jedimaster1227 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) Some of you may have seen last year's trip report from the Strawberry Festival, but if you haven't, it can be seen here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54403 This year, my family decided to go back to the Florida Strawberry Festival for my mother's birthday. This year's festival features a mostly-unchanged lineup of rides, but several new food carts and exhibits that changed the pace a little bit. The first of many strawberry booths at the festival... Hiya Dan! Our entertainment for day... Nothing but easy jokes here! Have I mentioned enough in my time on TPR that I love fried foods? Apparently this delicacy has been featured on several food shows before. In favor of my arteries, I passed--though it was extremely tempting! Some of the most insane burgers I've ever heard of. Give me a moment, please. This is a whole new level of ridiculous. And that about sums it up. This would be our first food stand of the day. We had to give this a try! Delicious! We also tried the fried veggies (mushrooms, zuccini and yellow squash)... And of course, the latest IAAPA-inspired trend, Chipstix! I love Chipstix! Although I wasn't yet in the mood for dessert, one stand offered chocolate covered Key Lime pie on a stick! Something else that was new to the festival (or at least something we missed last year) was the Racing Pigs... It was exactly like it sounds, and awesome at that! Again, not ready for dessert, but mighty-tempted! One corner of the rides area wasn't too busy in the morning. A mini wave swinger for the kiddies... Here's where things start to look familiar. Reminds me of a certain past TPR update... A mini whip themed to Nascar! This guy's making a bloomin' onion for us! Sooo good! Arguably Plant City's biggest event of the year has a fairground dedicated just for it! A new mascot has arrived... They even had a Strawberry Farm in the middle of the festival grounds! Don't we all? Lose anything? I found a new credit! Go Gators! And believe it or not, the longest line for anything in the festival was this. We bought fourteen of these. No joke! And of course, we couldn't forget about the deliciously sweet strawberry onions! Are you seeing this Andrew?!?! STRAWBERRY DOLE WHIP!!!! Anyone want some fresh taffy? Reminds me of a fair in Valencia, CA. Authorized? Probably not. Fun? Probably! Pirates of the Columbian Caribbean. Authorized and delicious. Welcome to Paradise! Mini-Himalaya. It's a credit! Is this a valid Index photo, Larry? Traveling fair drop towers are always such fun! It's like Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Sandstorm, only much faster! I didn't get this credit last year, as the car had stalled on the track. I didn't bother this time around, because I didn't want to be in the car that got stuck on the track. Pass! Edited March 16, 2011 by ernierocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 (Continued) Did this last year--twas very fun! Always so photogenic... Another new addition was Bobo the Clown. Bobo was a barker that had a great talent for edging on guests. He did get dunked once during our pass, but he quickly got back up and went at it again. A good ol' fashioned Scrambler. A full sized wave swinger was also on the fair grounds this year. And the Zipper is still here... And I still haven't ridden it. Is this Cypress Gardens' old Power Surge? Looks familiar! Could it be? It's a traveling fair version of Coney Island's Shoot the Freak! And Avalanche is still here as well! It was running a lot smoother than last year. Also new this year was an animal stable. We got cows! This remains to be one of the few Pinfari's I've ever ridden. It seems to be keeping the guests thrilled... Looks nice... I feel like I'm in Aurora, Ohio. DEEP. FRIED. CHEESECAKE. It's like a cheesecake burrito! And it wouldn't be a fair without ribbon fries! *drools* On our way out... I didn't get to point this out to you last year, but it isn't a visit to the Florida Strawberry Festival without a stop at Parkesdale Groves for some strawberry merch! And if you North Americans want something you see here, give 'em a call and they'll deliver! It's like a theme park for foodies! We bought five. "7 or 8" So... Many... Strawberries... I feel like I just walked into the scrolls of Torah lore. Way nicer than Richter's Burgers, except for the lack of Freestyle Coke machines. Hotter or cooler than Robb's wing sauce? The attraction marquee. In case you were wondering where we were... I found the Strawberry Shortcake Matterhorn! Farewell to... Strawberry Country! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I hereby vow that I am going to this next year, and I am having an ice cream burger. Thanks for the report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paiging_jen Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Brandon Farms makes awesome strawberry shakes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Great report, I too am a deep-fried fan. We had our own little little deep fried food court here in Fort Lauderdale last weekend. I ate EVERYTHING! (Side note in response to your report: Chicken and waffles is nothing new, we had that when we were kids.) Our little food court. Chicken on a stick! YUMMMMMM! Nom Nom Nom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakizle Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 ^They serve those at UCF football games. Anyways, WHY did I not know about this???? Omg it looks so good. Can I please go next year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I will definitely fly out for it next year! I vow to try everything! Thanks for the report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nay Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I got to go there last week too and it was amazing! I wish I could have had more to eat than I did but I just couldn't handle it. My personal favorite, the strawberry/pineapple swirl Dole Whip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginny Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Great report Adam! It's a good thing I don't live anywhere near there, or I would have gone and then I'd be at least 20 pounds heavier right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Great report, Adam. And Renee, that dole whip looks heavenly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoCo Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 ^Ditto on both comments. Also, let me see if I have this right: an ice cream burger is a burger with a scoop of ice cream on it? Is that right? Because if that's right, that is very, very wrong. However, chicken-fried bacon looks like it is every kind of right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonskeep Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Chicken fried bacon and Krispy Creme breakfast sandwich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedarpointfangirl Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Chicken Fried Bacon..mmm, that stuff is delish..I have to grab that at the State Fair of Texas every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freefallXL Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 ...mhmmm,.. strawberries Nice trip report,.. thank you! I´m really hungry right now. So much delicious food!!! By the way,.. i still have this coaster - count Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinacaniac Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I feel like my cholesterol just shot up by double because of this report....awesome stuff! I would be up for trying an item or two. -Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster-crazy Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Great TR .. you made me really hungry! I wonder how many people got the "Garbage Burger". It really DOES look like garbage! ~Nicholas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandaman Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Reminds me of a certain past TPR update... I still think that video was the hardest I've ever laughed on TPR, tied with maybe Erik's footage of being stuck in the 1920's on Carousel of Progress. For the record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowboard246 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That fried bacon looks amazing, in fact all the food looks amazing. I can't believe I didn't go and I am so close, I will make sure to stop by next year for sure. Awesome report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alilstronger Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Looks awesome! Would love to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazekiddd Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Thanks Adam! This makes me happy for all the horrible fried food I get to experience at the Dade County Fair this weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjune4991 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Gosh, I need to go to this fair next year. I just went to the fair in Indian River County on the east coast, and the food was absolutely incredible. I think I ate from 6 stalls. But all these food carts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyondthepalace Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I am beyond p*ssed that I did not go to the Strawberry Fest this year. ...I know that they have some of the more far out carnie foods but I did not expect them to have the Ice Cream burger and the other fried yummy yums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthoni_ Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 man... too much strawberries! But it's ok, I love them. Wish I could go to some of these fairs here in Brazil... they're always boring around here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Now I'm craving a bloomin' onion. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aimster Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I was hoping to finally go to the Strawberry Festival this year, but sadly it wasn't meant to be. The boyfriend & I are talking about possibly going to Parkesdale Farms for some strawberry shortcake this weekend though. I've been there before and it's the BEST strawberry shortcake I've ever had. So freaking huge it's a meal in itself. I didn't even make it to the State Fair this year either! Busch Gardens has those chipstix/ribbon fries on a stick thing in the Timbuktu area. Keep meaning to try it sometime as they have a few different flavors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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