Florida Strawberry Festival 2026: strawberry festival guide to dates and tickets
The 91st annual strawberry festival returns to Plant City from Feb. 26 through March 8, offering daily entertainment, rides, agricultural exhibits, fine arts and food options. This guide lays out dates, ticketing, promotions, schedule highlights and special-access information to help plan a visit.
strawberry festival dates and hours
The festival runs Feb. 26 through March 8. Daily gates and box office windows will be open; midday and evening attractions are scheduled across the run. The grand parade starts at 1 p. m. ET and is expected to pass the festival grounds at approximately 2 p. m. ET on parade day. Many family- and accessibility-focused events occur earlier in the day.
Strawberry Festival tickets and discounts
Gate admission and ride wristbands are available with a range of promotions. Patrons 60 and older may purchase a discounted gate admission for $10 from noon–11: 00 p. m. ET. A wristband purchased at the Midway costs $25 and covers most mechanical rides for one price; several on-site displays and partner receipts provide vouchers that reduce that wristband price on specific days.
Multiple voucher programs are scheduled: vouchers obtained at participating store locations are valid through March 8, and select on‑grounds displays will distribute ride discounts on certain festival dates. Some retail receipts and product returns presented at entry or ticket booths will also reduce wristband prices during designated hours. In each voucher offer, one voucher or receipt is required per wristband; product returns used for vouchers are not valid for gate admission.
Entertainment, rides and parades
The Midway will operate through most daily hours, with single-ride pricing options and all-day wristbands available. A $25 wristband is the standard all-day price for most mechanical rides; promotional vouchers can lower that cost to $20 or $25 depending on the offer and day. The grand parade is a midday highlight on parade day, with a 1: 00 p. m. ET start and an estimated 2: 00 p. m. ET passing by the festival grounds.
Food highlights and shortcake booth
Food options include festival staples and themed booths celebrating the Florida strawberry. A dedicated "Make Your Own" shortcake booth is part of the culinary lineup. Food partners are also tied to wristband promotions through register receipts or branded-product returns that reduce ride wristband prices during specified hours.
Special Smiles and free-admission days
Special Smiles Day welcomes individuals with special needs in a sensory-considerate environment from 9: 00 a. m. –noon ET; attendees plus one companion will be admitted free at Gate 5. There are also targeted free- and reduced-admission offers for children, students and service personnel: on designated days, kids through high school or up to age 17 may be admitted free with a paid adult during stated hours, and active, reserve and retired military, law enforcement, first responders and healthcare professionals may be admitted free with valid ID. Check ticket booths on site for complimentary vouchers tied to those offers.
What to watch and how to plan
Promotional timing suggests organizers are using targeted discounts and partner vouchers to spread attendance across weekdays and weekend peaks. If voucher-driven wristband discounts fall on high-traffic days, Midway lines and ride demand may increase during midday and early evening hours. Visitors should plan arrival and ride time around the parade and special events—parade activity centers around early afternoon—and pick up any vouchers or complimentary tickets at designated booths ahead of peak times.
For festival hours, ticket booth locations and specific voucher pickup dates, consult the festival’s official ticketing points and on-site displays beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through March 8. Many promotions specify exact hours (noted above) or particular festival dates for voucher availability; details vary by offer.
