GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Strawberry Fest, which was literally afield March 1-2, had some attendees seeing red in more ways than one.
At least 22,000 sweet-toothed revelers – it’s possible that total was closer to 25K – converged upon Clay County Fairgrounds for the annual affair.
The only things that outnumbered visitors were the small, spotlighted fruits.
As can occur during carnivals at fairgrounds, heavy traffic gummed up the works. It was an idyllic day – upper 70s with a breeze – so a mass of humanity was inevitable.
Saturday’s scenario is what Ernest Hemingway may have described as an “immoveable” feast.
My arrival before the event’s 10 a.m. starting time – securing a parking spot near the entrance – seemed beneficial at first, only to backfire later. When I attempted to leave at noon, it was a nonstarter: many drivers idled in their vehicles for 30 minutes without advancing an inch.
It was like sitting at a drive-in theater without a movie screen. A daytime nightmare right before our berry eyes.
It was undoubtedly a testament to Strawberry Fest’s popularity: The admission line stretched for a country mile, and traffic on State Road 16 to Penney Farms resembled a funeral procession for hours.
June Font of Buckler Promotions said they have organized the successful spectacle since 2016. Nevertheless, Saturday was a case of “The more, the murkier” as the multitudes were underestimated.
“We had a much larger crowd this year than we typically do,” Font said. An “unfortunate” situation is how she described the backed-up vehicles.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, posting on social media Saturday, referred to the standstill as an “unacceptable” miscalculation.
To Font’s credit, she asserted Buckler Shows was evaluating the traffic situation at considerable length to make future events run more smoothly.
“It’s our goal that all customers leave happy, having had a great time,” she said.
That was the overall sense from this newcomer’s vantage point.
For a $5 donation, pie-eyed participants indulged in an eating competition. “Where else can you eat pie for charity?” Font asked.
Singer Reggie Starr crooned like nobody’s business throughout Saturday, belting out classic tunes from an array of genres.
Among the vendors who set up shop near the entrance was Plant City’s Doug Quirk, who was selling strawberries alongside onions – a combo not exactly on my Bingo card. “They actually grow together,” was his succinct explanation.
A stone’s throw away sat the Towers Family Farms clan, namely Charlie, who manages their farm in Palatka. He said they have been growing strawberries for five years, but blueberries for over a decade.
Additional vendors, such as Holly Veres, the bonafide beekeeper and owner of Babette’s Bees & Teas, and gentleman Doug Wall, representing his aptly named Gent of Scent natural skin products, were nestled inside the exhibition tents.
As for fun in the sun, the most popular activity was the Free Frisbee Dog Show, though the ongoing Monster Truck Rides, Bungee Jump and Axe Throwing were worthy companion pieces to the canines.
A young lady named Skylar Williams was not horsing around while helping with the pony rides simply because “I like working with animals.”
Plant City’s Florida Strawberry Festival partly inspired the related fest in Clay County.
“Margaret Buckler, the owner, had the idea to create a family-friendly festival in other Florida cities,” Font explained. As a result, they now oversee a half-dozen festivals in the Sunshine State and three in Ohio, in addition to blueberry galas and BBQ Bacon & Brews Fest.
The fruity stars of the latest strawberry show came in multiple forms: shortcake, lemonade, fudge and – wait for it – kettle corn.
It stands to reason the plethora of food and festivities wouldn’t be possible without elbow grease and folks rolling up their sleeves.
“All of us at Buckler Shows enjoy bringing good family fun that won’t break the bank,” Font said.
Just be sure to have plenty of gas in your vehicle’s tank.
