Florida Strawberry Grand Parade coming soon
The Florida Strawberry Grand Parade will return to Plant City on March 7, starting at 1 p.m.
The parade will move north along Evers Street, then west on Reynolds Street before it passes the festival grounds.
Dozens of floats along with hundreds of participants will lead the festivities, representing residents ranging from Plant City’s dignitaries to private businesses to pageant winners, marching bands, baton twirlers and more.
Since the first Florida Strawberry Festival in 1930, the Grand Parade has been an extension of the excitement that the festival brings to the Plant City community.
“The parade is a tradition in Plant City and I’ve always said that it’s kind of like Plant City’s Mardi Gras,” Grand Parade board director Gail Lyons said. “We all come out with all of our strawberry gear and just celebrate the festival. It allows the city to become part of the festival and enjoy all of the fare. It gets everyone involved.”
In 2021 the Grand Parade merged with the Strawberry Youth Parade for the first time and that will continue for this year’s parade, allowing the event to grow even more representative of the local community as middle school participation continues to rise.
Additionally, Berry Fine Productions announced this week that country music singer/songwriter and Dover native Kenzie Wheeler will be the parade’s grand marshal this year.
“It’s just the fact that he’s a hometown boy,” Lyons said. “So we want to continue to celebrate his success and tell him how proud we are of him.”
While the parade begins at 1 p.m., onlookers typically begin gathering along the parade route far earlier and the city has started the process of closing off roads at 10:30 a.m. in year’s past, so plan accordingly if you hope to get a good seat along the parade route or intend to be traveling throughout the surrounding area.
“Come out and enjoy the great weather and celebrate with us,” Lyons said.
Register now for the 2022 Children’s Classic Golf Tournament
The South Florida Baptist Hospital joins the Plant City Greater Chamber of Commerce and the Plant City Kiwanis Club in hosting the annual Children’s Classic Golf Tournament.
The four-person scramble will take place on Friday, April 8, with registration opening at 11 a.m., a sponsored lunch taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a shotgun start to the tournament at 1 p.m. And in the evening, dinner and an award ceremony will take place following the conclusion of the tournament.
All proceeds from the fun-filled day of activities will go to support the hosting organizations, as well as the operations of the SFBH Community Health program, a program that supports local schools and organizations in providing health and wellness programs throughout the region.
A foursome can register for the tournament for $750, with a sleeve of golf balls per player and a golfers goodie bag coming along with the registration. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available for prices ranging from $200 to $5,000 dollars.
For more information, or to register, visit www.sfbhfoundation.org/ChildrensClassicGolfTournament2022.
Meet your elected officials at Capitol Coffee
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce will host Capitol Coffee next month at Hillsborough Community College’s Plant City campus.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30 at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, you will have to opportunity to meet with your elected officials Lawrence McClure (R), House District 58 and Danny Burgess (R), Senate District 20.
Following the opportunity to meet with McClure and Burgess, the event’s program will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 11:30 a.m.