Florida Strawberry Festival (14 images)

The 75th annual Florida Strawberry Festival wraps up at the end of Sunday, March 14 at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds, 2202 W Reynolds St., in Plant City.

Colorful lights illuminate the night at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Friday, March 12. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

Colorful lights illuminate the night at the Florida Strawberry Festival. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

Stan Witchoskey, 16, from Plant City, gets some sleep in the most comfortable place he can find while waiting for the start of the youth steer competition at the Florida Strawberry Festival Wednesday afternoon, March 10. Witchoskey explained that it had been a long day for many of the kids involved in the competition. "I had FCAT today," he explained. "There were a lot of kids here today that had FCAT so they just came here and feed their steers and everything, maybe got them watered up, washed them a little bit, and then they went to school to do FCAT and then after that they came straight back here." When asked about how comfortable his folding chair was for catching up on his zzz's, Witchoskey didn't complain a bit. "It's hard to believe but it actually is very comfortable," he said. "Your head sits right there (pointing), your legs are sprawled wherever, you've got little pockets here and there, it's great." [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON, Times]

10-year-old Savannah White holds her chicken, Junior, as they wait at the "Chicken Check In" at the Strawberry Festival. Savannah and her family were one of the first in line to get her chickens checked in for showing. [SKIP O'ROURKE, Times]

Paul Roberts, from Asheboro, North Carolina, places stuffed animals outside of his duck pond for prizes. Roberts was setting up at the Strawberry Festival grounds the day before the opening. [SKIP O'ROURKE, Times]

Workers sort stuff animals for prizes in the midway the day before the festival opening. [SKIP O'ROURKE, Times]

Gail Cilione enjoys the midway with her grandson, Donny Webster, 4, on the opening day of the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Thursday morning, March 4. Cilione was visiting Plant City from her home in Thornton, Pa. "We travel around in the winter time and Florida is nice," Cilione said. "This is our second year coming to the Strawberry Festival. We love it." In addition to being the festival's opening day, Thursday was also Senior Citizens' Day with festival goers 60 years and up enjoying a $2 discount off the daily admission. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON, Times]

Cristina D'Angelo, of Clearwater, eats a bowl of strawberry shortcake while enjoying the opening day of the Florida Strawberry Festival with her family Thursday morning, March 4. D'Angelo said she comes to the festival every year to enjoy the delicious strawberries. "They taste very good this year," D'Angelo said. "but every year they taste good." In addition to being the festival's opening day, Thursday was also Senior Citizens' Day with festival goers 60 years and up enjoying a $2 discount off the daily admission. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON, Times]

Crowds cheer as they watch the pig races on opening day of the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Thursday morning, March 4. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON, Times]

Festival goers streak by on a midway roller-coaster as Kyle Lee, 14, grooms his steer named "Napoleon" for the youth steer competition at the Florida Strawberry Festival Wednesday afternoon, March 10. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON, Times]

Colorful lights illuminate the night at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Friday, March 12. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

Colorful lights illuminate the night at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Friday, March 12. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

Colorful lights illuminate the night at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Friday, March 12. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

Young ment and women wait to enter the Florida Strawberry Festival on Friday, March 12. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]