Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival guide: Tickets, food, music lineup and more

THAT’S YOUR WDSU FIRST WARNING FORECAST, JIM, THANKS SO MUCH AS YOU ARE WAKING UP AND HEADING OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING, THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT OUTSIDE. WE’RE GOING TO START WITH A LOOK AT OUR CAMERA IN A LOG I-55. SO AS YOU’RE WAKING UP THINGS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD, HAVEN’T SEEN ANY MAJOR ISSUES OUT THERE FOR YOU. SO WE’RE ACCIDENT AND BREAKDOWN FREE. WE LOVE TO SEE THAT. LET’S TELL YOU ABOUT SOME IMPACTS THAT YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THROUGH PONCHATOULA THIS WEEKEND. IT’S THE PONCHATOULA STRAWBERRY FEST. OF COURSE, THAT COULD CAUSE US SOME MAJOR BACKUPS ON THE INTERSTATE, SO I DON’T WANT YOU GUYS GOING THROUGH THAT. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME WAYS TO GET AROUND IT. IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE COMING FROM BATON ROUGE, YOU’RE GOING TO BE TAKING THAT I-12 EASTBOUND EXIT AT PUMPKIN CENTER. THAT’S EXIT 35. YOU’RE GOING TO HEAD SOUTH OVER TO HIGHWAY 22. IF YOU’RE COMING FROM COVINGTON OR THE SLIDELL AREA, YOU’RE GOING TO BE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ALONG I-12. SO EXIT AT LA HIGHWAY 445, AND THEN YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO LA 22. LET’S TALK ABOUT MANDEVILLE. IF YOU’RE TRAVELING THERE. SMOOTH SAILING FOR YOU, NOT MAJOR ISSUES. YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE LA 22 AND CONTINUE WEST INTO PONCHATOULA. AND THEN FOR MY NEW ORLEANS PEOPLE, THE EASIEST ROUTE FOR YOU IS GOING TO BE TAKING THE CAUSEWAY. SO KEEP IN MIND THEY’LL TAKE THE CAUSEWAY FROM METAIRIE INTO MANDEVILLE, AND THEN YOU’LL HEAD OVER TO LA 22. LOUISIANA STATE POLICE WILL BE THERE ANALYZING SOME LOCALIZED TRAFFIC. SO REMEMBER, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. WE WANT TO KEEP YOU SAFE. SO HAVE A GREAT TIME AND EXPECT SOME CONGESTION OUT THERE. MORGAN I’M HEADING I’M PLANNING TO GO. DEJA SO THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT I’

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Fest is kicking off April 12-14 at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula. The festival brings over 300,000 people to downtown Ponchatoula each year.Above Video: Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival 2023 beginsThis is a 52-year tradition of food, drinks, live music, and excitement for everyone. Here is your ultimate guide to the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival:Dates: Friday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Traffic: Here are the best routes to get to the festival: From Baton Rouge: Exit Interstate 12 Eastbound at Pumpkin Center exit #35, proceed south to LA 22, then continue east on LA 22 into Ponchatoula. From Covington / Slidell: Exit Interstate 12 Westbound at LA 445 exit #47, proceed south to LA 22, then continue west on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.From Mandeville: Take LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.From New Orleans area: Take the Causeway Bridge into Mandeville and proceed to LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.Parking: The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival does not have any designated parking. There are several lots surrounding Memorial Park where attendees can park their car for a fee, which typically benefits a local nonprofit. Free parking is limited, so please prepare accordingly.Food and Drinks: The Strawberry Festival has over 40 booths that have many selections of food from seafood baked potatoes, strawberry shortcake, strawberry daiquiris and many more. You can find a complete list of food vendors and booths here. Entertainment Lineup: Clay Cormier & The Highway BoysPaperChase 3rd Street Band Yeah You Right BandVic and the Boys Ferg's HwyThe Peyton Falgoust Band Kings of Neon Lindsey Cardinale The Eighties Experience The Dominos Thomas CainChurch Service Nashville South Tyler Kinchen and the Right PiecesThe Phunky Monkeys The Drunk Uncles Swampland Revival Three Thirty Seven A full list of dates and times for each performance can be found on the Strawberry Festival website.Strawberry Festival Parade: The festival parade will be held on Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 a.m. The parade will start in Downtown Ponchatoula and end at Kiwanis Park.Festival Activities: Rides:Rides are around 3-5 tickets each. You can buy an armband for rides for $30, and they can only be used on Friday. Tickets are required for riding rides after 5 p.m. on Friday. Friday, April 12: 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, April 14: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket Information:Tickets are $1.50 each or $30 for 20 and can only be purchased at the festival. Egg toss:The annual Egg Toss is held at the North Stage on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. Strawberry Eating Contest:The Strawberry eating contest will be held Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and Sunday at 12:45 p.m. What not to bring: Bottles/cans GlassIce chestsWeapons Umbrellas Pets Shoes and shirts are required, and clear backpacks and diaper bags are the only bags allowed.

