For decades, the City of Plant City has been known around the globe for producing some of the sweetest, most beautiful strawberries in the world. Many say it’s our “claim to fame.” In fact, if you don’t know much about the abundant strawberry harvest in Plant City, one of our residents will be quick to inform you of just how important the commodity is to our economy and the spirit of our community. And if it’s a lady, she’ll probably be wearing a strawberry bling shirt and strawberry jewelry.
The truth is, the people of Plant City have been proud of the strawberry for decades. We incorporate it in the name of our businesses, we wear it on our clothes, we dedicate tens of thousands of acres of our land to their growth and, best of all, we annually invite over 500,000 visitors to join us in celebrating each season’s harvest. This is the 80th Annual Florida Strawberry Festival, and I would like to personally invite you, your family and your friends to join us in celebrating this milestone year.
Throughout the last 80 years, we have seen hard times, and we have been blessed beyond measure. Our first festival in 1930 featured local entertainers, a high-wire act, an animal show and, of course, strawberries. It was a humble beginning, but it set a tremendous foundation for the festival we know today.
Then, in 1942, during World War II, our organizers decided to put the event on hiatus, a break that would last for the next six years. Following World War II, the festival was reactivated in 1948 and has continued since. We have felt the effects of economic struggles, worked through the grief of wars and met the demands of an ever-evolving society. In the best of times and in the worst of times, the Florida Strawberry Festival has provided our citizens and our visitors a place to simply have fun with their families for the past 80 years.
In honor of our 80th birthday, we have an exciting festival planned. We’re inviting 22 of the country’s top entertainers, bringing in more than 85 rides; hosting hundreds of youth exhibitors in seven different livestock shows; displaying the artwork, photographs and homemade items thousands of our local residents enter into competition; cooking up some of the tastiest treats from hundreds of food vendors; and, most of all, picking more strawberries than you could ever imagine.
For the second year, we have partnered with Publix Super Markets to bring discounted admission tickets to you and your family to make your visit as cost effective as possible. For information on admission tickets, concert tickets, events and more, visit us at FLStrawberryFestival.com. You can also follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and our free mobile app for updates and pictures of festival fun.
Our staff is working diligently to ensure a successful festival, but the help and support from our community is paramount. We are truly grateful for every one of our nearly 2,500 volunteers and for the warm, welcoming spirit they show to our visitors. If you have never volunteered at the festival, I encourage you to do so. It’s not too late to sign up, and it’s much more fun than it is work.
In addition, I would like to thank our board members, sponsors, committee members, community stakeholders and every one of our attendees. Each of you has a hand in making our festival such a success.
I hope you, your family and all your friends will “Come Join The Party!” at the 2015 Florida Strawberry Festival. If you see me around the festival, make sure to stop me and say hello. I look forward to meeting you.