The stage was set, literally and figuratively, at the Charlie Grime Family Agricultural Center Jan. 11 as 118 contestants showed grace, poise and personality as they vied for a title in the 2025 Junior Royalty Pageant, sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Festival. Contestants participated in one of four age categories including Baroness (five to six […]
Continue ReadingGracePoint Church Sells ‘Cue For A Cause
It’s still too early to tell which football teams will be playing in this year’s Super Bowl but it’s not too soon to plan a watch party, complete with a crowd-pleasing menu for folks who attend to watch the game, the halftime show or are just there for the commercials. GracePoint Church members want to […]
Continue ReadingKicking off the New Year Right:
The clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, ushering in not only the turning of the calendar but also the promise of new beginnings. Now that the celebrations are finished, whether they included a kiss at midnight, singing “Auld Lang Syne” or eating symbolic foods, it’s the time of year to reflect on the past […]
Continue ReadingLocals Decked Their Halls For “At Home For The Holidays”
For Valrico resident Theresa Hickie, touring Plant City’s lavishly decorated homes during the “At Home for the Holidays” event, hosted by the Arts Council of Plant City, has become a family tradition. “I used to come every year with my mother Mary Ann Clark because we love Christmas and we loved walking through all the […]
Continue ReadingWalden Lake Christmas Lights Contest Winners Announced
Walden Lake residents definitely have Christmas spirit, which they embrace with a little friendly competition. For more than 16, years, the homeowners’ association has hosted its annual Christmas light display contest. This year’s event happened Dec. 10. Not only do the homes within each subdivision set up over-the-top Christmas displays, but the annual contest allows […]
Continue ReadingWatch Out For The Grinch This Holiday Season
As Black Friday approaches and families go about their holiday shopping, Attorney General Ashley Moody released the 2024 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide to help Floridians navigate the busy shopping season. With holiday purchases expected to surpass $1 trillion and with fewer shopping days between Black Friday and Christmas, there’s less time to find that perfect […]
Continue ReadingLights of Love Returns To McCall Park For 26th Year
The 26th annual Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony returns to McCall Park in Downtown Plant City on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation (SFBHF) and the City of Plant City, this time-honored tradition brings the community together to witness the “lighting up” of a […]
Continue ReadingGranny’s Greatest Recipes
There’s something magical about Grandma’s holiday recipes, written on tattered, yellowed index cards, passed down through the years like treasured heirlooms. Every day, especially during the holidays, her kitchen always smelled like cinnamon, butter and love as she worked her way through dozens of dishes. As her descendants try to recreate these recipes, each one […]
Continue ReadingChristmas Parade Marches Into Town
Santa Claus is coming to town on Friday, December 6 as the annual Plant City Christmas Parade takes over downtown streets. While young believers anxiously await the arrival of Mr. And Mrs. Claus in their reindeer-pulled sleigh (as the main draw they are the last float), 74 floats, marching bands and other parade units hosted […]
Continue ReadingLive Nativity Returning To Christmas Lane
While some folks take down a few boxes of Christmas decor from their attics, Lane Wetherington’s show-stopping displays filled dozens of semi-trucks, that have been unloaded at the Charlie Grimes Family Agricultural Center at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds for his Christmas Lane, an event that attracts more than 20,000 visitors annually. “It’s a labor […]
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