floral city strawberry festival

35th Annual Strawberry Festival returns to Floral Park

By Florida's Original NatureCoaster™ Posted on February 10, 2022

Celebrating a VERY BERRY BIRTHDAY this year, the Floral City Strawberry Festival turns 35! Join us on March 5 & 6, 2022 in beautiful Floral Park, Floral City, for berries and pageants and pies (OH MY)! Ok, maybe more shortcake than pie, but that’s even better!

This annual event is a salute to local agriculture, with fresh strawberries hand-picked right around the corner from the festival at Ferris Groves.

People with strawberries
Ferris Groves is an institution in Floral City, with “Doc” Ferris’ reputation for giving to his community carrying on. Ferris Groves began as a citrus growing and gift fruit shipper, but as citrus freezes and diseases have depleted the crop, strawberries and cattle are their main products now. Open seasonally, a strawberry milkshake from here is a true treat.

Luscious strawberry shortcakes will be available for your noshing pleasure, along with flats and half-flats of whole fresh berries that you can take home with you as a sweet souvenir of your day to make your own delectable treats. Not sure what to do with them all? Check out the Berry Bakery at www.GoStrawberryFest.com.

Saturday morning, the festival opens with the posting of Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem.  Live music will also fill the main stage all weekend with a full performance lineup! Saturday will kick off with music from crowd favorite, Southern Express Band from 10 A.M. – 1 P.M., followed by headliner Xhale from 2 P.M. – 5 P.M. Sunday’s lineup includes Lonesome Ride from 10 A.M. – 12 P.M. with headliner Rick Lynn closing out this year’s festival from 1 P.M. – 4 P.M.

Pie Eating Contests and Pageants

Floral City Strawberry Festival: Little Miss Strawberry Princess competitors stand alongside the judges who had to make the tough choices! Image courtesy of Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.

Sticking to its very berry American roots, the annual pie-eating contests and prince and princess pageants will be back as well! Ooh and ahh on Saturday morning as poised young ladies and gents take the stage in their favorite strawberry-themed attire for a chance to earn a crown and become the next Strawberry Princes & Princesses.

pickin and Grinning
Pickin’ and Grinnin’ return to the 35th Annual Floral City Strawberry Festival to entertain. Image courtesy of Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.

Or maybe getting messy is more your style?  Then sign up to compete in the strawberry pie-eating contests for your shot at bragging rights until next year! Competitions will be held both Saturday and Sunday with registration that day at the festival.

Back again this year is Pickin’ & Grinnin’! These two farmers are **outstanding in their field** presenting a mix of toe-tappin’ barn-dance music and knee-slappin’ farm jokes. It’s family-friendly farm fun for everyone!

Tin Can Tourists Return with Vintage Camper Displays

We are also excited to welcome back the oldest traveling trailer club in America, the Tin Can Tourists! First organized in 1919 at Desoto Park in Tampa, this 100-year-old club is comprised of many unique, vintage campers, along with some new styles as well! Stroll through their strawberry “campground” and see them on display!

Arts and Crafts Vendors, Cool Libations and Kids Area

Round out your festival adventures by strolling the park and browsing close to 200 art and craft vendors; indulging in a cold beer, glass of wine or hard seltzer at the beer garden near the main stage; enjoying the gastronomic pleasures offered by the many food vendors; or enjoying laughs and smiles with the young ones as they “play themselves silly” in the kids’ area.

Floral City Strawberry Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Entrance fee is $5.00 for adults, children 12 and under are free. 

Park for free at the Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 S. Florida Ave, Inverness.  Free shuttle buses from the auditorium are running all day, both days and take a shuttle to the festival location.

Floral Park is located at 9530 S. Parkside Ave., Floral City, FL 34426

For complete information on the Floral City Strawberry Festival, visit www.GoStrawberryFest.com.  On Facebook, search for “Floral City Strawberry Festival.”

Floral City Strawberry Festival at a Glance

When:  Saturday, March 5th, 9 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, March 6th, 9 am – 4 pm

Where: Floral Park, 9530 S. Parkside Avenue, Floral City – 3 miles south of downtown Floral City on US Hwy 41

Cost: Festival Admission is $5 per adult, children 12 and under are free

Parking: On site at Floral Park, or at the Citrus County Auditorium located at 3610 S. Florida Ave, Inverness.  Free shuttle buses from the auditorium are running all day, both days

Websitewww.GoStrawberryFest.com

Facebook: Search for “Floral City Strawberry Festival”

Phone: 352-795-3149

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