Observer Staff

Plant City kicked off 2023 with a month chock full of events. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events kicked off on Jan. 13 with opening ceremonies at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The event featured keynote speaker Reverend Maxi Miller of New City Church of Plant City and presentations by Lincoln Elementary Magnet School’s […]

The excitement didn’t slow down in February. The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Chamber Gala and it was an 80s-themed event. In addition to parachute pants, teased hair, and awards, the outgoing Chairman of the Board, Irene Castillo passed the gavel to the 2023 Chairman of the Board, Wesley Joyner.  Rick […]

Of course, the month of March kicked off with the Florida Strawberry Festival! This year the event drew record crowds with 606,116 visitors. The last Saturday of the event saw 103,000 people enter the gates making it the largest single-day attendance in its history. In addition, the Festival held its first-ever Special Smiles Day, inviting […]

In April, incumbent city commissioner Michael Sparkman, won another term, besting newcomer Jeremy Griner.  The city got a bit more colorful as the Trash Can-Vas Project brought public art to downtown. Artist Courtney Dodson transformed a new dumpster into a work of art. The dumpster is located in the parking lot off Palmer Street and […]

In May, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, stopped in Plant City to speak at the 41st Annual AgriTech Trade Show, held by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. Plant City Fire Rescue added a new state-of-the-art fire truck to their fleet and Kyle Robinson took over as the Florida Strawberry Festival President.   Plant City […]

ANUARY 15 WILD GOOSE CHASE 1800 block of W. House St. Warrant arrest / RAWOV: Multiple officers responded to the residence at the listed location in reference to an individual being at the residence with an active warrant out of Hillsborough County. Upon the officer’s attempt to make contact at the front door, the individual […]

In June, City Commissioners Michael Sparkman and William Dodson took the oath of office, pledging to serve the citizens of Plant City with unwavering dedication and integrity. The commission also convened to appoint Nate Kilton to continue to serve as mayor.  The second Annual Juneteenth Celebration, a celebration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, […]

Residents of Plant City came together in July with plenty of southern charm to celebrate Independence Day as the annual July 4th festival wrapped up with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the night sky. The stadium served as the backdrop for the festivities, where families and friends gathered to enjoy an evening filled […]

The Plant City Stadium was alive with activity on Sat., Aug. 5 for the third annual community picnic with first responders. The event, organized by a collaborative effort between local authorities, emergency services and iImpact PC, aimed to dispel any apprehensions children might have towards first responders and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for […]