Every spring, one of Tampa Bay’s most loved traditions returns — the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. The festival runs February 26 through March 8, 2026, bringing 11 days of concerts, carnival rides, food vendors, agricultural exhibits, and of course, plenty of fresh Florida strawberries.

If you’ve lived in the Tampa Bay area for a while, you probably know the event well. If you’re newer to the area, it’s worth the short drive. The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and celebrates the strawberry harvest that helped make Plant City famous.

Plant City is often called the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World,” and the festival began back in 1930 as a way for local farmers to celebrate the harvest and showcase the region’s agriculture. Today it’s grown into one of Florida’s largest annual events.

Of course, the strawberry shortcake is the must-try item, but visitors will also find rides, livestock shows, craft vendors, midway games, and live entertainment throughout the festival grounds.

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2026 Florida Strawberry Festival Concert Schedule

 

Each day of the festival features major performers on the Wish Farms Soundstage. Here’s the full lineup for 2026:

Thursday – February 26

• Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra – 10:30 AM

• The Oak Ridge Boys – 3:30 PM

• Alabama – 7:30 PM

Friday – February 27

• Jo Dee Messina – 3:30 PM

• Jamey Johnson – 7:30 PM

Saturday – February 28

• Lonestar – 3:30 PM

• Ty Myers – 7:30 PM

Sunday – March 1

• Riley Green (featuring Hannah McFarland) – 6:30 PM

Monday – March 2

• Gene Watson – 3:30 PM

• Evening concert (TBA)

Tuesday – March 3

• Sandi Patty – 3:30 PM

• Lauren Daigle – 7:30 PM

Wednesday – March 4

• John Foster – 3:30 PM

• Brantley Gilbert – 7:30 PM

Thursday – March 5

• Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets – 10:30 AM

• The Bellamy Brothers – 3:30 PM

• Dierks Bentley – 7:30 PM

Friday – March 6

• The Marshall Tucker Band – 3:30 PM

• Forrest Frank – 7:30 PM

Saturday – March 7

• The Offspring – 7:30 PM

Sunday – March 8

• Additional entertainment and festival events throughout the day

Concerts take place at the Wish Farms Soundstage located on the festival grounds.

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Planning Your Visit

The festival takes place at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City, about a 30–40 minute drive from most of the Tampa Bay area.

Typical gate admission is:

• Adults: $15

• Children (6–12): $5

• Kids 5 and under: Free

Concert tickets for many of the headline performers are sold separately and can be purchased through the festival’s website.

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A Tampa Bay Tradition

Whether you go for the concerts, the rides, or just a giant bowl of strawberry shortcake, the Florida Strawberry Festival is one of those events that signals the start of spring in the Tampa Bay area.

If you haven’t been in a while — or if you’ve never been at all — it might be worth making the trip over to Plant City this year.