The annual celebration of all things strawberry — Plant City’s specialty — runs from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 8, at 303 Berryfest Place.
PLANT CITY, Fla. — The 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off this week, and this year’s event is sure to be sweeter than ever.
The annual celebration of all things strawberry — Plant City’s specialty — runs from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 8, at 303 Berryfest Place.
This year’s theme is “Still Growing,” which organizers say “captures who we are as a Festival and as a community.”
“The Florida Strawberry Festival has always been rooted in agriculture and family traditions,” Florida Strawberry Festival Chairman of the Board Pam Warnock said in a statement. “Just like the strawberries we celebrate, we are still growing and that growth allows us to provide new experiences while honoring the heritage that makes this Festival so loved.”
Each year, guests look forward to concerts from big-name artists, livestock shows, midway rides, carnival games and, of course, a new lineup of “berry” sweet treats.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival.
- Adults (ages 13+): $15
- Children (ages 6-12): $5
- Children (ages 5 and under): Free with paid adult admission
Festival hours: 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Discount gate admission: Available through March 8 at these participating Publix stores throughout Central Florida.
- Adults (ages 13+): $10
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- Children (ages 5 and under): Free with paid adult admission
SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo Kiddie Korral:
Daily from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Tuesday–Friday:
Noon until 11 p.m.
*On Friday, March 6, the midway closes just before 10 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic. Moonlight Magic wristband purchased for $30 includes gate admission.
Weekends and Mondays:
10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
10:30 a.m. – JIMMY STURR & HIS ORCHESTRA
3:30 p.m. – The Oak Ridge Boys
3:30 p.m. – Jo De Messina
7:30 p.m. – Jamey Johnson
6:30 p.m. – Riley Green featuring Hannah McFarland
3:30 p.m. – Gene Watson
7:30 p.m. – Legends of Love featuring Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard
3:30 p.m. – Sandi Patty
7:30 p.m. – Lauren Daigle
3:30 p.m. – John Foster
7:30 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert
10:30 a.m. – Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets
3:30 p.m. – The Bellamy Brothers
7:30 p.m. – Dierks Bentley
3:30 p.m. – The Marshall Tucker Band
7:30 p.m. – Forrest Frank
3:30 p.m. – Pitbull Toddler
7:30 p.m. – The Offspring
7:30 p.m. – Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
You can buy tickets on the Florida Strawberry Festival website.
In addition to the “berry” big wheel, festivalgoers can enjoy more than 80 rides, games, and attractions.
You can check out the full list of kiddie rides and major thrill rides.
The Neighborhood Village, located on the east side of the festival grounds, is dedicated to homemade and handcrafted items. From cake decorating and food preservation to woodworking and quilting, there are craft competitions for everyone to enjoy.
Youth livestock shows are also a huge part of the Florida Strawberry Festival. You can check out the full schedule here.
Every March, berry lovers flock to Plant City to get a taste of the different sweet varieties grown on the 10,000+ acres of strawberry fields.
On top of the classics like the strawberry shortcake, fresh jams and chocolate-dipped berries, the Florida Strawberry Festival serves up the fruit in creative new ways each year.
Some items featured on this year’s menu include Hot Honey Apple Fries, Penne Pickle Pasta, Cotton Candy Lemonade and Strawberry Campfire Crunch Melt. A full list of the new items can be found here.
There are 11 Festival parking lots that are cash only surrounding the grounds.
All Festival lots are $10, including the Red, Gray, Pink, Purple, White, Tan, Yellow, Green, Orange and Magenta parking lots. Additional parking lots can be located off Ritter Street, Highway 92 or Highway 574.
In the Red lot ONLY:
Cars, pickup trucks and vans under 20 ft: $10 cash
Vehicles over 20 ft. to 39 ft.: $20 cash
Vehicles or buses over 40 ft.: $20 cash
A full parking map can be found here.