Plant City, Florida, offers an annual event that has visitors coming to from all over Florida.
It is the Strawberry Festival and it took place on February 28th and ran through March 6th. This eleven-day event features everything from strawberry sampling, to swimming pigs.
Tara Parker, a Plant City native, and aspiring Strawberry Queen, has attended the Strawberry Festival since she was a young girl.
“There are many free shows: “The Vocal Trash Group,” which is a trash can and junkyard band, “The Southern Star Bluegrass Band,” and “Robinson’ s Racing Pigs,” an amazing display of pigs racing to get an Oreo cookie! And there are also many rides,” said Tara Parker.
And while such attractions may enthrall visitors, Tara Parker opts for two very simplistic pastimes: eating and shopping.
“I just love to walk around and eat all the fair food. It is absolutely incredible!” said Tara Parker. “I strongly encourage everyone to check out Clements booth. It is there that you can actually create your very own strawberry shortcake! I also purchase a lot of strawberry themed merchandise, which you will see at all the exhibits.”
Though Tara Parker is a faithful Strawberry Festival attendant, she is also Strawberry Festival royalty.
Each year, the Festival conducts a competition for young women to become the Strawberry Queen.
“When I was just a child, I dreamt of becoming the Strawberry Queen,” said Tara Parker. “And when I was finally old enough to compete for the title—I did!”
Yet her attempts to gain such a position were not necessarily easy. A medical issue got in the way of her childhood dream.
“I actually had to drop out of the competition my first year because I had to have a pancreas and liver transplant”, said Tara Parker. “But when then next year came, I tried out again”.
The following year, Tara Parker, in full health, gained a spot on the Strawberry Court.
“I remember being called for the top ten…I couldn’t believe it!” Tara Parker excitedly said. “Then when they announced the top five girls… that is when I knew that I had made the Court. I truly consider this to have been an incredible experience…one that I will never forget through my whole life”.
The success of the Strawberry Festival is attributed to the hard working and creative members of Plant City.
“The event is strictly ran by volunteers,” said Tara Parker. “It is so refreshing to see the entire community working together for one cause”.
Due to the community’s involvement and the attendance, the event went from being a one-day function to an eleven-day tourist attraction.
And over the years, the Strawberry Festival has attracted the talent of many musical guests, like Taylor Swift.
The Strawberry Festival offers a wide variety of entertainment for children as well. Like the “Shoebox Float Contest” and “The Baby Parade.”
Visitors can experience the Strawberry Festival annually between highway 92 and I4. Learn more about the festival at the official site.
Making the Court!
Tara and her friend snacking on some strawberry delights
I recently discovered the perfect solution. Orlando features an dinner experience great for all ages!
Venture over the drawbridge and into the castle. Take a seat in the massive arena. During the course of your feast you will also experience a live show which includes beautiful knights and a princess in authentic costumes. The knights engage in an epic tournament filled with jostling and stunts. Enjoy make sure you explore the many Midevil villages as a part of your experience.
This particular facility has wowed thousands since 1983 and continues to attract people from all over the country. Check it out! It’s an innovative way to bring entertainment and dining together for everyone’s enjoyment.
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While in transit in an airport, travelers often settle for less than fine dining. Yet many Lakeland, Florida travelers cling to memories of Tony’s Airside Restaurant. After 20 years of great business, Tony’s Airside Restaurant, inside the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport closed. Tony and Jeanna Kerchner, the original owners are the parents of three children, and active members of their local community.
Anastasia Jones Downing, a resident of Lakeland, Florida, recalls a time when she visited Tony’s. “It was such a great time. I went just before Christmas of 2007, and was very impressed by the service and the environment. The scenery was beautiful. All the tables inside had pictures of airplanes on them that were hand painted a local artist Glass windows made up the walls, allowing customers to watch planes and just think about where they would like to go next on a trip. However you may forget you are in an airport. I did”.
The menu really gave customers a great variety and was very cost-efficient. Upon my own visit to this Lakeland treasure, I had a pasta dish that was unlike anything I had ever had before. They served delicate deserts along with cute china cups with steaming coffee. The quality of the food was outstanding mirrored in all aspects of the establishment.
What also made Tony’s great was the way in which the restaurant I was set up. “My guests and I felt like we were in a close-knit, intimate environment,”recalled Jones-Downing. “There are not that many lights in the restaurant and which makes it feel more home-like. It was very comfortable.”
Jones-Downing and I both agree that the food was wonderfully prepared.