PONCHATOULA, La. —

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Fest is kicking off April 12-14 at Memorial Park in Ponchatoula.

The festival brings over 300,000 people to downtown Ponchatoula each year.

Above Video: Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival 2023 begins

This is a 52-year tradition of food, drinks, live music, and excitement for everyone.

Here is your ultimate guide to the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival:

Dates:

Friday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Traffic:

Here are the best routes to get to the festival:

From Baton Rouge: Exit Interstate 12 Eastbound at Pumpkin Center exit #35, proceed south to LA 22, then continue east on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.

From Covington / Slidell: Exit Interstate 12 Westbound at LA 445 exit #47, proceed south to LA 22, then continue west on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.

From Mandeville: Take LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.

From New Orleans area: Take the Causeway Bridge into Mandeville and proceed to LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.

Parking:

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival does not have any designated parking. There are several lots surrounding Memorial Park where attendees can park their car for a fee, which typically benefits a local nonprofit. Free parking is limited, so please prepare accordingly.

Food and Drinks:

The Strawberry Festival has over 40 booths that have many selections of food from seafood baked potatoes, strawberry shortcake, strawberry daiquiris and many more.

You can find a complete list of food vendors and booths here.

Entertainment Lineup:

Clay Cormier & The Highway Boys
PaperChase
3rd Street Band
Yeah You Right Band
Vic and the Boys
Ferg's Hwy
The Peyton Falgoust Band
Kings of Neon
Lindsey Cardinale
The Eighties Experience
The Dominos
Thomas Cain
Church Service
Nashville South
Tyler Kinchen and the Right Pieces
The Phunky Monkeys
The Drunk Uncles
Swampland Revival
Three Thirty Seven

A full list of dates and times for each performance can be found on the Strawberry Festival website.

Strawberry Festival Parade:

The festival parade will be held on Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 a.m.

The parade will start in Downtown Ponchatoula and end at Kiwanis Park.

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

Festival Activities:

Rides:

Rides are around 3-5 tickets each. You can buy an armband for rides for $30, and they can only be used on Friday.

Tickets are required for riding rides after 5 p.m. on Friday.

Friday, April 12: 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 13: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

Ticket Information:

Tickets are $1.50 each or $30 for 20 and can only be purchased at the festival.

Egg toss:

The annual Egg Toss is held at the North Stage on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.

Strawberry Eating Contest:

The Strawberry eating contest will be held Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and Sunday at 12:45 p.m.

What not to bring:

Bottles/cans
Glass
Ice chests
Weapons
Umbrellas
Pets

Shoes and shirts are required, and clear backpacks and diaper bags are the only bags allowed.

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival guide: Tickets, food, music lineup and more

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Dates:

Traffic:

Parking:

Food and Drinks:

Entertainment Lineup:

Strawberry Festival Parade:

Festival Activities:

Rides:

Ticket Information:

Egg toss:

Strawberry Eating Contest:

What not to bring:

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