THE Strawberry Festival

For those of your who are unaware, Plant City, FL (Jake's hometown) annually holds THE Florida Strawberry Festival. I grew up 10 miles west of Plant City and was surprised while watching the Food Network one day to learn that the Strawberry Festival is one of the biggest food festivals in the Nation! Obviously, I've been taking it for granted.

Besides all of the delicious foods (strawberry shortcake, strawberry shakes, chocolate covered strawberries, Philly cheese steaks, corn dogs, burgers, hot dogs, sausages, popcorn, cotton candy, french fries, etc.) they have constant entertainment all day and night with mostly Country Artists and Bands, some of them are big names. LeAnne Rhimes, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson and Alabama have all played at the festival in previous years. Taylor Swift is playing there this year.

They have all sorts of contests each year, from a Strawberry Festival beauty pageant to 4H contests, Float Contests, Clogging Contests and an Art Show.

Strawberries are a big part of our cuisine this time of year. Especially since Jake and I grew up around strawberry fields and have picked some for ourselves. There is nothing like a Plant City Strawberry. California has nothin' on Plant City.

So, this year, was Kaitlyn's first year at the Strawberry Festival!
I have to say, she seemed to really enjoy herself.

Above is pictured my new love, Fiske Fries. At first, I thought, "$7 for a bucket of fries?! Are they nuts?!" No, they're geniuses. BEST FRENCH FRIES EVER!

Kaitlyn gettin' some of Grammie's Kettle Korn.

Cowboy hat anyone?

Kaitlyn loves animals, especially animals that make noises! She got to see chickens, bunnies, hogs and cows! Fun, fun, fun!

Anyone feelin' lucky and want to take a chance riding the bucking bronco?

We were there within the first hour that the festival had officially started. That's why the midway was a little empty.

If you ever have a chance to go, I highly recommend it! Just go there and eat your way around the festival!