[thelegges]

We always pick up flat of strawberries every year. We can about half for jam, what’s left after eating so many we chop some for muffins and freeze, then macerate for shortcake. Because we didn’t eat enough the first day.

Is plant city strawberries better than Publix….yes by 100 times. We have a strawberry (asparagus/corn/blueberry/apple/pumpkin/cider/donuts) farm, up north a few miles away from us. Any fruit is better when it’s ripe and just picked, over a green basket sitting in a grocery. But that’s just an opinion

[BillY41]

Got there about 1045. Insanity attempting to locate parking. After 20 minutes we left the traffic and returned home. We should have arrived before opening time.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by thelegges

We always pick up flat of strawberries every year. We can about half for jam, what’s left after eating so many we chop some for muffins and freeze, then macerate for shortcake. Because we didn’t eat enough the first day.

Is plant city strawberries better than Publix….yes by 100 times. We have a strawberry (asparagus/corn/blueberry/apple/pumpkin/cider/donuts) farm, up north a few miles away from us. Any fruit is better when it’s ripe and just picked, over a green basket sitting in a grocery. But that’s just an opinion

My wife and I remember the Plant City Strawberries from 25 years ago.
Today's offering are flavorless pap compared to then.
Same goes for many fruits of today.
Genetics have produced disease resistant, perfectly shaped fruit to meet retailers standards, but along the way, the fruits and vegetables are losing their main ingredient, Flavor.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by GrnThumb

How about a festival in each square on the same day to distribute the crowds or have it at the Polo Field?

Now THAT would be a good idea. Similar to the way they treated the craft show distribution of attendees recently

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Brownwood cart bridge backed up for over half mile at 10am and nowhere to exit on other side. Gridlock like Nyc.

Move it to polo grounds

ANOTHER great idea

[jcreason5616]

Based on our experience on Saturday morning, Thursday evening.

[terryf484]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

Resident for 6 years. Have never been. This year have family visiting so sent them to Strawberry Festival Sat morning at 10 am. They couldn’t find parking- said it was total mob scene. So my question is how early do you have to arrive?

We arrived around 2;30pm, two carts, filled up with gas and no problem finding a parking spot, just had to walk a couple of blocks to square. (good exercise)

[mlmarr]

Thousands of people.. newbies south of 44 and beyond.. it's going to be busy.. have you gone to Disney, plant city strawberry festival
..or others around the area?? Florida is busy..

[mlmarr]

Check the labels .. plant city always the best.

[Cobullymom]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I feel like I'm reading posts from people who've never been to opening day at a county fair. So here's a tip for everyone for the next time around:

If you want to avoid traffic, don't go to these things at all. There will be traffic. Especially since this is snowbird season, AND this is the kind of event that attracts people who don't live in the Villages, but rather live within an hour of the Villages.

Also - don't ever go to the big yearly Mt. Dora Crafts festival. If you were ever thinking about it, stop thinking about it. It's not an option for you.

Next - if you want to go opening day, avoid the opening hour. There is no need or reason to be the first people there. It runs til 4pm. I took Buena Vista down from El Camino Real and had -no- problem with traffic the entire way on the golf cart paths. But I left home after 11, and got to Brownwood sometime between 12:00 and 12:30. I didn't try parking in any of the lots, I just parked along the grassy bank beside the golf cart path with a bunch of other folks. There was plenty of room, and it was only around a block away from the center of the square.

IF you get there at lunch time, make sure you have a little bite of something before leaving home. You might need to wait in line for the food trucks and you don't need your blood sugar to take a dive while you're standing still on hot pavement with no place to sit for a half hour.

Bring a bottle/thermos with cold water in it. Bring your own small canvas bag with handles. Keep the bottle in the bag so you don't have to hold it in your hand the whole time. You can then use the small bag for smaller purchases, as sometimes vendors run out of bags - plus you really don't need one of their bags if you bring your own. You know you're going to buy stuff. Bring a bag.

Go to the bathroom before leaving the house. If you don't have to go, drink some water, and wait until you do have to go. And then go. THEN leave the house. And bring more water with you. Dehydration or needing to take a wiz while you're waiting a half hour in line for food is no joke.

DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG unless it's a) an ACTUAL service dog and b) wearing something to protect its feet (you can buy dog booties online). The dogs here today looked like they were ALL overwhelmed by the crowds and some of them were visibly suffering from standing on the hot pavement (the blacktop roads can get to temperatures over 140° - you try standing on that pavement barefoot and see how well you like it). It's just flat out cruel to bring your pet to a crowded pavement fair. If it was a county fair on actual fairgrounds with shaded grassy areas to sit on, it'd be different. But it's not. So don't do it. If you need a "comfort" animal with you at all times, then assume you won't be comfortable at this fair, and just stay home.

Just in case you need a babysitter to guide your every move..

[La lamy]

Went there around 11 last year and did have to circle around to get lucky with a parking spot. The strawberries were overpriced in my opinion and there was nothing of interest otherwise. I'll never go back.

[Mrmean58]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

Thank you for this post. I showed it to my wife and it got me out of having to go tomorrow.

So based on the comments, everyone wants a special event or festival that few people attend, lots of available parking and only has vendors with stuff that appeals to them specifically. If I'm I vendor I would pay my money to attend one of those.(sarcasm) .

[Jcicales]

Originally Posted by Garywt

I thought it was awesome. Great event. Yes it was crazy but crazy is fun. We came from the north and were able to find parking at 11:30 without much issue. My only issue today was it was too hot for me, wiped me out for the rest of the day.

Can it be - a postive comment????? So happy to see someone who enjoyed it ( aside from the temp). Lotta grumpy people on here. 😮😮

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

We decided not to go yesterday because of the large crowd. We are going this morning and plan to be there around 9:30 to miss most of the crowds. Wish us luck.

[sdeikenberry]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

Resident for 6 years. Have never been. This year have family visiting so sent them to Strawberry Festival Sat morning at 10 am. They couldn’t find parking- said it was total mob scene. So my question is how early do you have to arrive?

You can get the exact same strawberries from Plant City at Publix for less money and hassle...just sayin'