Your Guide To The 2019 Florida Strawberry Festival

PLANT CITY, FL -- Name every way to prepare strawberries you can think of and you still won't cover the myriad ways strawberries are served at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

The bright red berry harvested in eastern Hillsborough County is the main attraction at the festival, but it's certainly not the only attraction.

More than 500,000 people are expected to visit the Plant City Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds for the 84th annual festival Feb. 28 to March 10 to see headline entertainment, participate in livestock shows, seek thrills on the midway rides and, of course. enjoy strawberries -- straight from the patch, in milkshakes and smoothies, strawberry shortcake, strawberry pizza as well as some surprise concoctions.

This year's festival will feature new foods, new entertainment offerings and new rides, said Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis.

“Our guests come back year after year to try new foods and see the latest and greatest in entertainment,” he said. “We like for them to have a fresh experience each year.”

Twenty-four bands and musical artists are scheduled to perform on the Wish Farms Soundstage this year including Willy Nelson, STYX, the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Kool & the Gang, Home Free, NEEDTOBREATHE, Martina McBride, Pat Boone, Tanya Tucker and Chris Janson. (Click here for the complete entertainment lineup.)

Free Entertainment

Additionally, fair-goers can enjoy a variety of free entertainment including:

2019 Florida Strawberry Festival Battle of the Bands

The top nine bands have been chosen from a field of 20 during the online voting portion of the festival’s first official battle. Preliminary battles will take place in the Publix Showcase Tent on Thursday, Feb. 28, Tuesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 7.

The bands that will battle it out are: Almost There, Angie Rey and the Countrydelics, Bound No More, DBMK, G.W. Souther, Kayla Ember, Kingsway, OakLee and Reach City Worship. The band finalists will be evaluated by a select panel of qualified judges and fan ballots.

By midnight on Thursday, March 8, the Florida Strawberry Festival will announce the top three finalists. One honorable mention will be recognized as well as the top two who will move on to the final battle competition which will take place on Saturday, March 9, at 3:30 p.m. on the Wish Farms Sound Stage.

The first-place winner will receive $10,000 in prize money, a trophy and 25 hours of recording time with All Access Recording. The runner up will receive $5,000, a trophy and 10 hours of recording time, and the honorable mention band will receive $1,000 and a plaque.

Pompeyo Dog Show

Jorge, Natalya and their dogs have been performing together for more than 10 years throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. They have been featured in such venues as Circus Sarasota, Lone Star Circus, Circus Vazquez and in Season 12 of the hit television show “America’s Got Talent” where they finished as a semifinalist.

The Kandu Magic Show

The Kandu Magic Show has traveled nationwide entertaining family audiences at conventions, fairs, festivals, with symphony orchestras and even at a zoo. The show incorporates live music, sound effects, sight gags, slapstick comedy and audience participation.

Paul Bunyan Lumberjack vs. Lumberjills Show

The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is returning to the Florida Strawberry Festival with a twist. Joining the Lumberjacks will be the Lumberjills.

Mr. & Miss Berry

Mr. Berry and Miss Berry, the Florida Strawberry Festival’s official mascots, will be on hand for photos with visitors.

Monster Jam Truck

Visitors will have a chance to take pictures with the original designed Monster Jam World Finals truck.

Little Mansion

Little Mansion is an original alternative/Indie rock project featuring some of the best musicians in Tampa Bay, including recording artist Logan Grant on lead vocals. Influences include Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Weezer, The Bleachers and Third Eye Blind.

Ladies of Lee

The Ladies of Lee is comprised of women representing a variety of majors at Lee University.

Kari & Billy

Kari & Billy are a husband and wife country music duo from Nashville. They formed as a duo in 2011 and have since opened for several Top 40 artists including Florida Georgia Line, Brett Eldredge, Scotty McCreery, Rodney Atkins, Chris Young, Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry and Collin Raye. With two singles released to radio, Kari & Billy have been featured onMusic Row’s Country Breakout Chart.

Paul Jr. of “American Chopper”

Motorcycle master Paul Teutul Jr. has been molding metal into shape since the age of 12, when he began his apprenticeship at his father’s steel business. He’s widely recognized as the chief designer and fabricator of some of the world’s most famous motorcycles and is featured in the hit television series, “American Chopper,” on the Discovery Channel.

