Florida Strawberry Festival enters its 84th year, promises to be 'a hit'
PLANT CITY, Fla. (FOX 13) - The smell of strawberries is in the air, and the festival that celebrates it every year is here.
The Florida Strawberry Festival has been around the 1930s. Over the course of 11 days, people can gather in central Florida and celebrate the bold red crop. This year, the Florida Strawberry Festival will host its 84th festival.
It kicks off Thursday, February 28, and runs until March 10 at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds at 303 North Lemon Street.
Admission tickets are $10 for those who are at least 13 years old and $5 for ages 6 to 12. Children under the age of 5 can enter for free with a paid adult. Certain Publix locations are offering discounted tickets: $8 for teenagers and adults and $4 for youth tickets. A list of participating Publix stores can be found here.
Most festival parking options is $5 per car, but prices vary depending on the lots around the grounds.
You’ll most likely need comfortable shoes, and, probably most importantly, your appetite. From strawberry eclairs to strawberry pizza, you will get your strawberry fix. As usual, you can build your own strawberry shortcake. There will also be plenty of big names performing this year.
Festival organizers promise this year’s strawberry celebration will be a hit. For additional details on the festival, head over to their website.
A map of the grounds can be found here.
There are many new foods this year at the Strawberry Festival, including a doughnut burger with strawberry-iced doughnuts located near the Admin Office, a black forest funnel cake located on the right side of the Kellogg's Strawberry tent, and maple cotton candy (from Meigs, across from the Hull Armory Building.)
There is also a Strawberry Dole Whip that can be found at the eastside entrance to the North Exhibit Hall which is located behind the Wish Farms Soundstage.
There is also the Waybetter Strawberry Oreo Chocolate Fudge Shake, which can be found between the Stingray Chevrolet display and the Neighborhood Village on the map.
In addition, there is a grilled cheese stand that creates grilled cheeses of all types, including sandwiched between doughnuts. That's located along Woodrow Wilson Street near the Main Gate on the map.
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