Plant City's annual Florida Strawberry Festival is here and will be running through next weekend.

The festival in Plant City is more than just strawberries and strawberry shortcake. There are exhibits, livestock, fine arts, crafts and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

"The Florida Strawberry Festival represents a piece of Americana, a time in American history when fairs and festivals brought communities together through celebrations of their harvests," The Florida Strawbery website says.

"It has continued to grow in popularity year after year through the preservation of this heritage. Central to its focus, the Festival continues to preserve and enhance the agricultural and historical legacy of the Florida strawberry."

Here's what to know about The Florida Strawberry Festival, how long it will be running, how much it costs to attend and a look back at the time a "Fearless" era Taylor Swift performed at the festival.

How long does the Strawberry Festival last in Florida?

This year's Strawberry Festival started on Thursday, Feb. 27, and runs until Sunday, March 9, 11 days and nights.

Where is the Strawberry Festival in Florida located?

The Strawberry Festival is held in Plant City, 303 BerryFest Place. Plant City is located about 20 miles east of Tampa and 50 miles southwest of Orlando. It's less than 10 miles west of Lakeland.

How much does it cost to go to the Florida Strawberry Festival?

Discount admission tickets are available through March 9 at participating Publix supermarkets in Central Florida and the Amscot Main Ticket Gate, 2209 W. Oak Ave., in Plant City.

➤ See the full list and addresses of participating Publix locations.

How much is parking at the Strawberry Festival in Florida?

Here's the headline entertainment lineup for this year's festival. Tickets are available at ETIX or by calling 813-754-1996. Unless specified, gate admission doesn't include concert tickets.

Speaking of musical guests, Did Taylor Swift perform at the Strawberry Festival?

Yes! Miss Americana herself made an appearance at Plant City's Strawberry Festival in 2009.

“Back in the day, everyone came through the festival, especially the country acts,” Festival President Paul Davis told ABC Action News Tampa Bay in 2023.

"When she did her meet and greet with fans, every single person she talked to she complimented something about them and was the nicest person. She was absolutely a joy to be around.”

Davis told ABC Action News that the show was free and there were 4,000 seats, but Swift drew a crowd of 8,000 hours before the concert was set to start.

This appearance was in between her second and third studio albums. Her sophomore album, "Fearless" had just released the winter before, in November 2008. Her third album, "Speak Now" was released in October 2010.

What time do the gates open at the Florida Strawberry Festival?

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo Kiddie Korral is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Does the Strawberry Festival close if it rains?

"A little rain doesn’t shut us down !" the festival website site said, but encouraged guests to watch its website with the latest information.

What is the theme for the 2025 Strawberry Festival?

The theme for this year's festival is "The Stage is Set."

"For BerryFest25, the Festival will say farewell to our 35-year-old soundstage that has created so many unforgettable memories as we will welcome in a new entertainment experience and a new soundstage that will provide us the opportunity to bring the best artists to Plant City," said Florida Strawberry Festival President Kyle Robinson. “

How many years has the strawberry festival been around?

The first Strawberry Festival was held in 1930 "when members of the newly organized Plant City Lions Club conceived the idea of an event to celebrate the bountiful harvest of strawberries."

During and immediately after World War II, the festival wasn't held, but it resumed in 1948. Held annually, it "now ranks among the Top 40 Fairs in North America," according to its website.

In 2024, the Florida Strawberry Festival ranked 29th on Carnival Warehouse's list of the Top 50 Fairs and Carnivals. Attendance in 2024 was 634,779.