Dakin Dairy Farmers Milking Show

Owned and operated by a multi-generational Florida dairy farm family, Dakin Dairy Farms will test fair-goers talents milking cows.

Mike Alstott

Fair-goers will have an opportunity to meet the “A-Train.” The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer fullback spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was a six-time pro-bowler and a Super Bowl champion.

New Fair Foods

Many visitors look forward to eating their way through the festival and, this year, foodies will have some new foods to try:

Maple Cotton Candy

Meig’s Concessions has created a one-of-a-kind fluffy sweet treat.

Black Forrest Funnel Cake

Voted best all-around funnel cake, this treat is layered with chocolate whipped icing and fresh-cut strawberries.

Hawaiian Honey Cones

This gluten-free and organic treat is made with Hokkaido-style vanilla ice cream and is a healthy alternative to traditional sugar-based cones.

Strawberry Dole Whip

This treat is made with creamy strawberry whip.

Strawberry Blast Burger

Featuring a strawberry doughnut, this burger is layered with Gouda cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion and drizzled with a strawberry relish and sweet strawberry mayo.

The Happy Dough Company

This vendor offers an edible cookie dough. For fried food lovers, this treat also comes dipped and piping hot straight from the fryer. The Happy Dough Company also offers a crispy, crunchy cookie dough crumble cannoli.

Strawberry Cheesecake Quesadilla

A traditional quesadilla is filled with layers of cheesecake, strawberry glaze and graham crackers. The dish is topped with a mound of whipped cream, sprinkled with graham cracker crumbles and topped with a red ripe strawberry.

The Neighborhood Village

The Neighborhood Village, sponsored by Kitchen Craft, is dedicated to the homemade and handcrafted items. Made by youth and adults, entries will be on display all 11 days of the festival.

Competitions include:

Cake Decorating – Categories include wedding/anniversary (including groom’s cake), cupcakes/decorated cookies, birthday/holiday, and character/novelty (including Florida Strawberry Festival theme).
Baking – Categories include breads (quick bread, whole grain, strawberry), cakes (layer, coffee, pound, muffins, cupcakes, strawberry), candies (all types), and cookies (bar, drop, rolled, brownies and strawberry). They are judged on flavor, appearance, texture and color.
Food Preservation – Categories include dehydrated (fruits, vegetables and berries), jellies/jams/preserves (also marmalades, butters, chutneys, pie fillings), pickles/relishes, and meats/vegetables (meat or fish, soups, vegetable juice). They are judged on clarity, color, packing of jar, seal, uniformity, ripeness, size and condition.
Home Decoration Items – Categories include pillows, table runners, wall hangings and tabletop centerpieces that have been sewn, quilted and embellished or embroidered. Each is judged on workmanship, harmony of color and material, creative design and overall presentation.
Jewelry & Beading – This group includes entries that incorporate weaving, stringing, wire wrapping and silversmithing of such items as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and keys chains, as well as glasswork and lamp work. They are judged based on level of difficulty, originality and creativity, workmanship and use of color.
Knitting, Crocheting & Tatting – Entries in this category include tote bags, sweaters, purses, afghans, dolls, toys and bedspreads/coverlets. They are judged based on evenness of stitches, degree of difficulty, seams and finishing, working in of ends and suitability of material for project.
Needlepoint & Needlework – Competition includes crewel, embroidery, petit point, bunka, hardanger, needlepoint, and counted cross stitch, all judged on workmanship, color selection, design of item and finishing techniques.
Quilts – Quilts are appliquéd, hand-embroidered, holiday themed, and strawberry themed in sizes ranging from crib to king. They are judged on level of difficulty, harmony of color and material, technical skills and quilting.
Scrap-booking– In traditional and digital sections, both single and double page layouts will be entered with the winners judged on design layout, use of color, journaling and creativity.
Toys & Porcelain Dolls – There are a wide variety of entries applicable to this category including bean bag toys, dolls, doll clothes, doll houses, teddy bears, wooden toys, baby toys and more. They are judged on workmanship, suitable selection of materials, selection of design and overall appeal.
Wearing Apparel & Accessories – Entries in this category range from men’s and women’s wear, bridal, and children’s wear or costumes. Each entry is judged on machine tension and correct stitches, suitability of fabric to style, cut correctly on grain of garment and overall appearance of garment.

