The Florida Strawberry Festival start its 11 day run Thursday in Plant City. the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World
The century old event nestled in northeast Hillsborough County is the most attended fair in state with hundred of thousands of attendees.
Tickets
$15 for those 13 and older and $5 for age 6-12 kids five and under get in free.
Pro Tip Save money by buying tickets at Publix $10 for ages 13 and up and $4 for ages 6-12. Discounts are available on select days.
Parking
You can find parking in 3 lots on Ritter Street off Highway 92 and Highway 574. Fees for cars, trucks and vans are $5 vehicles over 20 feet pay $10 those over 40 feet cost $15.
Entertainment
Over 2 dozen artists are set to perform as part of festival headline entertainment.
Gate admission is not included with concert tickets.
Food
There are 11 food items this year from an Almond Joy Funnel cake to apple fries topped with caramel, bacon and peanut butter.
The Carriage House introduces the CinnaBerry Dog an all beef hot dog wrapped in Grandma Brown original cinnamon roll topped strawberries.
You can search the classic strawberry shortcake at 3 spots.
East Hillsborough Historical society strawberry shortcake, St Clement Catholic Church make own shortcake and Transforming Life Church shortcake.
Feb. 29
- Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra at 10 30 am Free
- The Oak Ridge Boys at 3:30 pm $35
- Oliver Anthony at 7 30 pm $35
March 1
- The Beach Boys at 3:30pm $45
- Jordan Davis at 7:30pm $55
March 2
- Black Eyed Peas at 7:30 pm $65
March 3
- Parker McCollum at 7:30pm $65
March 4
- The Bellamy Brothers at 3:30 pm $35
- ZZ Top at 7:30 pm $55
March 5
- Mark Lowry at 3:30pm $30
- Zach Williams at 7:30pm $40
March 6
- Craig Morgan at 3:30pm $35
- Riley Green at 7:30pm $50
March 7
- Bill Haley Jr and The Comets at 10:30 am Free
- Kirk Franklin at 7:30 pm $45
- Gene Watson at 3:30pm $25
March 8
- The Commodores at 3:30pm $35
- Foreigner at 7:30pm $55
March 9
- Flo Rida at 7:30pm $50
- Jo Dee Messina at 3:30pm $30
March 10
- Cody Johnson at 7:30pm $75
New history center highlights Queens through the years at 89th Florida Strawberry Festival
The 89th Florida Strawberry Festival starts Thursday and there will be all traditional food to enjoy but there is a new feature this year that highlights the festival great history.
Last year we had a record breaking year.Stephanie Shuff added. We had over 600,000 person in attendance.
Agriculture is backbone many volunteers who work tirelessly to bring the festival to life.
Shuff is one those volunteers. The day before event can be hectic.
This festival is 11 day event. It begins Thursday Feb 29 and last until March 10.
There is a new app called the Florida Strawberry Festival which you download to assist you navigate the grounds.
New this year is the history center which is in old National Guard armory building and showcases past performers like Taylor Swift and Queen through decades.
The fair has been since 1930 so we have history items.
Florida Strawberry Festival Happening February 29 March 10 in Plant City
The Florida Strawberry Festival is 11 day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County.
Each year 600,000 visitors enjoy Festival headline entertainment, exhibits of commerce, youth livestock shows and its strawberry shortcake.
The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival will be Out of This World and is February 29 through March 10 in Plant City.
Florida Strawberry Festival guide what do see and eat at 2024 fair
For its 89th year the festival celebrates the strawberry harvest with midway animal shows and lineup of top country, rock and pop artists.
It runs from 10am 10pm daily Feb 29 March 10 at 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City. Concert tickets are addition to gate admission which is $15, $5 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free flstrawberryfestival.com.
Tucked into tiny Plant City in northeast Hilsborough County farm country, the Florida Strawberry Festival will turn on its Southern charm and keep its reign as most attended fair in state.
The festival had record year previous year Carnival Warehouse news site jumping to No 27 in nation with 606,116 people attending in 2023 well before Florida State Fair 405,000 more population dense Miami Dade’s County Fair or the South Florida Fair.
Strawberry shortcakes are legendary and midway is expansive. This year festival runs Feb 29 to March 10 with a midway and music lineup that includes good record county star Cody Johnson, Flo Rida and Foreigner.
Previous year leap broke its 2020 record and were ready to shake off the pandemic blues, said festival President Kyle Robinson.
40,000 residents Plant City can view as many as 50,000 people per day streaming in along Interstate 4 to fill up on shortcake and hear some music.More than 2500 volunteers are on hand to keep that way.
A fair new tradition called Special Smiles Day returns on March 1. Guest are admitted free starting at 9 am and get a map of sensory friendly areas, attraction where the sound and light are reduced.
Robinson said 1500 people took advantage of program last year and second year. 2- schools already confirmed they are bringing students.
The star attraction comes in dozen of shapes. After you settle cake versus biscuit debate you have 3 shortcake choices a make your own booth run by St Clement Catholic Church or the goodies from Transforming Life Church or the East Historical Society.
The strawberry concoction choices are many from loaded milkshakes to strawberry pizza, pies, fudge.
Bring cash
They take credit cards at main admission gates and for midway rides many of crafters and vendors as well as parking lots still run on cash, ATMs are located throughout the festival grounds.
Time your trip
The gates open at 10 am and crowds grow as day wears on especially before a mega concert.
Save on tickets
You can skip line at gate and save $5 by buying your admission ticket at Publix for $10. For ages 6-12 its $4.
Music Lineup
Hot county acts like Rich Men North of Richmond singer Oliver Anthony and hitmaker Cody Johnson are typical.