2009 Florida Strawberry Festival is almost here

This week begins the Florida Strawberry Festival. Fun for the whole family, concerts, fresh strawberries and carnival rides. What better way to spend $10 for a whole day at the Fair?

When: Thursday, February 26 through Sunday, March 8, open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Midway opens at noon daily except Sat., Sun. & Mon when it opens at 10 a.m. Moonlight Magic nights (Fri, Feb. 27 & Fri., March 6) from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Where: 2202 West Reynolds St., Plant City, FL 33563

Tickets: Admission (adults 13+): $8 advance/$10 gate; Youth (6-12): $4 advance/$5 gate; Children 5 & under are free w/paid adult. Advance discount admission tickets on sale at participating Sweetbay Supermarkets through March 8. Tickets also on sale at Festival Box Office, or charge-by-phone at 813-754-1996. Ticket sales are final. No refunds, exchanges or rain checks.

Parking: Parking is $5 for cars, pickups and vans. Handicapped friendly spaces available at Red Parking Bus Stop (Oak Ave. & Ritter St.). Shuttle buses run from lots to gates 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Event Info: 74th annual event is a showcase of Florida-grown strawberries; along with concerts, rides, games, attractions; exhibits of agriculture, horticulture, commerce, fine arts, livestock, homemade goods and crafts; and plenty of strawberry shortcake and other fantastic food.

Headliners: George Jones, 2/26; Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Bros, 2/26; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 2/27; Kellie Pickler, 2/27; Jake Owen, 2/28; Third Day, 2/28; Rodney Atkins, 3/1; Taylor Swift, 3/1; Helen Cornelius & Jim Ed Brown, 3/2; Randy Travis, 3/2; Connie Smith & Marty Stuart, 3/3; Travis Tritt, 3/3; Brenda Lee, 3/4; Ray Stevens, 3/4; Mel Tillis, 3/5; Lorrie Morgan, 3/5; Ronnie McDowell, 3/6; Jeff Foxworthy, 3/6; Mark Lowry, 3/7; Kool & The Gang, 3/7; and Jessica Simpson, 3/8. Special general admission free headline concert on 3/8 with Trent Tomlinson, Love & Theft, Chad Brock & Killer Beaz. Tickets for all shows are for reserved seats for GTE Federal Credit Union Soundstage concerts. Show tickets range from $10 to $45; gate admission additional. There are a limited number of free seats available (with paid gate admission) for all shows on first-come, first-seated basis in Edy’s® & Haagen-Dazs® Grandstands.

Highlights: Belle City Amusements Midway, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Dennis Lee, Southern Star Bluegrass Band, Vocal Trash, Jason Young Band, Grand Parade, Shoebox Float Contest, Granpa Cratchet, the Strawberry Queen & Court, Kiddie Corral, Bikes, Boards & Blades, Robinson’s Paddling Porkers, Runa Pacha, Baby Contests, Livestock Shows, Hands-on Activities, Art Shows, Strawberry Production Exhibit, Photography Contest Display, Garden Club Horticulture Show, Demonstrations of Pioneer Skills in Early Arts & Trades, Grupo Climax (Feb. 28), Florida Opry® (Mar. 6), Rev. Art Jones & Bible Based Fellowship Cathedral Choir (Mar. 7), & more.

I’ll be posting photos and a review after we attend, some time next week.

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