People are ‘berry’ excited for this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival

The Strawberry Festival is back

Everything is coming up strawberry in Plant City as the popular annual festival returns. Charley Belcher got a preview of the food and fun Thursday morning.

PLANT CITY, Fla. - People are ‘berry’ excited for this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival. The annual festival celebrates the strawberry harvest in eastern Hillsborough County, where more than 50,000 people are expected to attend.

The 11-day event, which is starting on February 27 and ending on March 8, will have more than 20 shows and special musical guests, strawberry-themed food, rides and attractions.

Rides and Attractions:

Belle City Midway
New York Yankee Kiddie Korral
Neighborhood Village

Admission:

Adults (ages 13+): $10
Children (ages 6-12): $5
Children (ages 5 and under): FREE with paid adult admission

From the archives – Florida Strawberry Festival, 1985

The 50th annual Florida Strawberry Festival gets underway. Originally reported by Steve Geiger, February 1985

Festival Hours:

Gates open at 10 a.m. daily and close at 10 p.m.

Midway hours:

Tuesday–Friday: 12:00 noon – 11:00 p.m.
Weekends & Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
On Friday, March 6, Midway closes just before 10 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic

The amazing foods of the 2020 Florida Strawberry Festival

You'll find everything from strawberry cookies to deep-fried tacos, and the s'mores donut stack to the chocolate-covered strawberry bacon kabob. And, of course, strawberries and more strawberries.

Food:

Fresh Strawberries
World-Famous Strawberry Shortcake
Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake
Strawberry Milkshakes
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Strawberry Jam
Strawberry Sandwiches
Strawberry Pie and Strawberry Cheesecake
Bowl of Berries (Sugar-free available)
Strawberry Pizza
Strawberry Cobbler
Strawberry Brisket Tacos
Strawberry Parfait
Strawberry Crepes
Strawberry Dole Whip
Strawberry Lemonade
Strawberry Cream Puffs
Strawberry Kettle Korn
Strawberry Fritters
The Sweetheart Strawberry Fudge

Musical headliners:

Thursday, February 27

Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, 10:30 a.m
The Oak Boys, 3:30 p.m.
Rascal Flatts, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 28

Tommy James & The Shondells, 3:30 p.m.
Michael Ray Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 29

Roots & Boots, Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw & Collin Raye, 3:30 p.m.
An Evening with 98 Degrees, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 1

Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots, 3:30 p.m.
Reba McEntire, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 2

Neal Mcoy, 3:30 p.m.
Patti LaBelle Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3

Sara Evans, 3:30 p.m.
Skillet, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4

4 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, 3:30 p.m.
Josh Turner, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 5

Ricky Nelson Remembered (The Nelson Brothers), 10:30 a.m.
Dick Fox’s Golden Boys starring Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, 3:30 p.m.
MercyMe, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 6

Jimmy Fortune and Dailey & Vincent, 3:30 p.m.
Darci Lynne & Friends: Fresh Out of the Box Tour, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

Florida Strawberry Festival Battle of the Bands, 3:30 p.m.
Charlie Wilson, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 8

Eli Young Band, 3:30 p.m.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7:30 p.m.

Illegal drugs or firearms are prohibited. No alcoholic beverages, pets, selfie sticks, lasers or drones are allowed on the Festival grounds.

Dogs or other animals are not allowed on the Festival grounds unless they are a service or guide dog, non-human primate or animals in a show or contest. Certified trainers (with ID stating name) of companion dogs/animals will be allowed. All animals in shows or contests are to be removed immediately after the close of the event.

LINK: For more information please visit: https://flstrawberryfestival.com/