Annual fishing derby
The Plant City Recreation & Parks Department is celebrating 20 years of “keeping kids fishing” in Plant City. The semi-annual fall youth fishing derby is Nov. 4 and is open for children age 5 to 15. On-site registration runs from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. The derby is located at Plant City Stadium’s back parking lot, off of Gordon Food Service Drive.
Attendees will fish until 10:30 a.m. and prizes will be awarded for the first catfish and bass caught, as well as for the largest single fish by weight and most fish caught. Children must have their own pole, bait and a five-gallon bucket to hold the fish, and they must be accompanied by an adult.
Return of the winter wonderland
Christmas Lane is returning Nov. 24 to the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. Lane Wetherington created the extensive Christmas light festival in 1984 at his home in Dover. It soon outgrew his property and relocated in 2015 to the Strawberry Festival where there is room for the 40,000 guests that attend.
The decorations include over 1.5 million lights and this year there will be several new displays, an extended menu at concessions as well as new carnival rides. Living Nativities will continue to be presented each Thursday and Saturday by local churches and there will be ongoing nonperishable goods drive for the United Food Bank of Plant City.
Local performers will provide live entertainment and Fritzy the One Man Circus will return with his fire eating, stilt walking and juggling. There will be photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as characters like Rudolph, Frosty and the Elves. A KidZone will feature face painting, letters to Santa and ornament decorating.
Tickets are $5 for age 13 and up, $3 for ages four to 12 and free for ages three and under. Special admission will be offered for active and former military, senior citizens, youth sports players, law enforcement, teachers and first responders.
Strawberry Youth Parade applications now available
The Strawberry Youth Parade applications are available on the Florida Strawberry Festival’s website. The theme for the 2018 parade is “Building New Memories.”
The 45th annual Youth Parade will take place 11 a.m March 3. and will tune up at the State Farmers Market on the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Alexander St.
The award ceremony will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Stingray Entertainment Tent at the Strawberry Festival grounds. Prizes will go for the best club/group float, the best church float, the best marching unit and the best band entry.