PLANT CITY, Fla. — Ready for another berry-great Strawberry Festival, Florida?
If you missed out on all the fair fun, or want another dose of funnel cakes and corn dogs, then Plant City has what you need from Feb. 27 until March 8.
THE FESTIVAL
Every spring since 1930, with the exception of a short six-year hiatus around WWII, the Sunshine State has embraced a sense of Americana to celebrate its harvest through fairs and festivals. This annual event has become one of the best festivals in the nation -- even ranking at no. 33 in the Top 50 Fairs of 2019.
Last year, the Florida Strawberry Festival had a record year with an attendance of 552,404.
DYK: Hillsborough County is now one of the largest agricultural counties in the nation, and more than 10,000 acres of strawberries are planted annually here. So, it’s time to bring your sweet tooth and get ready for some berry sweet treats.
TICKETS + SPECIAL DEALS
Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day -- some midway hours may vary. The admission cost is $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free with paid adult admission.
Pro tip: You can get discounted tickets at these Publix Super Market stores. While there’s plenty of fun and events happening, the following list is free entertainment included in the price of admission.
If you’re not sure which of the 11 days to attend, check out this list of Special Days & Discounts to plan accordingly. Think Senior Citizens Day, Free Kids Day, Ride-A-Thon Day and more.
ATTRACTIONS + EVENT LINEUP
For starters, there are plenty of rides and attractions to enjoy.
🍓 Belle City Midway: More than 80 rides, games and attractions. There are both Kiddie Rides on the Main Midway as well as Thrill Rides.
🍓 Neighborhood Village: All the homemade and handcrafted items you could imagine. Here is where you can find everything from cake decorating, quilts, toys, costumes and so much more.
🍓 Kiddie Korral: This is separate from the bigger rides and has wider aisles to accommodate strollers.
And, what would the Florida Strawberry Festival be without a full headline entertainment lineup!? Concerts tickets are separate from admission gate tickets and can be purchased here. A few major headliners are: Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Skillet, Josh Turner, MercyMe, Eli Young Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
There’s so much happening over 11 days, and you can find a printable schedule of events here.
PARKING + ACCESSIBILITY
Now that you’re ready to enjoy a berry good time, here are a few things that you will want to know before heading out to Plant City:
🍓 Parking is available on Florida Strawberry Festival property off Highway 92 or Highway 574. Vehicles under 20 feet cost $5, vehicles 20-39 feet cost $10 and vehicles/buses more than 40 feet are $15. There is a tram that runs daily from the parking lots to entry Gate 10 and 14.
🍓 Get the best directions depending on your route here.
🍓 The following items are not allowed into the festival: illegal drugs, firearms, alcoholic beverages, pets (service animals ONLY), selfie sticks, lasers and drones.
🍓 You may rent a wheelchair for $25 or motorized scooters for $40 and up.
STRAWBERRY CENTRAL
How many ways can you enjoy a strawberry? Let’s see… the Florida Strawberry Festival has fresh strawberries, world-famous strawberry shortcake, chocolate strawberry shortcake milkshakes, strawberry milkshakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry jam, strawberry sandwiches, strawberry pie, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry cobbler, strawberry pizza, strawberry brisket tacos, crepes, Dole Whip, strawberry lemonade, and more.
There are also plenty of strawberry gifts to purchase, a production exhibit to check out, strawberry contests and even a Stingray Chevrolet raffle.
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