2026 Festival Dates

The Florida Strawberry Festival 2026 runs from Thursday, February 26 through Sunday, March 8, 2026 — spanning 11 consecutive days of fun, food, and festivities in Plant City, Florida.

Hours of Operation

Gates are open daily from 10 AM to 11 PM, with the box office open from 10 AM to 8 PM. The midway operates Tuesday through Friday from noon to 11 PM, and on weekends and Mondays from 10 AM to 11 PM

Admission Prices

Ticket pricing for 2026 is as follows:

• Adults (ages 13+): $15
• Youth (ages 6–12): $5
• Children (ages 5 and under): FREE with a paid adult Florida Strawberry Festival

Discounted tickets ($10 for adults, $4 for youth) are also available at participating Publix locations.

Entertainment

Headline concerts are a major draw and require a separate ticket. The 2026 lineup includes big names like Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Lauren Daigle, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, among others across multiple genres. That’s So Tampa

Food Highlights

No visit is complete without strawberry shortcake, available at multiple locations including the St. Clement Make Your Own Shortcake Booth, Transforming Life Church inside the Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent, and the East Historical Society Shortcake Booth near Pioneer Village. Stpeteissupercool

Beyond the classic shortcake, the festival features nearly 200 food items, including creative treats like Deep-Fried Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Cannoli Funnel Cake, Strawberry Dole Whip, and Chocolate Covered Strawberry Lemonade. Tastychomps

Special Event: Moonlight Magic

A special Moonlight Magic event is scheduled for Friday, March 6, when the midway reopens from 10 PM to 2 AM. A Moonlight Magic wristband is priced at $30 and includes gate admission. Stpeteissupercool

About the Festival

This is the 91st iteration of the Florida Strawberry Festival, with the 2026 theme being “Still Growing” — reflecting both the region’s agricultural heritage and the event’s ongoing evolution. WUSF Public Media

Plant City is known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, and the festival celebrates the local harvest while bringing together agriculture, live entertainment, fine arts, livestock shows, crafts, and community traditions. Florida Strawberry Festival

Looking Ahead: 2027 Dates

The 2027 Florida Strawberry Festival is already announced for March 4 – March 14, 2027.