Plant City Observer

2024 Florida Strawberry Festival Guide: Festival Events Schedule

The Florida Strawberry Festival ran from March 1-11 and had something for everyone. As always, guests’ food options were both diverse and plentiful.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH

Florida Blue Senior Day

O’Reilly Auto Parts Ride-A-Thon Day

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

10:30 a.m. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra Sponsored By V&R Insurance (Wish Farms Soundstage) FREE w/paid gate admission

11:45 a.m. Senior Citizens Drawing (Wish Farms Soundstage)

(One drawing only – MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN)

2:00 p.m. Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick Relay

(Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Pavilion)

3:30 p.m. The Oak Ridge Boys

American Made Farewell Tour (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Martin and Kelly (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:00 p.m. Mosaic Youth Swine Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

7:30 p.m. OLIVER ANTHONY Out of The Woods (Wish Farms Soundstage)

FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST

Publix Food and Fun Friday

9:00 a.m. – noon Special Smiles Day (Entry at Gate 5)

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

12:00 p.m. Amish Donut Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Ent.Pavilion)

1:00 p.m. Dairy Judging Contest (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

3:30 p.m. The Beach Boys (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Pastor “Pee Wee” Callins (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:00 p.m. Mosaic Youth Swine Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

7:30 p.m. Jordan Davis (Wish Farms Soundstage)

SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union FREE Kids Day

Circle K Super Saturday Wristband Day

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at 10:00 a.m.)

11:00 a.m. Dairy Show Showmanship

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

1:00 p.m. Dairy Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

2:00 p.m. Youth Strawberry Stemming Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

6:00 p.m. Electric Woodshed (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:30 p.m. Black Eyed Peas (Wish Farms Soundstage)

SUNDAY, MARCH 3RDCOCA-COLA FAMILY DAY

9 a.m. -10 a.m. Registration for Baby Contest (Admin. Office –

Hillsborough County Babies ONLY)

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at 10:00 a.m.)

10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Baby Contest- Decorated Diaper Contest; Features Contest; Diaper Derby (Publix Showcase Tent)

11:00 a.m. Dairy Showmanship-Adult

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

11 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Youth Plant Show Silent Auction

(Swindle Family Pavilion)

11:30 a.m. Dairy Pee Wee Showmanship

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

12:30 p.m. Dairy Costume Ball (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

2:00 p.m. Schenck’s Strawberry ICEE Throwdown (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Pavilion)

2:00 p.m. Youth Plant Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

6:00 p.m. Kirstie Kraus (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:30 p.m. Parker McCollum (Wish Farms Soundstage)

MONDAY, MARCH 4TH

ACE HARDWARE GRAND PARADE DAY/CHICK-FIL-A RIDE-A-THON DAY

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at 10:00 a.m.)

10:30 a.m. Invitational Parade Luncheon (Trinkle Center)

1:00 p.m. Grand Parade Begins (Downtown Plant City)

2:00 p.m. Grand Parade Passes by the Festival (Reynolds Street)

3:00 p.m. Lamb Jumping Contest (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

3:00 p.m. Lowe’s Kid’s Workshop (East Independent)

3:30 p.m. The Bellamy Brothers (Wish Farms Soundstage)

5:00 p.m. Strawberry Spaghetti Eating Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

6:00 p.m. Deano Graham & The Grass Wagon Revival (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:00 p.m. Lamb Costume Contest (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

7:30 p.m. ZZ TOP (Wish Farms Soundstage)

TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH

FLORIDA PEANUT FEDERATION TWOSDAY RIDE-A-THON

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

2:00 p.m. Adult Strawberry Stemming Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

3:00 p.m. Lamb Showmanship (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

3:30 p.m. Mark Lowry (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Lamb Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church Plant City (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:30 p.m. Zach Williams (Wish Farms Soundstage)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH

GROW FINANCIAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AMERICA HEROES DAY/RIDE-A-THON DAY

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

1:00 p.m. Super Dog Mega Corndog Eating Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

3:15 p.m. Honoring American Heroes (Wish Farms Soundstage)

3:30 p.m. Craig Morgan (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Rekindled Bits of Grass (Publix Showcase Tent)

6:00 p.m. Mosaic Youth Steer Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

7:30 p.m. Riley Green (Wish Farms Soundstage)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH

