Sitting in a packed crowd of 9,000 people, baking in the sun with eyes fixed on the Strawberry Festival bandshell always felt like a communal rite of passage for Floridians, but we won’t get the chance to do so in 2021.
Today, the 85-year-old festival announced that there will be no headline entertainment during its 11-day run in Plant City.
In a statement, Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis said organizers have met with Hillsborough County health officials to draft a “safe and effective” plan that will allow attendees to still experience the outdoor festival.
All of the Strawberry Festival’s rides, livestock shows, on-grounds entertainment, concessions, and exhibits will continue at this point according to the statement, but Davis added that, “This year, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone, guests and entertainers, to not have patrons sitting shoulder to shoulder for an extended period of time.”
Past performers have included Willie Nelson, 98 Degrees, Patti LaBelle, Reba McEntire, Skynyrd and more.
Tampa Bay venues and promoters need you to bug Marco Rubio about saving the live music scene.
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