Each spring, when the fields around Plant City blush red with ripening fruit and the air smells like funnel cake and jam, a small town transforms. The Florida Strawberry Festival rolls in with its Ferris wheels, fiddle contests, fried everything — and the secret heart of Plant City comes alive.
Yes, there are country concerts and pig races and mile-long lines for shortcake. But beyond the gates, nestled between berry fields and backroads, lie the true gems — the local haunts and sweet spots that give the Strawberry Capital of the World its enduring flavor.
What It Is
Held annually in late February through early March, the Florida Strawberry Festival is a beloved Central Florida tradition dating back to 1930. More than just a fair, it’s a cultural crossroads: part agricultural showcase, part old-fashioned carnival, and part Southern-fried spectacle.
It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Plant City — population 39,000 — for 11 days of berries, bands, and big-time nostalgia. But while the festival grounds pulse with activity, the town around it offers a quieter, more authentic kind of charm. Let’s go there.
Florida Strawberry Festival Official Site
The Best Festival Secrets
1. The Shortcake Booths (Yes, There’s a Right One)
While nearly every corner of the festival offers strawberry shortcake, locals swear by the St. Clement Catholic Church Booth. It’s been serving up biscuit-based bliss for decades, with a build-your-own assembly line that lets you pick sponge cake or biscuit, whipped cream or ice cream, syrup or fresh sliced berries. The church runs it as a fundraiser, and proceeds go straight back into the community.
2. Neighborhood Parking (and Lemonade Stands)
Skip the crowded official lots and follow signs for yard parking. You’ll often find cheaper rates, a shorter walk — and sometimes a child-run lemonade stand or homemade strawberry cookie table that’s worth the stop.
3. Early Entry Sweet Spot
Arrive before 10 a.m. on a weekday. You’ll beat the crowds, catch livestock judging, and have your pick of fresh berries before the day heats up. Bonus: the first few hours are often packed with school field trips, so the mood is surprisingly wholesome.
Beyond the Festival Gates: Plant City’s Real Flavor
Parkesdale Market
Home to the most Instagrammed strawberry milkshake in Florida, this roadside institution is a strawberry lover’s dream. Giant sundaes, fresh produce, strawberry cookies, and a floral nursery out back. The milkshakes come topped with whipped cream and a whole berry. Parkesdale Market
Keel & Curley Winery
Just outside town, this winery makes its name with blueberry and strawberry wines, plus ciders and craft beers. The tasting room opens daily, with live music on weekends and views of the berry fields. Keel & Curley
Fred’s Market Restaurant
Southern buffet. Fried green tomatoes. Chicken and dumplings. Strawberry cobbler when the season’s right. Enough said. Fred’s Market
Plant City Photo Archives and History Center
Want to learn how strawberries (and the railroad) built this town? Stop in for a surprisingly engaging look at Plant City’s evolution through old photos, oral histories, and vintage carnival shots.
The Sweetest Souvenirs
- Strawberry soap from local artisan booths
- Handmade pottery shaped like berry baskets
- Festival-themed enamel pins (secretly a hot collector’s item)
- Jars of local jam sold in churches, gift shops, and random roadside stands
Look for booths with handwritten signs and no social media accounts — those are the ones with the goods.
Family-Friendly Finds
- Little Miss Shortcake Pageant: Adorable chaos, tiny tiaras, and strawberry-themed gowns.
- Robotics Demonstrations: Yes, even the berry fest is getting STEM-friendly.
- Livestock Shows: A chance for kids to see pigs, goats, and prize-winning poultry.
- Strawberry Themed Rides: Look for the spinning strawberry ride near the Kiddie Korner — it’s a fan favorite.
Insider Tips from Locals
- “Don’t miss the moonlight midway. The lights, the rides, and the strawberry moon pies — it hits different at night.”
- “Wear red. It hides the strawberry stains.”
- “The craft booths behind the livestock barns are the best-kept secret. Real artisans, no plastic keychains.”
- “You can buy a flat of fresh berries and have them held while you enjoy the festival. Ask at the ag tent.”
Why It Matters
The Strawberry Festival isn’t just about berries. It’s about tradition. About local pride. About the joy of watching a fifth-generation farmer win Best in Show, or hearing your grandma’s favorite country artist live from the grandstand.
It’s where big-time acts share the bill with pie-eating contests. Where high school marching bands get standing ovations. Where grandparents, toddlers, and teenagers all find something to love.
And in a town like Plant City, it’s a yearly reminder that community still matters.
Here’s What I’d Do:
Arrive early, park in someone’s yard, and grab shortcake before the lines start. Visit the livestock barn and say hi to the goats. Spend an hour at the ag exhibits. Then ride the Ferris wheel before sunset. At night, wander the midway with a paper tray of fried Oreos, listening to the distant rumble of cover bands and the laughter of kids in cowboy boots.
I once saw a woman cry over a strawberry biscuit. Not because it was sad. Because it tasted like her childhood.
