It wouldn’t be April in Plant City without the annual Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival.
The festival, held at Keel & Curley Winery, begins Friday, April 29, and runs through Sunday, May 1. According to the winery, it’s bringing back everything past festival-goers know and love about the event.
“Any time you go to a local community that has events like this, or the Strawberry Festival, it brings people in from outside the area and exposes them to this,” manager Faith Pippin said. “This is like a gem in the rough.”
The 2016 edition of the festival will feature around 90 vendors, a kids’ play area, the winery’s beer, wine and cider selections, live entertainment and, of course, the ever-popular U-pick.
The U-pick will cost $5 per person or $5.25 with debit/credit card.
Friday’s entertainment lineup includes the Brian Sutherland Band and blues guitarist Skip Frye. Saturday’s lineup includes the Arthur Z Band, Southern Legacy and Justin Grimes. Mark Barrios will play on Sunday.
The big news coming out of the winery is that its new food truck, Railcar 91, will get the grand opening treatment at the festival.
Don’t expect traditional food truck food, however. Chef Juan Acevedo, previously a sous chef at Walt Disney World, is just as likely to serve chicken tacos, homemade nachos and guacamole as he is to whip up a plate of lamb lollipops and brussels sprouts. Acevedo said, besides the lamb, all of his ingredients are purchased locally.
“I was just ready to branch out and have my own creative outlet,” Acevedo said. “This was a great opportunity, a place I’ve been to before, and I’m from the central Florida area. I looked it up, and it has a bunch of potential. I want to be a part of that explosion, the experience, the movement — all of that.”
Named for the first railcar notable Tampa railroad magnate Henry Plant owned, Railcar 91 has spent the past few weeks tweaking its menu and serving some items. Acevedo said that the menu would be finalized by the time the festival starts.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.