2009 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Feb 26 – Mar 8
2012 Plant City Strawberry Festival »
Plant City, FL – The Florida Strawberry Festival will happen February 26 through March 8. There is free entertainment already included with gate admission, such as numerous stage shows, exhibits of agriculture, horticulture, commerce, fine arts, homemade goods and crafts, and livestock competitions. Wednesday, March 4, 2009 will be Military Day at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival, courtesy of Winn-Dixie. Active, Active Reserve and Retired military, with valid I.D. will be admitted free all day at any gate. Plant City’s Florida Strawberry Festival ranked #35 on the list of Top 50 North American Fairs for 2008.
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New to the festival this year is the Jason Young Band performing rock n’ roll and oldies in the Cool Whip Whipped Topping Strawberry Tent, and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. In the lumberjack show the audience will interact with world champion lumberjacks who chop and saw with axes and chainsaws in several shows throughout the day. Longtime favorites Dennis Lee, Southern Star Bluegrass Band, Runa Pacha and Granpa Cratchet all perform several shows that day too.
The Florida Strawberry Festival will play host to about 325 vendors, everything from 400-thread count sheets to hand-made gold and silver jewelry. The festival administration strives all year long to bring in new vendors to appeal to a wide variety of patrons.
For patrons planning to stock-up on their strawberry-infused jewelry, there will be plenty of vendors, new and old, bringing their artistic spin on our favorite regional berry. There will be something for everyone.
Florida Strawbery Festival Performers
2009 Florida Strawberry Festival’s Hometown Salute to America means nonstop live entertainment in 22 concerts over 11 days. Tickets go on sale Dec. 8. The varied lineup of talent performing on the Florida Strawberry Festival Soundstage Feb. 26 through March 8, 2009 offers something for seniors and families, baby boomers and the younger set.
Taylor Swift – An American country pop artist, she began her career as a teenager, making her debut on the Billboard country charts with the release of her debut single “Tim McGraw”, which peaked at #6. It was the first of five singles from her self-titled debut, which was released in late 2006 and re-issued in 2007. It has been certified 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Jeff Foxworthy – He’s the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, and best selling author of more than 22 books. Jeff Foxworthy is currently hosting FOX Television’s hit television show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? He also starred in and produced the Blue Collar TV series, which came about due to the success of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie and the concert tour of the same name.
Jessica Simpson – She had a massive breakthrough hit in 1999 “I Wanna Love You Forever,” and then in 2001, the title track to Irresistible was a crossover smash hit. Her quadruple platinum album In This Skin marked her debut as a songwriter, while “Sweetest Sin”, the album’s first single to hit the Top 40, solidified her place in the music industry.
George Jones – George has had more charted singles than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music. In 1992, the CMA inducted George Jones into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and his 55+ years in country music continues going strong to this day. He has received three awards from the Country Music Association, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Julianne Hough (“Huff”) – Two-time winner of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, her self-titled album was released in May 2008 and debuting at #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart. Some of this young blonde’s more popular debut songs include “That Song in My Head”, “Hide Your Matches”, “Help Me, Help You”, “Jimmy Ray McGee”, and “My Hallelujah Song”.
Brenda Lee – An original rocker in the 60s, a superstar in the 70s and a country crooner in the 80s, Brenda Lee is a living legend, her hit records now timeless standards. Her best selling single to date, “I’m Sorry,” has sold in excess of 20 million units.
Kellie Pickler – This young beauty was a sixth place finalist on the fifth season of FOX Television’s American Idol. In 2006, she released her debut album Small Town Girl, which was certified gold and produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Connie Smith – Revered as one of country music’s queens, Connie Smith powerfully committed to home, family and living life. Her 50+ catalogue of albums includes such hits as “I’ll Come Runnin’” and “You’ve Got Me Right Where You Want Me”.
Kool & the Gang – Their eclectic style has not waned over the past 35 years as they continue to perform an array of songs ranging from R&B to pop to some funk.
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers – Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin love to sing together. They’ve all be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and they have scores of top 10 hits to their credit.
Mel Tillis – Although he had been recording songs since the late 1950s, Mel Tillis’ biggest success occurred in the ’70s, with a long list of Top 10 hits.
Third Day – This Contemporary Christian Music band was formed out of Georgia in the 90s.
Plant City Strawberry Festival
The 2009 Florida Strawberry Festival is February 26 through March 8. Tickets are on sale now at www.flstrawberryfestival.com or the Florida Strawberry Festival Box Office at 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563. For more information, call 813-754-1996.
Originally Published on February 11th, 2009
