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Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City runs for 11 days

PLANT CITY, FL — The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival is “Out of This World,” an appropriate theme for describing the extraordinary entertainment and spectacular carnival midway featured in this 89th annual celebration of Plant City’s strawberry harvests.

You can feed on all manner strawberry concoctions, from the popular make-your-own strawberry shortcake booth to strawberry pizza, even strawberry tacos, not to mention the devil’s diet of traditional fair food.

florida strawberry festival make your own shortcake
A crowd favorite: Make your own shortcake at the Florida Strawberry Festival. More than 200,000 strawberry shortcakes are served at the festival every year at various booths around the festival grounds. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

In addition to the obligatory youth livestock and agriculture shows, the festival grounds are abuzz with games and gimmicks, cooking and woodcarving demonstrations, flanked by an endless sea of arts and crafts.

This annual festival, which runs 11 days from Feb. 29 through March 10, began in 1930 and has been held every year except for a six-year break during World War II.

The Florida Strawberry Festival is Florida’s largest event with more than 600,000 attendees last year.

This is your guide to entertainment and great fun!

NEW in 2024! … Download the cool new Florida Strawberry Festival app to your phone. The app includes a map of the festival grounds and midway, directions to parking, the entertainment line-up for each day of the festival and you can even purchase concert tickets directly in the app and store them in your digital wallet!


Florida Strawberry Festival concerts

There are usually two headline shows each day on the Wish Farms Stage. Concert admission prices are additional to festival’s $15 gate admission (Children 6-12, $5; 5 and under are admitted free).

Concert tickets are on sale now and range in price from $25 to $65, but there is plenty of continuous free entertainment over various stages around the fairgrounds included in festival admission.

Purchase tickets with the new smartphone app, or online at flstrawberryfestival.com, or at the Amscot Main Ticket Office located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City or by phone, 813-754-1996

2024 Entertainment Line-up

Thursday, February 29, 2024 · 3:30  p.m.

To learn more about a performer, click on their name.

Friday, March 1, 2024

strawberry festival black eyed peas
Black Eyed Peas perform on Saturday, March 2.

Saturday, March 2, 2024 ·

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Monday, March 4, 2024

florida strawberry festival zz top
ZZ Top performs on Monday, March 4, at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024

strawberry festival foreigner band
Foreigner will appear @ 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8.

Friday, March 8, 2024

cody johnson promotional photo florida strawberry festival
Cody Johnson plays on the last night of the fair.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

  • 3:30 p.m.Jo Dee Messina, $30 (Country)
  • 7:30 p.m. — Flo Rida, $50 (Hip hop, pop rap)

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Purchase tickets with the new smartphone app, or online at flstrawberryfestival.com, or at the Amscot Main Ticket Office located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City or by phone, 813-754-1996


Book your room in Plant City at Hotels.com


Florida Strawberry Festival celebrates the harvest

Plant City is the agricultural hub of endless strawberry fields, an agricultural area where folks have been harvesting and packaging strawberries since the 19th Century.

Every year since 1930, residents show off their crops at harvest time with Florida’s largest agricultural festival, attracting more than a half-million people every year, rivaling any state fair in the country with its agricultural displays, livestock shows, arts and crafts, local food, music concerts and a bustling carnival midway.

Florida’s strawberry season begins in December and continues through late March. From there, harvests shift north with the weather, although Plant City’s packing plants are a year-around operation packing berries from around the country and even around the world.

HOT TIP — You will have ample opportunity to buy flats of strawberries for bargain prices at pop-up roadside stands throughout Plant City. You can buy berries on the festival grounds, but it’s more convenient to wait until you are outside the fairgrounds. (A “flat” is equal to 12 pints.)

The Florida Strawberry Festival Midway

The electrifying Belle City Midway will dazzle you with flashing lights, soaring rides, crazy games, diet-challenging eats and plenty of action.

The Midway open at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 12 noon Tuesday-Friday, and it closes at 11 p.m. each day.

On Friday, March 8th, the Midway closes just before 10:00 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic. Gate admission is not required after 10:00 p.m. 

