Community Corner

Top 15 Things To Know About the 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival

We've done some research for you in compiling a list of must-knows — and good-to-knows — for special days at the 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City.

Thirteen special days and 21 headliner acts are on tap for the 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival running March 3-13 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City.

Started in 1930 by the Plant City Alliance Club, the festival is in its 76th year, having taken a hiatus during World War II, according to Al Berry, a long-time volunteer and festival board member.

According to Berry, as noted at a of the Rotary Club of Brandon, some 400,000 to 600,000 people visit the festival annually and that just under 7,000 kids compete in various contests, including the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Pageant, speaking contests and agriculture shows involving steers, pigs and plants.

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The Florida Strawberry Festival Parade, as noted below, takes place March 7 and features Greater Brandon interests, including marching bands from Brandon, Bloomingdale and Durant high schools.

Brandon Patch reviewed the Florida Strawberry Festival Web site to come up with this listing of 15 things to know, followed by a chart of headliner entertainment, with ticket prices ranging from $10 to $45.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To help plan your visit to the festival, check out these must-reads:

And now, 15 things to know:

  1. Getting in: Festival gates open daily at 10 a.m.; the festival runs from March 3 to 13. Normal closing time is 10 p.m. The festival has two addresses: 2202 West Reynolds St. and 303 North Lemon St., both in Plant City.
  2. Admission: Gate admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. There is no charge for children age 5 and under.
  3. Free seating to headliner entertainment is available on a first- come first-served basis for seating in the Direct Auto Insurance Free Grandstand. Tickets for headline entertainment can be purchased online or at the ticket office adjacent to the east side of the Wish Farms Soundstage.
  4. The Kiddie Corral section of the midway features an expanded play area for preschoolers and elementary school-aged children, separated “from the big boys.”
  5. Senior Citizens’ Day is March 3 and March 10. Patrons age 60 or older get $2 off the $20 gate admission. A prize will be given away at noon following the 10:30 a.m. shows on both days. The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra performs March 3. The Guy Lombardo Band performs March 10. Both shows are on the Wish Farms Soundstage. Tickets for each drawing will be available to seniors in the stadium. Winner must be present to collect the prize. Ride-A-Thon from 3 to 11 p.m.; wristband price, $19.
  6. Moonlight Magic Night is March 4. Ride most mechanical rides for $20 per person. All visitors entering the midway will be required to purchase the $20 wristband from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Gate admission is separate.)
  7. Free Kids’ Day is March 5. Kids through high school receive a complimentary entry ticket available at any festival ticket booth. A free concert, at 1 p.m., features Suite Caroline on the Wish Farms Soundstage.
  8. Mountain Dew Family Day is March 6 and March 13. Ride most mechanical rides for $25 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bring a can of Mountain Dew and purchase the required armband for $20, a $5 discount. (One can per person; gate admission is separate.)
  9. Grand Parade Day and Ride-A-Thon Day is March 7. The Florida  Strawberry Festival Parade passes by the Strawberry Festival Ground on Reynolds Street starting at 1 p.m. Ride-A-Thon is from 3 to 11 p.m. Purchase a $19 wristband to ride most mechanical rides.
  10. Red Hat Day and Ride-A-Thon Day is March 8. Red Hatters receive $2 off the $10 gate admission. Opening ceremonies (featuring some surprises) is at 10:30 a.m. at the Direct Auto Insurance Free Grandstand. Festival features a mini-“Red-Hat” market area. Chubby Checker appears on the Wish Farms Soundstage at 3:30 p.m. (see chart below).  Ride-A-Thon from 3 to 11 p.m.; wristband cost, $19.
  11. American Heroes Day and Ride-A-Thon Day is March 9. Free admission to all active, reserve and retired military and military veterans, as well as for law enforcement officers and first responders (EMS and firefighters). Show valid identification. Tanya Tucker and Rick Springfield appear on the Wish Farms Soundstage at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively (see chart below). Ride-A-Thon from 3 to 11 p.m.; wristband price, $19.
  12. Senior Citizens’ Day and Ride-A-Thon Day is March 10. Patrons age 60 and older get $2 off the $10 gate admission. A prize will be given away at noon following the 10:30 a.m. show of the Guy Lombardo Band on the Wish Farms Soundstage. Tickets for the drawing will be available to seniors in the stadium. Winner must be present to collect the prize. Ride-A-Thon from 3 to 11 p.m.; wristband price, $19.
  13. Tampa Tribune Day on the Midway is March 11. Save $2 off the regular-price $20 Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book from noon until 10 p.m. Retrieve a coupon also at tbo.com or at the Tampa Tribune offices. 
  14. Moonlight Magic Night is March 11. Purchase an armband for $20 and ride most mechanical rides as much as you like from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
  15. Farm Worker Appreciation Day is March 12. Farm workers should receive a voucher from their employers to exchange for free admission to the festival.

 

HEADLINER ENTERTAINMENT * Kenny Rogers March 3 7:30 p.m. $15 - $20 John Conlee March 4 3:30 p.m. $10 - $15 .38 Special March4 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Jeremy Camp March 5 3:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Gaither Vocal Band March 5 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Trace Adkins March 6 3:30 p.m. $25 - $30 The Judds March 6 7:30 p.m. $45.00 Charley Pride March 7 3:30 p.m. $15 - $20 Clint Black March 7 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Chubby Checker March 8 3:30 p.m. $15 - $20 Chris Young March 8 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Tanya Tucker March 9 3:30 p.m. $15 - $20 Rick Springfield March 9 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 George Jones March 10 3:30 p.m. $15 - $20 The Doobie Brothers March 10 7:30 p.m. $25 - $30 Ray Price March 11 3:30 p.m. $10 - $15 Josh Thompson /    Justin Moore March 11 7:30 p.m. $15 - $20 Allstar Weekend / Jennette McCurdy March 12 3:30 p.m. $10 - $15 Billy Ray Cyrus March 12 7:30 p.m. $20 - $25 Easton Corbin March 13 3:30 p.m. $15 - $20 Lady Antebellum March 13 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT *GATE ADMISSION (Needed for Concert Entry) Adult March 3 - 13 One Day Only $10.00 Youth March 3 -13 One Day Only $5.00


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