Plant City may be famous for its strawberries, but another sweet fruit is slowly carving its way into the foundation of the community.
The 12th annual Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival is hosted by Plant City’s own Keel Farms at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. The event is free to attend and parking is $10 per vehicle. It’s a four day event spread out over two weekends that’s sure to bring some sweet fun to your family’s outings.
For those who have never gone before, timing is everything. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each of the four days and there are pockets of fun for everyone. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend so plan your trip accordingly to get the most out of your day.
If you’re interested in the farm’s u-pick, come as close to 8 a.m. as you can. Florida weather is temperamental at best and stifling hot at worst so the earlier in the day you go, the better.
Though berries grow quickly, they don’t exactly replenish in an afternoon so if you want the cream of the crop for your baskets you need to beat the crowd and comb through the bushes. If you bring cash you also get a slightly better deal as the berries will run you $6 per pound, but if you forget then the cost goes up to $6.50 with a credit card.
The rows of berries are longer than they appear. If you’re coming a little later in the day head as deep into the farm as you can get and you may stumble upon fresh, juicy berries no one has found yet.
Once you’ve finished picking to your heart’s content, enjoy a hot meal at Keel & Curley or wander the aisles to check out some of the unique food vendors that show up in honor of the event.
There is live entertainment spread throughout the festival and a kids farm zone for energetic little ones. Parents can take a moment to enjoy a crisp glass of wine or a refreshing glass of lemonade while their youth zip around the playground.
The winery will be open throughout the event and attendees can sample the homemade wine, beer and ciders housed at the location during the scheduled tastings. The wine tasting school is $10 per person and you must be 21 or older to participate. For avid collectors, there are also limited edition bottles of wine sold each year at the winery.
One of the highlights of the festival is the abundance of unique homemade craft and food items available from the vendors. Everything from homemade jams to hand-carved art and furniture can be found sprawled throughout the farm’s property so bring lots of cash for easy exchanges.
The Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival also sets itself apart by being a pet-friendly event. If you go around lunch there will hardly be a table on the patio that doesn’t have a furry friend catching a snooze underneath.
For detailed information on the set list of performers and to find out more about the festival visit keelfarms.com/bbfest19.
If you go
Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 6-7 and April 13-14
Where: Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road
Cost: Free to attend. Parking is $10.