The annual Strawberry Festival Parade was the largest since the Covid Pandemic. At the Florida Strawberry Festival’s annual Governor’s Luncheon, U.S. Senator, and Plant City native Ashley Moody, and U.S. Representative for the 15th District, Laurel Lee, who served in Plant City as a judge, spoke to the assembly. The Florida Strawberry Festival held a Special Smiles Day for kids who are unable to tolerate loud noise and bright lights, and 2,400 enjoyed the chance to experience the rides. City commissioners and residents debated an ordinance that would allow a development of eight to 12 home sites, that would allow residents to have small, propeller aircraft that could be flown in and out using an already existing grass landing strip. Stingray Chevrolet owners Steve and Susan Hurley handed off a key fob to Shawn Fox, the winner of the $90,370 Corvette 2LT Convertible they donated for the raffle for the Strawberry Festival New Corvette Giveaway. NuCycle Energy re-opened after a disastrous fire and won an award for Florida’s Best Medium-Sized Sustainable Business. Red Calliope Gallery on Evers opened its doors. The City Commission passed a motion 5-0 to end fluoridating Plant City water. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Plant City History & Photo Archives held its first ever History, Whiskey & Wine event. Anniston Griffin, Taylor Gregory, Claire Thomas, Madison Parolini, and Kaleigh Salmon won in different levels at the Southwest Central Florida Scholarship Competition, a preliminary Miss America scholarship competition.