FLORIDA BLUE SENIOR DAY/O’REILLY AUTO PARTS RIDE-A-THON DAY

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

10:30 a.m. Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets Sponsored By V&R Insurance

(Wish Farms Soundstage) FREE w/paid gate admission

11:45 a.m. Senior Citizens Drawing (Wish Farms Soundstage)

(One drawing only – MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN)

2:00 p.m. Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

3:30 p.m. Gene Watson (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Khalea Lynee (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:00 p.m. Mosaic Youth Steer Showmanship

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

7:30 p.m. Kirk Franklin (Wish Farms Soundstage)

FRIDAY, MARCH 8TH

TAMPA BAY TIMES DAY ON THE MIDWAY/MOONLIGHT MAGIC

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at noon)

3:00 p.m. Strawberry Mashed Potato Pie Eating Contest

(Stingray Chevrolet Ent. Pavilion)

3:30 p.m. The Commodores (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Beef Breed Showmanship (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

6:00 p.m. Pastor “Pee Wee” Callins (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:30 p.m. FOREIGNER (Wish Farms Soundstage)

10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Moonlight Magic (Belle City Midway)

SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH

FARM WORKER APPRECIATION DAY/CIRCLE K SATURDAY WRISTBAND DAY

9:00 a.m. Registration for Livestock Judging Contest

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at 10:00 a.m.)

10:00 a.m. Mosaic Youth Livestock Judging

(Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

10:15 a.m. Baby Parade (GT Grandstands Arena)

3:30 p.m. Jo Dee Messina (Wish Farms Soundstage)

6:00 p.m. Southbound (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:00 p.m. Mosaic Youth Steer Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena) 7:30 p.m. Flo Rida (Wish Farms Soundstage)

SUNDAY, MARCH 10TH

COCA-COLA FAMILY DAY

10:00 a.m. Gates Open (Midway opens at 10:00 a.m.)

11:00 a.m. Youth Beef Breed Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)

1:00 p.m. Kitchen Craft Cookware Drawing (Neighborhood Village)

5:00 p.m. Stingray Chevrolet Corvette Drawing (East Ind.)

6:00 p.m. HOLA! Plant City (Publix Showcase Tent)

7:30 p.m. Cody Johnson (Wish Farms Soundstage)

ON GROUNDS

Runa Pacha “Indian World”: Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. in the Verizon Gazebo

Pompeyo’s Dog Show: Daily at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Mon.- Fri. & 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun. Sponsored By: Visions of Outdoor Living

Robinson’s Racing Pigs: Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Sponsored By: Netterfield’s Concessions

The Florida Ag Experience Cow Milking Show: Noon, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Sponsored By: Venom Electric

Meet the Festival’s Official Mascots, “Mr. and Miss Berry” Daily in The Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent

Orthotic Works Gazebo from 11:00-11:30 a.m., 3:30-4 p.m. & 5:30-6 p.m.

Kids Coloring Corner: Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsored By: Simply Healthcare

KIDBUCK$ Game $how: Daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. Mon. -Thurs. &

11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Fri. – Sun. Sponsored By: Vision Auto Glass

Alford E. Gator and His Tiny Swamp House : Daily at noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. w/ 7 p.m. show Sat. & Sun. Sponsored By: All- American Gutter Protection

Kress Wood Carving Show: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Sponsored By: Choo Choo Lawn Equipment

FESTIVAL SERVICES

Badcock Home Furniture &more 

Mother & Baby Suite is located in the TECO Expo Hall.

Images Everywhere! Festival Photos Available at Gates 1, 5, 13, 14 and 16.

Lost & Found Caboose is located at the East end of the Roy & Helen Parke

Exhibit Building. Sponsored by: Chocolate Strawberry Express

Carolina ATM’s are located near Woodrow Wilson Street, the TECO Expo Hall, the

Arthur Boring Building and other locations throughout the Festival.

Sage Dental Hand Washing Stations are located throughout the grounds.

Information Booths Sponsored by: Uncommon USA

Portlock Restrooms are located throughout the grounds with complimentary

attendant service.

Wheelchairs, Electric Scooters and Strollers are available for rent at Gates 1, 14,16

and Tour Bus Lot across from Gate 10.

T-Mobile Trams transport from Red, Blue and Gray Parking Lots to Gates 10 and 14.

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