KIDS GET IN FREE ON KIDS DAY @ STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PLANT CITY, FL

Residents of SW Florida & the Tampa Bay area or those visiting Florida in early March will want to make sure they include a trip to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, FL.  The festival opens on March 4th and runs through March 14th.  The Strawberry Festival is similar to a state fair but with lots of strawberry shortcake and anything strawberry.  No trip to the area is complete without a visit to the Strawberry Festival.  It is a very popular event in the area.  For families, the best day to go is March 6th which is kids day.  Tickets are $10 for adults at the door although you can buy discounted tickets at Sweetbay grocery store for $8 in advance.  On this day, kids up through High School get in FREE and they can save 50% off on games as well.

There is also a concert that day by Christian rock band Switchfoot at 3:30pm and Michael W. Smith at 7:30pm.  Tickets for the concerts run $15 to $20 each in addition to the entrance fee to the Strawberry Festival.but the best part is the free seats available in the Edy's grandstand that seats 3000 people.  Seating in the grandstand is first come first served but if you are willing to wait a little to get in, it can be a substantial cost savings.    For us with a family of five, it is the difference between seeing the concert or not being able to go at all.   

March 4th and 11th is Senior Citizen day.  Residents 60 and older receive $2 off the $10 admission cost.  March 9th is Red Hat day.  Red Hatters receive $2 off the $10 admission.   March 10th is American Heroes day. Free gate admission all day for active and retired military personnel, law enforcement and first responders with valid ID.

Last year was our first year attending and we were able to see Third Day in concert.  It was a bit crowded but lots of fun.  We enjoyed the entertainment and strawberry shortcake and we made sure to leave with lots of huge fresh red strawberries.  It was definitely worth the trip.  If you are looking for something fun to do, the strawberry festival will fit the bill!

Here is a list of all of the entertainment that will be available during the festival.  I am so excited.  I just found out that REO Speedwagon will be in concert there at 7:30 pm on March 11th!  Okay I am dating myself I know, but REO Speedwagon was always my favorite band.  :-)

•Thursday, March 4


10:30 a.m. Jimmy Sturr & Orchestra (FREE*)

3:30 p.m. Roy Clark ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Billy Currington ($15 & $20)

•Friday, March 5

3:30 p.m. Bobby Bare ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Julianne Hough ($10 & $15)

•Saturday, March 6

1:00 p.m. Suite Caroline (FREE*)

3:30 p.m. Switchfoot ($15 & $20)

7:30 p.m. Michael W. Smith ($15 & $20)

•Sunday, March 7

3:30 p.m. Heidi Newfield ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Darius Rucker ($20 & $25)

•Monday, March 8

3:30 p.m. Mel Tillis ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Bill Engvall ($20 & $25)

•Tuesday, March 9

3:30 p.m. Debbie Reynolds ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Josh Turner ($15 & $20)

•Wednesday, March 10

3:30 p.m. Aaron Tippin ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Bill Medley/Sam Moore ($15 & $20)

•Thursday, March 11

10:30 a.m. The Guy Lombardo Band (FREE*)

3:30 p.m. The Oak Ridge Boys ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. REO Speedwagon ($15 & $20)

•Friday, March 12

3:30 p.m. Smothers Brothers ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Tracy Lawrence ($10 & $15)

•Saturday, Marcy 13

3:30 p.m. Clay Walker ($10 & $15)

7:30 p.m. Patty Loveless ($10 & $15)

•Sunday, March 14

3:30 p.m. Sara Evans ($15 & $20)

7:30 p.m. Lynyrd Skynyrd ($25 & $30)
 
(3000 free grandstand seats available for every show-first come first seated)