Strawberries take over Florida every spring, and during the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, they become full-on celebrities. This is the kind of event where strawberry shortcake feels like a personality trait, fried desserts feel justified, and diets are politely ignored. The Florida Strawberry Festival typically runs from late February through early March each year, drawing visitors from across the state and beyond. Plant City sits between Tampa and Lakeland, framed by flat fields that flash red during peak strawberry season. TraditionYou can feel a line tugging at you like a magnet, and it leads to strawberry shortcake.