Here Are Tips For Reaching The Strawberry Festival Safe and Sound

PLANT CITY, FL – Weather forecasters are predicting picture-perfect weather for this year’s Strawberry Festival, which kicks off Thursday, March 1 and continues until March 11.

Although partly cloudy skies are expected on Friday and Saturday, the chance of rain during the 11-day event is slim to none, according to the National Weather Service. And with high temperatures ranging from 74 to 84 degrees each day, the festival is expected to attract a big crowd this year.

Of course, all those visitors spell traffic jams. To ensure that festival goers arrive quickly and safely, festival organizers are offering tips to navigate the various routes to the Strawberry Festival.

From the west:

Take State Road 60 through Brandon and head east to County Road 39.

At the intersection of 60 and 39, turn left and take CR 39 (James L. Redman Parkway) north to Alexander Street.

At Alexander Street and CR 39, turn left.

Take Alexander to Reynolds Street and turn left at the intersection of Alexander and Reynolds. Once you turn on Reynolds, look for parking to the north or south of the festival grounds. The grounds are just up the road as you head east on Reynolds.

Visitors coming from westbound Interstate 4 should take the Park Road exit (Exit 22) and head south to U.S. 92 (Baker Street. Continue west on Baker and then turn south onto Reynolds Street.

Visitors coming from eastbound Interstate 4 will want to take the Buchman Highway/Alexander Street exit (Exit 21). Proceed south on Alexander Street and then turn left onto Reynolds.

From the east:

Take SR 60 through Mulberry and head west to CR 39.

At the intersection of SR 60 and CR 39, turn right onto CR 39 (James L. Redman Parkway) to Alexander Street. Then follow the same route as if you were coming from the west.

Visitors from eastbound I-4 should exit at Forbes Road (Exit 17), proceed south to State Road 574 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), then east to the festival area.

From the south:

Look for routes that will take you to SR 60 located south of the festival grounds. Once you are on 60, follow the directions above that indicate if you are traveling east to west or west to east. The directions will be the same once you get on 60 and make your way to the festival.

If traveling from the Lakeland/Mulberry/Bartow area, take State Road 60 to northbound State Road 39 (James Redman Parkway) then turn west on Alexander Street. This will curve north. Then take another westbound turn onto Reynolds Street, leading you to the festival grounds.

From the north:

Look for routes that take you to County Road 39 (Paul Buchman Highway) into Plant City. Paul Buchman Highway will turn into Wheeler Street. Proceed south on Wheeler Street through town and then take a right on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, heading west.

Once you get to Alexander Street, take a right and proceed to Reynolds. Take a left on Reynolds and head west to the festival grounds on your right.

Alternatively:

Look for routes that take you to Alexander Street into Plant City. Alexander Street splits with Paul Buchman Highway north of the city. Proceed south on Alexander and look for Reynolds Street as you enter town. Take a right on Reynolds and there is parking throughout the area located just south of the festival grounds.

Parking:

Once you’ve arrived, parking is available on the Florida Strawberry Festival property in the Blue, Gray and Red parking lots located on Ritter Street, off U.S. 92 or State Road 574.

Parking is also available in independent lots around the festival grounds including the Bryan Elementary School track and Tomlin Middle School.

Trams run daily from the Blue, Red and Gray parking lots to the festival’s entry Gate 14. They also run daily from the Blue, Red and Gray parking lots to the festival’s entry Gate 10.

The cost of parking for cars, pickup trucks and vans under 20 feet is $5. Vehicles from 29 to 39 feet will pay $10. Vehicles or buses over 40 feet pay $15.

There is handicapped-accessible parking available in the Blue Parking Lot across from Gate 14 for $5 and across from the Amscot Main Ticket Gate (Gate 1) on West Oak Avenue for $10.

For more information, visit the festival website.

Image via Strawberry Festival