More than 80 rides, games, and attractions. All-day ride passes and wristband bargains will be available on special days. Here’s a list of kiddie rides on the main midway.

For more information, visit the festival’s Belle City Midway web page.

No alcohol is served anywhere on the festival grounds, and smoking is prohibited.

Where is the Florida Strawberry Festival?

The Florida Strawberry Festival is held in Plant City, the heart of Florida’s strawberry growing region, about 25 miles west of Tampa and 60 miles east of Orlando on Interstate 4.

From Tampa, Exit I-4 at Forbes Road (Exit 17), proceed south to Highwaty 574 (MLK Blvd.) then east to the Festival area.

From Orlando, Exit I-4 at Park Road (Exit 22), go south to Highway 92 (Baker St.), continue west, turn south bound on Alexander St. then west bound Reynolds St., leading you to the Festival grounds.

Strawberry Festival parking

Parking is $5 on the festival grounds and includes free tram service to the entrance gates. Parking is also offered at private lots, churches and nearby schools for $10-$15.

With an average of 50,000 cars a day, finding a place to park can be a challenge. It pays to cruise around the festival site for parking, if traffic permits.

You will find plenty of official signage that will take you down side streets to good parking, so don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path a little.

Try to get into one of the official lots, which have shuttles to the entrance gates.

On a busy day two years ago, we found $5 parking on the festival grounds without waiting in the Gray parking lot, even as long lines of cars clogged other entrances and many of the private parking lots were already full.

To get to our secret entrance to the Gray Lot, come into town from the east on U.S. 92 (West Baker Street) and turn right onto Seminole Lakes Blvd, which takes you through a nondescript residential neighborhood. In about a quarter mile, you’ll see the entrance. The only signs are at the entrance gate. Once inside the lot, park close to the highly visible tram pavilion.

HOT PARKING TIPDownload the new Florida Strawberry Festival App for directions to festival parking. The app also allows you to pin your parking spot to a map so you can find your vehicle when you leave!


Camping near the Florida Strawberry Festival

The RV campground at the fairgrounds is already sold out. Reservations for next year will not open until November 2024.

I’ve camped at both Hillsborough River State Park and Alafia River State Park during past festivals and found them both convenient to the festival grounds. This year, we booked sites at Colt Creek State Park and Withlacoochee River Park Campground.

Hillsborough River State Park. 15402 U.S. 301 North, Thonotosassas. 20 miles to Plant City. State park has 112 sites with water, electric, picnic tables, fire ring. Dump station on site. Activities include fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Seven miles of nature trails for hikers. Bicycles permitted on the 2.2-mile Park Loop and the 1.6-mile Wetlands Restoration Trail. Rates: $24 per night plus $7 daily for utilities (water and electric hookups). Book online up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance of non-residents. 

Alafia River State Park, County Road 39 S, Lithia. 18 miles to Plant City. Alafia has some of the most challenging off-road bicycle trails in Florida, rambling 17 miles through varying elevations. Hikers and equestrians enjoy another 20 miles of hiking and horse trails. Access to lakes and the river for kayaks and canoes, as well as fishing. Campground lies along the conifer-lined shore of Lake Alafia with great views. There are 30 spacious campsites with electric, water, picnic tables and a fire ring.  Rates: $22 per night plus $7 daily for utilities. Book online up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance of non-residents. 

Edward Medard Park and Reservoir, 5276 Panther Loop, Plant City. 10 miles from Plant City. This 1200-acre park is co-managed by Hillsborough County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District and includes a 700-acre reservoir with a white sand beach and boat access for paddlers and fisherman. Equestrians (bring your own horse) enjoy a 3.25-mile bridle path. There are 40 campsites with water, electric, picnic tables and grills on two heavily wooded loops near the lake. Reservations are not accepted. Sites are $24 per night, first come, first served. ($18 for seniors). Call (813) 975-2160 for more information

Lithia Springs Park and Campground, 3932 Lithia Springs Road, Lithia. 18 miles from Plant City. This county campground has 40 sites for RV, tents and trailers with fire ring, picnic table, water and electric hookups. Dump station on site. I love this 160-acre park for its natural spring swimming hole. The spring flows into the Alafia River for canoeing and kayaking. Rates: $24 ($18 for seniors). Reservations are not accepted. Walk-ons only, first come, first served. Credit cards are not accepted. Call (813) 744-5572 for more information.

