Fiesta Topeka Queen Candidates Serve Community Ahead of Festival

Topeka high school students prepare Mexican cuisine to raise funds and represent their identities.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:39pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeating pattern of homemade tamales, conceptually representing the cultural significance of traditional Mexican cuisine in the Fiesta Topeka festival.The vibrant community food sales by Fiesta Topeka queen candidates showcase the festival's celebration of Latino culture and heritage.Topeka Today

Fiesta Topeka queen candidates Gabriela Gonzalez and Joselinee Morales Aquino, both seniors at Topeka High School, are serving Mexican cuisine to the community as the five-day Fiesta Topeka festival approaches in July. The food sales mark the first event in a tradition where candidates prepare dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales to raise funds and represent their cultural identities.

Why it matters

The Fiesta Topeka queen candidates' community food sales highlight the festival's role in celebrating the diversity and heritage of Topeka's Latino population. The opportunity for young women to serve as cultural ambassadors is an important part of the event's mission to promote inclusion and representation.

The details

Gabriela Gonzalez says the queen candidate role is important to her for the representation of her identity, noting that while it's a lot of work, her family is helping her and she's grateful for the community support. Joselinee Morales Aquino, the second royalty candidate for queen, will continue the food sales starting on April 20.

  • The Fiesta Topeka food sales with Gabriela Gonzalez continue through April 18.
  • The food sales will resume on April 20 with Joselinee Morales Aquino.

The players

Gabriela Gonzalez

A 2026 Fiesta Topeka queen candidate and senior at Topeka High School.

Joselinee Morales Aquino

The second royalty candidate for Fiesta Topeka queen and a senior at Topeka High School.

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What they’re saying

“It's a lot of work, for sure, but my family is helping me, and I'm super grateful for all of them and everyone who comes to volunteer. I'm so grateful for everyone.”

— Gabriela Gonzalez, Fiesta Topeka queen candidate

“It's really important for me to be a queen candidate—just because—to represent everybody.”

— Gabriela Gonzalez, Fiesta Topeka queen candidate

The takeaway

The Fiesta Topeka queen candidates' community food sales demonstrate the festival's commitment to celebrating the diversity and cultural heritage of Topeka's Latino population, providing a platform for young women to serve as ambassadors and represent their identities.