The Florida Strawberry Festival is an annual event that takes place in Plant City, Florida. It was started in 1930 by the local Lions Club, a local philanthropy club dedicated to bettering the community, after several attempts by locals in the previous 20 years to promote the local strawberry crop. Beginning in 1929, The Lions Club worked to plan the festival honoring King Strawberry, the champion of the area's agricultural products. The festival lasts 11 days, and generates an attendance of about half a million patrons from all over Central Florida and other global nations.
- The festival is a venue for flea market-style craft and item sales, various free entertainment acts/events, a very large midway, plus twice-daily "big name" musical concert performances. Tickets are required for these concerts, there used to be free seating on a first come first searved basis, however after the 2017 festival the area was renovated with stadium seating and is no longer free. 2018 is the first year no free seating will be available.
- The festival is also known for its famous St. Clement Catholic Church's "Make Your Own" Strawberry Shortcake. which is shown on carnival eats on the cooking channel © and will be featured again in 2018.
- Every year a parade is held in the festivals honor and features Plant City's Person Of the Year award.
- The festival has livestock activities in conjunction with the local 4-H club.
- The festival consistently outdraws the Florida State Fair, held at the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds.
- The festival also has a beauty pageant, with the coronation of a Strawberry Queen. Drew Knotts, a Plant City High School Senior was crowned 2017 Queen by outgoing Queen, Haley Riley. The beauty pageant is well described in "The Strawberry Girls" by Anne Hull, which appeared in the New Yorker magazine, August 11 & 18, 2008.
Video Florida Strawberry Festival
Florida Strawberry Festival Lineups
2017 Lineup
Willie Nelson (first sold-out afternoon show in Strawberry Festival history)
2015 Lineup
Jimmy Stuff, Bobby Vinton, Alabama, Mel Tillis, Scotty Mccreery, Mercyme, Kevin Costner, Hunter Hayes, Sawyer Brown, Happy Together Tour, Ronnie Milsap, Sara Evans, Ricky Skaggs, Craig Morgan, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Oak Ridge Boys, Newsboys, Loretta Lynn, Boyz 2 Men, Day + Shay, John Legend, Luna Shalabi xPermalee, REBA.
2012 Lineup
Demi Lovato (as part of her A Special Night with Demi Lovato tour).
Maps Florida Strawberry Festival
See also
- Florida food festivals
- List of strawberry topics
References
External links
- Florida Strawberry Festival (official website)
- Strawberry Festival Parade (official website)
- Food Fest! Your Complete Guide to Florida's Food Festivals
- St Clement newsletter from March 2007: has photo of shortcake makers
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Clement-Make-Your-Own-Strawberry-Shortcake/256543645325/ St. Clement "Make Your Own" Shortcake Facebook page
- https://www.plantcityobserver.com/photo-gallery/past-presence-history-behind-strawberry-fests-star-power
Source of article : Wikipedia
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