The Florida Strawberry Festival kicked off its 91st annual celebration today in Plant City, Florida, running from February 26 through March 8, 2026, under the theme “Still Growing.” The event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to celebrate the region’s strawberry harvest with headline entertainment, rides, agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, and—perhaps most famously—an array of strawberry-centric treats.
This year, organizers are emphasizing innovation alongside tradition, with a fresh lineup of new food items that blend classic festival fare with creative twists, global influences (like Dubai-inspired chocolate creations), and plenty of local strawberries. Festival President Kyle Robinson highlighted the evolution: “The Florida Strawberry Festival has always been rooted in tradition, but we’re proud to continue finding new ways to grow… The theme ‘Still Growing’ reflects not only our agricultural heritage, but our ongoing commitment to enhancing the Festival for future generations.”
Festivalgoers can look forward to sweet indulgences, savory surprises, and refreshing drinks. Here’s a curated list of some of the standout new food offerings debuting at BerryFest26:
- Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake with Lemon Frosting (Prowant Specialty) — Strawberry cake batter funnel cake topped with powdered sugar, lemon vanilla glaze, and homemade strawberry crunch inspired by strawberry shortcake ice cream bars. Near Gate 16, West Grandstand Entrance.
- Hot Honey Apple Fries (Crumpets Concession/Apple Fries) — Fresh apple fries drizzled with spicy hot honey for a sweet-heat twist on a classic. Under the GT Grandstands on the west side.
- Penne Pickle Pasta (Spaghetti Eddies) — Creamy penne tossed with tangy pickles for a bold, unexpected comfort food mashup. Near the Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Pavilion.
- Strawberry Campfire Crunch Melt (Sunshine Concessions of Hernando County) — Grilled sandwich with marshmallows, Nutella, graham crackers, and strawberry jam—s’mores meets strawberry. Northside near Wish Farms Soundstage.
- Gourmet Mac & Cheese Trio (Brody’s Mac & Cheese) — Three varieties: Chicken Teriyaki, White Cheddar Truffle, and Buffalo. On Edwards Street, west of the GT Grandstands.
- Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Cups (Super Crunch) — Fresh strawberries layered with rich chocolate and crunchy elements, drawing from viral Dubai dessert trends. In the TECO Expo Hall.
- Cotton Candy Lemonade (Maddi’s Lemonade) — Fresh lemonade infused with cotton candy flavor, topped with fluffy cotton candy. East of TECO Expo Hall.
- Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Slush (Moose Juice Slush) — Strawberry slush topped with fresh strawberries, Dubai chocolate, pistachio cream, and whipped cream. East of TECO Expo Hall.
- Strawberry BBQ Egg Roll (Double T Enterprises) — Savory barbecue with strawberry sweetness in a crispy wrapper—a fusion standout. West of Arthur Boring Building.
- Strawberry Crunch Nachos (Sweet Missions) — Waffle cone chips with cheesecake dip, fresh strawberries, crunch topping, and glaze. West side of Softtub Carriage House.
- Strawberry Dubai Funnel Cake (Best Around) — Crispy funnel cake loaded with strawberries, chocolate drizzle, strawberry sauce, and powdered sugar. North of BayCare Center.
- Poor Porker with Strawberry Sauce (Sandy Ann’s Fried Pies) — Tender pork in a flaky fried pie crust, topped with sweet strawberry sauce for savory-sweet balance. East Independent near Stingray Chevrolet Corvette display.
Beyond the food, the Festival has rolled out several new guest experiences and services to boost comfort and convenience, including the new 15,000-square-foot BayCare Center (with climate-controlled restrooms, Entenmann’s Stage, craft vendors, and a permanent shortcake booth), the Berry Big Wheel Ferris wheel, expanded T-Mobile tram services and color-coded parking, a Central Florida Exterior Comfort Zone with misting fans and charging stations, new restrooms on the midway, a Mother & Baby Suite, and shaded areas like the Citizens Bank and Trust Village.
Special promotions include ride discount days (such as Hungry Howie’s Ride-A-Thon on March 4 and Lazydays RV Ride-A-Thon on select dates), interactive experiences like The Berry Questival scavenger hunt, and family-friendly entertainment additions such as Nerdy Noah, Gizmo D. Robot, and Pretty Bird Paradise.
Sweet & Strawberry-Focused Treats 🍓
- Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake with Lemon Frosting
- Strawberry Dubai Funnel Cake
- Strawberry Matcha Funnel Cake
- Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Cups
- Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Slush
- Dubai Chocolate Truffles with Pistachio Cream
- Strawberry Campfire Crunch Melt (s’mores grilled sandwich twist)
- Strawberry Crunch Nachos
- Strawberry Decker (strawberry ice cream cookie sandwich)
- Royal Strawberry SnoBall
- Strawberry Festival Shortcake SnoBall
- Cotton Candy Lemonade
- Strawberry Banana Bliss Smoothie
- Strawberry Cinnamon Bun à la Mode
- World-Famous Strawberry Shortcake (classic must-try!)
- Fresh Strawberries & Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Savory & Fun Twists
- Hot Honey Apple Fries
- Penne Pickle Pasta
- Gourmet Mac & Cheese Trio (Chicken Teriyaki, White Cheddar Truffle, Buffalo)
- Deep Fried Uncrustable (PB&J upgrade)
- Strawberry BBQ Egg Roll
- Poor Porker with Strawberry Sauce (savory pork pie)
- Maple Cotton Candy & Maple Popcorn
For full details on tickets, schedules, headline acts, and more, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com or download the official app. The Festival continues through March 8—plenty of time to indulge in these berry delicious new creations!
SOURCE: Florida Strawberry Festival
