Community Corner

Mountain Dew, Baby Contest Day at the Florida Strawberry Festival

Day 4 of the 77th Annual Florida Strawberry Festival features Jake Owens, Hank Williams Jr., Mountain Dew midway discount and contests for babies living in Hillsborough County.

 

Today, March 4, is Mountain Dew discount day at the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival, featuring Hillsborough County baby contests, a dairy costume ball and a youth plant sale.

Bring a can of Mountain Dew to the festival and recieve a voucher for a $5 discount and ride all day for $20.

Started in 1930 by the Plant City Alliance Club, the festival is in its 77th year, having taken a hiatus during World War II, according to Al Berry, a long-time volunteer and festival board member.

This year's theme: "Growing Sweet Memories."

Festival officials expect some 500,000 visitors to the fairgrounds, at 303 N. Lemon St.

Leading up to and over the course of the festival, some 7,000 kids compete in various contests, including the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Pageant, speaking contests and agriculture shows involving steers, pigs and plants.

ElevenThings To Know Today (March 4):

  1. Festival gates and midway open at 10 a.m., close at 10 p.m.
  2. General admission is $10 for patrons ages 13 and up. Children ages 5 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Children agest 6-12 require a $5 youth ticket. Limited stadium seats are free for all shows with general admission. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Stadium shows are 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. daily, and the stadium is cleared after the 3:30 p.m. show. Reserved seating available at the Amscot Main Ticket Gate, 2209 West Oak Aven. Remaining reserved-seat tickets will be sold at the ticket office adjacent to the east-side bleachers. Concert tickets do not include gate admission; ages 3 and up require a ticket.
  3. Bring a Mountain Dew can and recieve a voucher for $5 off the $25.00 wristband and ride all day for only $20. (Note: the can is not good for gate admission.)
  4. Poultry and rabbit shows from 10 a.m. to close at the CF Industries Agriculture Tent.
  5. Dairy Adult Showmanship is 11 a.m. at the Patterson Co. Livestock Arena.
  6. Dairy Pee Wee Showmanship is 11:30 a.m., also at the Patterson Co. Livestock Arena.
  7. The Dairy Costume Ball kicks off at 12:30 p.m. at the Patterson Co. Livestock Arena.
  8. Youth Plant Sale, 7 p.m., at the C.F. Industries Agriculture Tent.
  9. Jake Owen takes to the Wish Farms Soundstage at 3:30 p.m. (See stadium/concert pricing above.)
  10. Register 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. for the Baby Contest, at the Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent. Sponsored by South Florida Baptist Hospital, the contest is open only to babies living in Hillsborough County. he Baby Contest, Decorated Diaper Contest, Baby Features Contest and Diaper Derby are from 5-7 p.m.
  11. Hank Williams Jr., set to perform, 7:30 p.m. on the Wish Farms Soundstage, for his "Taking Back the Country Tour." (See stadium/concert pricing above.)

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