Events

Your guide to the Florida Strawberry Festival

It’s the sweetest time of year — Florida Strawberry Festival time. Read our guide so you don’t get in a (strawberry) jam.

February 20, 2024 • 
Kaylee Holland, Rilee Delgado, Brianna Williams
The Florida Strawberry Festival at night. Crowds walk between colorful, lit booths selling food like candy apples, lemonade, corndogs, and cotton candy.

Visit the Midway, catch a concert, or eat your favorite fair foods at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Photo by LALtoday

Table of Contents
Admission and parking
Entertainment
Attractions
Food and drink

The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival is coming up Thursday, Feb. 29 through Sunday, March 10. Thousands of people have flocked to Plant City (~25 minutes from downtown Lakeland) since 1930 for the nationally recognized event.

Here’s what to know to have the berry best experience.

Admission and parking

General admission tickets can be purchased at the box office located east of the GT Grandstands, near the southwest corner of the TECO Expo Hall.

  • GA Adult: $15
  • GA Child (ages 6-12): $5
  • GA Child (under 5): free
  • Parking: $5 per car, pickup truck, or van; $10-$15 per bus. Bring cash to park in private lots near the festival.

Pro tip: Tickets are cheaper online or at participating Publix stores.

Additional tickets must be purchased for rides, games, and headliner entertainment.

Entertainment

Two people hold strawberries from their seats in front of the Florida Strawberry Festival stage. The seats surrounding them are teal, and a few other audience members sit closer to the stage.

Which headliner are you berry excited to see live?

Photo by @jkarr7

Headliners
This year’s concert headliners include:

  • The Beach Boys
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Parker McCollum
  • ZZ Top
  • The Commodores
  • Flo Rida

Headliner concerts will take place on the Wish Farms Soundstage. Separate tickets must be purchased to attend headliner shows.

Free entertainment

From live music to eating contests, check out the free entertainment lineup.

Attractions

Belle City Midway

Head to the Midway for favorites like Ring of Fire and the Berry Big Wheel.

SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo Kiddie Korral

This area is designed for the youngest fair-goers, featuring accommodations like wider aisles for easier stroller access, a mother and baby suite, and rides just for little ones.

Neighborhood Village

Peruse handmade goods and observe competitions in a variety of categories.

New this year: The East Hillsborough Art Guild Show + The Photography Contest.

Youth livestock shows

Poultry, cattle, and rabbits, oh my. Cheer on Polk County youth as they showcase the animals they’ve raised.

Food and drink

A red funnel cake with powdered sugar and cream on top, pictured at night in front of a ferris wheel glowing red and blue.

City Editor Connor dined on red velvet funnel cake at last year’s festival.

Photo by LALtoday

Eat
Try various strawberry foods, including the festival’s world-famous strawberry shortcake, strawberry pizza, and strawberry fudge. View the full menu.

Drink
Don’t miss the Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake — a cup rolled in Fruity Pebbles topped with a strawberry cupcake, sponge cake, whipped cream, strawberries, and a lollipop — or a classic strawberry lemonade.

Guides