There has been a lot of talk in recent years about sustainable farming and eating locally-grown produce of fruits and vegetables. Since 1930, there hasn’t been a place where that has been so true than in Plant City and their celebration of the strawberry at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Florida Strawberry Festival 2013
Every year in March over 500,000 visitors transcend onto the small agricultural city of Plant City, a city about a 45 minute drive from Disney Property southwest along Interstate 4, to celebrate all things strawberry. The city may be small but the festival is big, traditionally bringing in the best country acts out there today including 2013 country artists Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, and Neal McCoy. The 2013 event will take place beginning on Thursday, February 28, 2013 and will run every day until Sunday, March 10th, 2013.
Parades, Midway Rides, Eating Contest, and Animal Races
At the core of the festival is a number of events of free entertainment that range from the Florida Strawberry Parade on Monday, March 4th, 2013 to poultry, lamb, and rabbit shows throughout the festival and corndog and strawberry shortcake eating contests on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 and Thursday, March 7th, 2013. In addition to the entertainment included with the festival, a large assortment of carnival midway rides are available to ride throughout the festival for an additonal cost. The admission price is $8 for adults ($10 at gate) and $4 for children ($5 at gate) ages 6-12 to enter the festival grounds. Children ages 5 and under are free. Promotions on certain days bring the midway price down to different prices that can be found here.
Strawberry Queen and the Strawberry Girls
Each year of the Festival, a beauty contest is held that is made up of the strawberry girls where a strawberry queen is crowned. The strawberry girls and queen were featured on Good Morning America in an article that can be read here.
Headlining Country and Rock Concerts 2013
Each night of the festival features two headlining Country or Rock Concerts that requires a separate admission for each concert. The first concert below begins at 3:30 PM and the second concert begins at 7:30 PM.
The 2013 headlining acts include:
Thursday, February 28th, 2013 – Chubby Checker; FOREIGNER
Friday, March 1st, 2013 – Gene Watson; Casting Crowns
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 – Gloriana; Justin Moore
Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 – Randy Houser; Alan Jackson
Monday, March 4th, 2013 – Grits & Glamour with Lorrie Morgan/Pam Tillis; Dwight Yoakam
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 – Bobby Vinton; Martina McBride
Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 – Neal McCoy; Trace Adkins
Thursday, March 7th, 2013 – Mel Tillis; Brantley Gilbert
Friday, March 8th, 2013 – T.G. Sheppard/Janie Fricke; Scotty McCreery
Saturday, March 9th, 2013 – Gaither Vocal Band; Bret Michaels
Sunday, March 10th, 2013 – Hunter Hayes; Blake Shelton
Click Here for the official headlining concert schedule including additional shows earlier on in the day for certain days.
Click Here to visit the official website of the Florida Strawberry Festival.
If you would still like to get a taste of Plant City’s Strawberries but are unable to make it during the annual festival, you can still go to Parkesdale Farms to get your fix of Plant City strawberries and their World Famous Strawberry Shortcake!
The Florida Strawberry Festival takes place during the same time of year as the Central Florida Fair in Orlando. If you like the Strawberry Festival, also check out the Zellwood Corn Festival in May.
Florida Strawberry Festival Overview
Florida Strawberry Festival and Plant City Map:
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