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Strawberry Festival facts
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2002
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Harvesting the best of country
The Strawberry Festival's general manager has spent years cultivating ties to country music's top performers, and she's dished up a tasty 2002 lineup.
In memory of Jennifer
If he were looking for reasons, country star Vince Gill could come to the Florida Strawberry Festival simply to escape the winter chill of Nashville and squeeze in a few rounds of golf -- his favorite pastime when he's not making music and helping wife Amy Grant raise their new baby girl. |
The 67th annual Florida Strawberry Festival begins today and continues through March 10 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City.
HOURS: Gates open 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Midway open noon to midnight Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday through Monday. The Strawberry Patch Kiddy Corral, rides geared to young children, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
ADMISSION: $7 at gate for ages 11 and older. Children 10 and younger get in free with paying adult. Parking $3-$5.
SPECIAL DEALS: Unlimited midway rides for $14, 3 to 11 p.m. today, Tuesday, Wednesday and March 7 and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday; unlimited midway rides for $17, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and March 8. Senior Citizens Days: Those 60 and older get $1 off admission today and March 7. Kids Day: Students through high school admitted to fairgrounds free Saturday and rides are reduced until 4 p.m.
SECURITY MEASURES: All people, items and vehicles entering the festival grounds may be searched. All purses, bags and other items carried inside will be searched.
PROHIBITED: Alcoholic beverages, pets (other than service animals) and firearms.
 GETTING THERE: Plant City is about 20 miles east of Tampa. Take Interstate 4 west to the Thonotosassa Road exit (exit 11). Follow signs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (813) 754-1996 or check www.flstrawberryfestival.com.
More entertainment
There's lots going every day: cooking contests, animal exhibits, milking displays, two petting zoos -- one for barnyard animals and one for exotic animals such as giraffes, llamas and kangaroos -- and lots more.
Free daily entertainment
TODAY: Myron Floren and his Orchestra. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sound Stage.
MARCH 7: Boots Randolph Group, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sound Stage.
Every day:
Chinese Acrobats, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Showcase Tent.n The Terry Fator Show, ventriloquist, 11 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m., Strawberry Tent.
Fox Brothers, 2, 5 and 8 p.m., Showcase Tent.
Dennis Lee, variety show, 1, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., Music Revue Tent.
Linda Lou and the Lucky 4, music show, 11 a.m., 3 and 6 p.m., Music Revue Tent.
John Pearson and The Traveling Bell Wagon, 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., through the festival grounds.
Robinson's Racing Pigs, noon, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 p.m., livestock area.
Runa Pacha, Incan musicians, 10:30 a.m., noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. by the fair office.
Southern Star Bluegrass Band, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., Strawberry Tent.
Headliner schedule
TODAY: Mel Tillis. The Tampa native, known for his stutter, also has a long, impressive Nashville resume.
[AP photos]
Charlie Daniels
Trace Adkins
Lee Ann Womack
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FRIDAY: Charlie Daniels Band. The Devil Went Down to Georgia fiddler is a Strawberry Festival and Tampa Bay area regular.
SATURDAY: Trace Adkins. One of the "new traditional" Nashville acts, Adkins hit it big in the mid '90s with his debut album Dreamin' Out Loud.
SUNDAY: Toby Keith. This 2001 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year became a country singer after stints in the oil fields and football's USFL. Keith's first single Should've Been a Cowboy went to No. 1 in 1993.
MONDAY: Oak Ridge Boys. The guys who brought us Elvira, Y'All Come Back Saloon and dozens of others return for the second consecutive year.
TUESDAY: Lee Ann Womack. Texan Lee Ann Womack, last year's CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, is kind of like the female Alan Jackson -- a successful mainstream artist who hasn't forgotten about traditional country.
WEDNESDAY: Wayne Newton. The king of Vegas brings his Danke Schoen to Plant City.
MARCH 7: Glen Campbell. The Rhinestone Cowboy, who got his start doing studio work with Phil Spector and Frank Sinatra, spends a lot of his time these days performing in casinos and in Branson, Mo.
MARCH 8: Brad Paisley. This relative newcomer was a nominee last year for both a Grammy and for CMA Male Vocalist of the Year.
MARCH 9: Tracy Lawrence. One of the more successful young "hat acts" from several years back, his latest self-titled album came out last year.
MARCH 10: Vince Gill. See story: In memory of Jennifer.
DETAILS: Each act performs at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Limited free seats are available for each show. Reserved seat tickets are available at the festival box office, ranging from $5-$10 depending on the show and seat location.
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