Florida Strawberry Festival

I’ve always wanted to attend the Florida Strawberry Festival and we finally got the chance a few weeks ago. I skipped out on the last day of Sleuthfest so we could pile into the car and drive west on I-4 to Plant City.

From here we followed signs to the festival. Parking was haphazard in school parking lots or on people’s lawns where they charged $4-$5 for the day. From most lots, it was a few blocks walk to the festival grounds. Admission costs $10 per person for adults.

Once through the gate, we stared in awe at the carnival rides, games of chance, junk food booths, schlock vendors, and more. We never did find the livestock but we strode through several buildings with flea market type stalls. We stopped in a historical exhibit and looked at the strawberry patch demo.

All types of goods were for sale but these didn’t interest us. We’d come for the food. As it was lunchtime, we grabbed hot dogs and then couldn’t resist melted mozzarella sticks. Now for dessert.

Not only could you buy flats of fresh strawberries, but you could sample all sorts of concoctions like strawberry funnel cakes; strawberry sundaes, smoothies, and milkshakes; strawberry pies and cookies; chocolate-dipped strawberries. Besides the fruity treats, every other fast food or junk snack you’ve ever encountered can be found at this fairground.

The best offer was the make-your-own strawberry shortcake sponsored by a church group. This venture must bring them enough income for the year. We paid $3.50 each. In return, you get a plastic bowl and a fork. You get in line and a lady scoops a round shortcake into your vessel. Then you proceed along and ladle syrupy strawberries into the bowl followed by dollops of frothy whipped cream.

Sitting at a picnic table or standing among the mob, you spoon the sweet gooey mess into your mouth. By the time you reach the last morsel, you’re sick to death of strawberries. At least, we couldn’t look at another strawberry nor buy so much as a pint of them on our exit.

We did buy the strawberry bread to take home from one of the farm vendors, and that was well worth it. It’s delicious and not too sweet, unlike the cookie sample that we couldn’t finish. I’d definitely buy this again. But I think I’ll stick to blueberries for a while, thank you.

The Queen and the Princess

So what good strawberry recipes do you have to share?