Community Corner

Reba McEntire Set To Close the Florida Strawberry Festival Today

Mountain Dew Family Day marks the final call for the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival, which features a Youth Beef Breed Show and brings to the stage country great Reba McIntire and Easton Corbin.

 

Country great Reba McEntire is the closing headliner act today, March 12, for the final day of the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival.

It's Mountain Dew Family Day to boot; exchange a Mountain Dew can for a $5 discount voucher off the regular price of a wristband good for most rides. (The can is not good for gate admission.)

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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.

Six Things To Know Today (March 12):

  1. Festival gates and midway open at 10 a.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 ages 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 Ave. 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. The Youth Beef Breed Show is 11 a.m. at the CF Industries Agriculture Tent.
  4. Today is Mountain Dew Family Day. Bring a Mountain Dew can to the festival and exchange it for a voucher good for a $5 discount off the midway ride wristband. The discounted wristband is $20 and good for most rides, but not all.
  5. Easton Corbin is set to perform 3:30 p.m. at the Wish Farms Soundstage.
  6. Reba is set to perform 7:30 p.m. at the Wish Farms Soundstage.

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