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Eat it up with a spoon
If it's March in Plant City, then it's Strawberry Festival time. Bring on the shortcake, music, midway and pig races.
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2001
 FESTIVAL FACTS
The 66th annual Florida Strawberry Festival begins today and continues through March 11 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City.
Hours: Exhibits open 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily. The midway opens 10 a.m. Saturday-Monday, noon Tuesday-Friday and remains open until midnight Saturday-Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday.
Admission: $7 at gate for ages 11 and older. Children 10 and younger get in for free with a paying adult. Parking $3.
Special deals: Unlimited midway rides for $14 from 3-11 p.m. today, Tuesday, Wednesday and March 8 and from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday. Unlimited midway rides for $17 from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday and March 9. Kids Day Saturday: Students through high school admitted free; reduced ride prices until 4 p.m. Senior Citizens' Day today and March 8, $1 off admission for those 60 and older.
Getting there: Plant City is 21 miles east of Tampa. The festival grounds can be reached from Interstate 4 exits 11 (Thonotosassa Road) or 13B (Alexander Street). Follow signs.
For more information: Call (813) 752-9194 or http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/.
MORE ENTERTAINMENT
Every day, you'll find cook-offs, a dairy show, animal exhibits, milking contests and more. There's a barnyard petting zoo north of the arts and crafts area and an exotic petting zoo -- including a llama, giraffe, kangaroo, buffalo, emu and camel -- north of the festival office. Guests can pretend to milk a mechanical cow near the arts and crafts area.
Of course, the star of the festival is the strawberry shortcake, available (for a fee) around the grounds.
The free daily entertainment:
Today: Jimmy Sturr & Orchestra, 10:30 a.m. and noon, Sound Stage.
March 8: "Boots" Randolph Group, 10:30 a.m. and noon, Sound Stage.
Every day:
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All this, and strawberries, too
Royalty on parade, country music, animals, contests -- entertainment of all kinds helps Plant City pay homage to its favorite fruit.
Who's playing the festival
If you can't get your country music groove on at the Strawberry Fest, then you've got no groove to get on, darlin'. It's as plain as that.
Strawberry Festival event calendar
The Strawberry Festival remains true to its agricultural roots. Featured events include cook-offs, a dairy show, animal exhibits, milking contests and more. |
Buck Trout Puppet Show, noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m., east of the fair office and 10:30 a.m., 1:30, 5 and 8 p.m. from a roving vehicle
Chinese Acrobats, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Showcase Tent.
Kenya Wizard Acrobats, 11 a.m., noon, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 p.m., Music Revue Tent.
John Pearson and the Traveling Bell Wagon, 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. throughout the festival grounds.
Knudsen Brothers, a cappella band, 2, 5 and 8 p.m., Showcase Tent.
Runa Pacha, Incan musicians, 10:30 a.m., noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. by the fair office.
Dennis Lee, country and rock, 1, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., Music Revue Tent.
Southern Star Bluegrass Band, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., Strawberry Tent.
Robinson's Racing Pigs, noon, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m., livestock area.
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