Plant City kicked off 2023 with a month chock full of events. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events kicked off on Jan. 13 with opening ceremonies at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The event featured keynote speaker Reverend Maxi Miller of New City Church of Plant City and presentations by Lincoln Elementary Magnet School’s music department and Marshall Middle Magnet IB World School’s Gentlemen’s Quest Club. The following day shut down the streets for the MLK Parade including businesses, floats, bands, and more, all led by Grand Parade Marshal Karen Chambers, retired Colonel U.S. Army and member of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers. Events continued with the 5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Bing Rooming House Museum, and a Health and Fitness Fair, both held later that week.
The Arts Council held ChiliFest on January 28 with approximately two dozen professional and amateur chefs testing their culinary skills at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum.
Alex Chazares was pinned as a new Eagle Scout and we introduced you to Leola McDonald, a Bealsville resident who celebrated her 105th birthday!
The Strawberry Festival Pageant was held and a new Strawberry Festival Queen and Court were selected. Junior Royalty Winners were also crowned.