Colt Creek State Park, 16000 State Road 471, Lakeland FL 33809. 29 miles from Plant City. Expansive 5,000-acre state park features natural Central Florida habitat with more than 15 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, bicycling and equestrians with access to two primitive, pack in/pack out camps on the Flatwoods Trail. There are 10 camp sites in the Equestrian Campground. $5/adult, $1/child. Call the ranger station, 863-815-6761, for more information. There are 6 tent sites and 27 RV sites with water and electric (30/50 amp) in the main campground. Sites are $24 plus $7 daily utility fee and $6.70 booking fee. Book online up to 11 months in advance for Florida residents, 10 months in advance of non-residents. 

More nearby camping:



Things to do at the Florida Strawberry Festival

Pick your own strawberries!

Visit Plant City any time during the berry-picking season — January through April — and be immersed in the strawberry culture. (Blueberries are grown here, too, with the harvest’s peak in May.)

Although most commercial growers do not allow you to pick your own strawberries, a few family farms will.

Spivey Farms, 6101 South County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567 (813) 650-8999 (Call for hours)

For more U-Pick Farms, check out pickyourown.org

Tips for picking your own strawberries:
  • Dress comfortably. Wear loose fit clothing.
  • Wear a hat or cap and bring sunscreen.
  • Bring your own containers.
  • If you plan to spend the day, take ice to keep berries cool.
  • Select only firm, ripe berries.
  • Be careful not to remove the tops of the berries.
  • Pick every ripe berry on each plant rather than jumping from plant to plant.

Did you pick too many strawberries? Check out Louise Sanchez’ Herbs, Crafts and Gifts blog about canning strawberries that her husband picked at the Strawberry Palace, 210 E State Road 60, Plant City, FL 33567


Parkesdale Farm Market

The largest family-run strawberry and citrus market in Florida, the Parkesdale Farm harvests more than 3 million pounds of strawberries each year. You can also find plenty of citrus and other locally grown produce. 3702 W. Baker Street, Plant City,  FL 33563, (813) 752-0502


Eat at Fred’s

The Johnson family has turned Southern cooking into a major attraction around Plant City, especially now that the legendary Branch Ranch Dining Room has closed. Fred’s Southern Kitchen is ranked No. 1 of 39 restaurants in Plant City on TripAdvisor. 1401 W. MLK Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563, (813) 752-7763

More things to do nearby:


Bed and Breakfasts in Plant City

florida strawberry festival strawberry house plant city
The Strawberry House, Plant City

Strawberry House B&B in the downtown Historic District, near antique shops, dining and shopping. The inn has four rooms with private baths. 805 N. Wheeler Street, Plant City, FL 33563. Call (813) 759-0279 or book online.

Sparkman House B&B in Plant City’s historic district. 1905 Queen Anne style house boasts 12-foot ceilings, wrap-around porch, 5 bedrooms in the main house plus a carriage house. 707 N. Collins St. Plant City, Fl 33563. Call 813-787-6068 or book online.

Palmer House. Country B&B with grandfather oaks features 5 bedrooms, pool and a hot tub. 15 miles from Plant City at 2221 Hinton Ranch Rd, Lithia, FL 33547. Call (813) 654-0961 or book online.




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Jennifer

Thursday 22nd of December 2022

First timer here. Florida native, looking for on site tent camping places? Any recommendations would be awesome.

Bob Rountree

Friday 23rd of December 2022

The only "on site" camping is specifically for recreational vehicles, and that's already sold out. As we detail in our story, your best bets for tent camping are nearby Alafia River State Park, Hillsboro River State Park, Edward Medard County Park, Lithia Springs County Park and Colt Creek State Park.

Kim Wroblewski

Friday 4th of March 2022

You will love the strawberry festival! Always worth it great family trip day.

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