Midway

SunnyBell Kiddie Korral

The SunnyBell Kiddie Korral, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, opens daily at 10 a.m. and is separate from the big kids’ rides. It offers pint-sized rides and wider aisles to accommodate strollers. For detailed information on all of the rides in the Kiddie Korral, click here.

Belle City Midway

More than 80 rides, games and other attractions make up the Belle City Midway for fair-goers of all ages.

Typhoon, Zero Gravity, Universal Horror and the Cyclone Coaster are just a few. For a complete list of rides and their height requirements, click here.

The midway opens daily at noon except on Saturday, Sunday and Monday when it opens at 10 a.m.

Admission

Admission at the gate is $10 for age 13 up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for age 5 and younger.

Discount gate admission is available at these participating Publix Super Market stores throughout Central Florida

Festival Hours

Gates open at 10 a.m. daily and close at 10 p.m.

The SunnyBell Kiddie Korral is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

The Belle City Midway is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 11 p.m.

*On Friday, March 8, the midway closes just before 10 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic.

Weekends and Monday, the midway is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Youth Livestock Shows

Thursday, February 28 at 7 p.m.

Mosaic Youth Swine Show

Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

Mosaic Youth Swine Sale

Saturday, March 2

Dairy Showmanship – 11 a.m.

Dairy Show – 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 3

Dairy Showmanship (Adults) – 11 a.m.

Dairy Showmanship (Pee Wee) – 11:30 a.m.

Dairy Costume Ball – 12:30 p.m.

Youth Plant Sale – 2 p.m.

Monday, March 4

Lamb Jumping Contest – 3 p.m.

Lamb Costume Contest – 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5

Lamb Showmanship and Show - 5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6

Mosaic Youth Steer Show - 6 p.m.

Thursday, March 7

Mosaic Youth Steer Showmanship - 6 p.m.

Friday, March 8

Beef Breed Showmanship - 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 9

Mosaic Youth Steer Sale - 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 10

Beef Breed Show - 11 a.m.

Mosaic Rabbit and Poultry Exhibits will be on display daily.

Corvette Stingray Raffle

A Stingray Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be given away on Sunday, March 10 at 5 p.m. at the Stingray Chevrolet exhibit on the festival grounds. The car, valued at just over $85,000, features an eight-speed automatic transmission, black aluminum wheels, black leather interior, and a custom “Sebring Orange” exterior created specifically for this vehicle.

Tickets for the drawing are $5 each and are available for purchase through March 8 by clicking here and at the dealership located off exit 22 on Interstate 4 in Plant City. Tickets can also be purchased each day of the Florida Strawberry Festival at Stingray Chevrolet’s vehicle display on the event grounds until Sunday, March 10 at 4:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the raffle benefit Unity in the Community, a Plant City organization that contributes to local youth organizations and other groups who provide assistance to underprivileged families.

Festival Royalty

The 84th Florida Strawberry Festival Queen was crowned in January at the annual competition.

Kendall Gaudens was crowned the 2019 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen from a field of 31 contestants along with First Maid Madilyn Conrad and court members Kennedy Cullins, Jada Brown and Olivia Frazier.

Throughout the year, the queen and court represent the Florida Strawberry Festival and the Plant City community. They can be seen at festival events throughout the grounds, on the Wish Farms Soundstage before each of the 24 headline entertainment shows and at community events throughout the year.

The Florida Strawberry Festival also crowned the winners of its annual Junior Royalty Pageant in January.

Ranging from age 5 to 15, 113 contestants competed in four categories according to their ages: baroness, duchess, princess and queen, respectively. From the top five finalists in each category, a first maid and a winner were chosen.

Avery Surrency was selected as Junior Royalty Queen; Lylah Anne Linares was chosen Junior Royalty Princess; Kennedy Duncan was chosen Junior Royalty Duchess; and Rowen Ashford Morgan was chosen Junior Royalty Baroness.

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