for a few days or more some of the nearby attractions include Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, the giant trees of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, and Yosemite National Park also known for giant trees and beautiful waterfalls.

Notable Residentsof Kingsburg

Actor Slim Pickens was born in Kingsburg. Olympic Gold-Medal Decathalete Rafer Johnson came from Kingsburg. Jimmy Johnson, Rafer's brother was corner back for the San Francisco 49er's and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Professional Golfer Steve Pellegrine currently resides in Kingsburg and manages the KingsRiver Golf Club and Country Club.