Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off its sweet tradition in Plant City

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Building the delicious ‘Very Berry Waffle’ at Florida Strawberry Festival

The crunch and the sweetness of the ‘Very Berry Waffle’ truly encompasses what the Florida Strawberry Festival is about. You get the strawberry topping, whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate and a whole strawberry on a bright pink waffle. It’s delicious and is currently waiting for you at the annual Plant City fair.

Pass the cream and get the dipping chocolate ready, the Florida Strawberry Festival opened in Plant City and organizers promise a weekend of sweet fun and food.

The beloved annual event offers live entertainment, attractions, and sweet treats featuring strawberries. 

This year’s Strawberry Festival theme is ‘We have a winner,’ which is in honor of strawberry shortcake becoming the state dessert of Florida.

The 88th annual festival is open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. through March 12. 

Man buying strawberry items at the Strawberry Festival. 

Admission for guests 13 and older is $10. Children ages 6-12 are $5. Kids 5 and under are free. 

The event typically draws over 500,000 people across 11 days.

As for the headliners, there are a total of 24 performers for the 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival.

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Tickets can be purchased at www.flstrawberryfestival.com, over the phone at 813-754-1996, or in person at the Amscot Main Ticket Office located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City.

The full lineup is:

Thursday, March 2, 2023

  • Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra @ 10:30 a.m. (free with paid gate admission)
  • The Oak Ridge Boys Front Porch Singin' Tour  @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Walker Hayes @ 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 3, 2023

  • Willie Nelson @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Halestorm @ 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

  • Sara Evans @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Ludacris @ 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 5, 2023

  • The Gatlin Brothers @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Chris Young @ 7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 6, 2023

  • Neal McCoy @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Josh Turner @ 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

  • Roots & Boots feat. Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw @ 3:30 p.m.
  • CeCe Winans @ 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

  • Tanya Tucker @ 3:30 p.m.
  • The Pointer Sisters @ 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

  • Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets @ 10:30 a.m.
  • Tommy James & The Shondells @ 3:30 p.m.
  • For King & Country @ 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 10, 2023

  • Wayne Newton @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Train @ 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

  • Sawyer Brown @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Keith Sweat @ 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

  • Country Gold Tour, featuring Leroy Van Dyke, T.G. Sheppard, Mandy Barnett and T. Graham Brown @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd @ 7:30 p.m.