“I took a bite off of my friends plates and was really impressed by what they had ordered too. One had a salad and the other a chicken parmigiana dish,” said JOnes-Downing. “The portions are so big so this entitles your party to share meals”.
The Kerchner’s have built great relationships with their customers.
“You can that their are a great amount of faithful customers,” said Jones-Downing. “Both times I visited were truly enjoyable experiences. A staff member from the kitchen came out and talked with my table. We had a really great conversation. She was so kind to us.”
This kind service originates from the leadership of Tony and Jeanna. They always have taken the time to visit each quest and ensue that their needs were met. Their friendly spirits and kind smiles
And while Tony’s Airside is closed, of which no comments were disclosed as to why, Anastasia like many other Lakeland residence, have not forgotten the Kerchner’s or their great resturant. Some small business owners close and leave not a shred of legacy behind for their customers and friends. But this is not the case for Tony and Jeanna Kerchner, 20 years if their outstanding performance in serving the community and providing an enjoyable dining experience, will forever be cherished by all that have had the privileged of gracing the doors of their business.
Just a few miles from Orlando’s “Disney World” is another Florida hot-spot for fun. Downtown Disney, a must-see place for Disney lovers, offers over 70 stores, dining, and entertainment opportunities that are ideal for anyone.
Mr. Potato Head welcomes visitors into his store
“You can easily spend all day at Downtown Disney. This is definitely a more “do it yourself” experience. It’s like a little town and so you just go and do whatever you’d like. And you don’t forfeit having a Disney experience in coming to the Downtown area, you get to experience other things as well,” said Sara Maan who lives just ten minutes from the Disney Parks.
Visitors can quickly grab lemonade in a shop or at a concession stand,. But many opt to experience the tantalizing cuisines of Italy, California, Ireland and more.
Whenever Sara Maan is hungry she prefers the interactive environment of the Rainforest Café.
The Rainforest Cafe
“The Rainforest Café is all about the experience. I always go with a big group of my friends and we explore the place. Vines covered with leaves hang from the ceiling and on the way to your table you pass under a beautiful fish aquarium that is shaped like a beautiful archway. It is full of vibrant, tropical fish that you can see at almost any point in the restaurant,” said Sara Maan.
While the Rainforest Café may do a great job at with aesthetics, they don’t stop there.
“You are completely occupied by your environment while you wait for your food. Every twenty minutes the place goes wild, literally! The robotic animals that hang on the walls start moving and making noises and a mist sprays throughout the entire place. And the food is incredible,” Sara Maan explained excitedly.
On the way out, full-bellied customers can also purchase souvenirs and snap pictures to remember their trip into the Amazon Jungle.
“This is why Downtown Disney is a great option: you can make your trip as expensive or as inexpensive as you’d like,” Maan advised.
Visitors can also enjoy the French circus “Cirque du Soleil-La Nouba”. High flying acrobats in lively costumes, musical guests, and many more perform inside the dome facility. La Nouba is unique to any other circus in the world. Their shows have been nationally broad casted and they feature only the tops performers in the world.
“My favorite act is of the Chinese girls’ stunt of balancing a top on these circulating jump rope. It is unbelievable the things they can do!” commented Maan.
The scenery of Downtown-Disney is also incredible. During the day, visitors can enjoy friendly and vibrant architecture, the sun-lit lake complete with an emerging green monster, and a ferry ride that transports them to different parts of the town. Families gather by benches where they can watch their children play by the fountain. Children especially love to run peer into the wholes inside the brick walkway where water shoots up from the ground.
Additionally, there are a few free attractions, one of which is the Lego Land. People frequently stop by the store and outdoor station to snap a picture with the life-sized rendition of a Lego family. However, to many the coolest free attraction are the Disney Fireworks.
“Because Downtown-Disney is so close to the parks, you can see the Fireworks that go off nightly,” said Sara Maan.
Life size Lego!
Luxurious bath and body products from a shop called BASIN
And for anyone seeking to bring out their inner princess or prince, the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique gives the royal treatment. This is a great idea for little girls and boys to live out their inspirational moments of the Disney films by dressing up as their favorite characters.
Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique
Whatever your plans are, it is important to come to Downtown-Disney comfortably dressed. Also consider staying a while at some of Disney’s world famous resorts! There is a multitude of options for your perfect accommodations.
Downtown-Disney can be easily accessed from other Disney parks by the customer-friendly transportation service. The locations address is 1494 E. Buena Vista, Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830.
