Joe Newsome, a Plant City native, loves being a part of the Florida Strawberry Festival more than most. Newsome has spent the last 35 years serving on the entertainment board. He’s helped bring plenty of big names to the festival.
What’s your favorite Strawberry Festival memory?
I’ve been on the board for 35 years. In sixth grade, my daddy would give me $5 so I could go to the festival. As I look back at what things cost now, for $5 you could go all day and have fun.
Who do you like to bring to the festival?
I always bring my wife. I have a friend I started first grade with that comes almost every day with me. My family goes a lot.
What do you enjoy most about the festival?
It would be the entertainment. That’s been my area. I really like to see the exhibits, what the FFA kids are doing. It’s exciting to see what their theme’s going to be and what their booth’s going to look like.
What’s your favorite thing to do at the festival?
I’m backstage. I usually get there at noon and leave at 10, 11 o’clock at night. That’s my main thing. I look forward to that. I get to meet some entertainers I’d never have had the opportunity to meet, if not for the festival.
Which musical performance are you looking forward to the most?
Merle Haggard. I’m a dyed in the wool old country music fan. I saw Merle in Vegas the year before last, and that gave us the idea to see if we can get him in the festival. I also like Josh Turner.
What’s the best food item to buy at the festival?
The Amish doughnuts. They’re delicious. I’ve always liked corn dogs, and there are some places that have a really good hamburger.
If you could do any of the eating contests, which would you choose?
It would have to be the strawberry eating contest, even though I wouldn’t win it.
What was the best concert you ever attended at the festival?
We’ve had so many great ones. I guess one that sticks out is Garth Brooks, because we got Garth when he was just starting. There was also George Strait, Randy Travis — I got to know Randy a little bit. I could go on and on.
If you had to convince a total stranger to go to the festival, how would you do it?
The first thing I would say is, ‘It’s a family affair.’ Second, I would stress the money we spend on protection for our people. We work real hard on making sure that families can come. We have no alcohol — I’m proud of that. Families can come, feel safe, have fun and want to come back next year. We cater to a broad spectrum of people, from little children to seniors. We really pride ourselves on it being a family event, a clean event.
If you could see any band or artist in concert at the festival, who would it be?
Dolly Parton. Way back, Roy Parke and I had a goal of getting Wayne Newton, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. We achieved two of them. We talk to Dolly’s people every year, and she doesn’t tour much anymore, but she’s a dynamic lady.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s festival?
Good weather. Hopefully, we have that. If we do what we’re supposed to do all year — we all work year-round — when we get to this point, it’s weather, weather, weather. And it’s a good reunion time for people I don’t get to see very often.
What is the coolest souvenir that one can buy at the festival?
There’s a number of booths that sell jewelry and things related to the festival, and I think that sticks with people. There’s some lovely jewelry that you can wear. It makes me feel good, that people want to wear something that reminds them of the festival.
If you ride the carnival rides, which is your favorite?
The Scrambler. I don’t know why, but we rode that one over and over. Today, my wife and I try to get on one of the ferris wheels once or twice. I like to see the grounds and what’s going on. Rides have gotten so sophisticated since I was a boy, but the Scrambler was one of the most exciting.
Which carnival game is your favorite to play at the festival?
I mostly spent my money buying food and on rides.
What question are you most often asked by festival-goers from out of town?
Where a certain thing is, an entertainment tent or a booth. We have roving ambassadors that walk around and answer those questions. If you have a festival shirt on, you get asked those questions a lot.
If you could add anything to the festival, what would it be?
We’re looking at building a new stadium. The board has approved us to continue planning and, hopefully, in the next few years or so, we’ll have a new one.