If you love everything about the spring season, there's an event coming soon near Tampa that will be the cutest berry in the patch. The Fruitville Grove Berry Festival in Sarasota is happening this March with adorable animal encounters, fun activities, and tons of delicious seasonal food and drinks. This huge 6-day event will be taking place at the Fruitville Grove Farm Market in Sarasota on March 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22. There's plenty of time to pick a date convenient for you and your friends and mark your calendars. The festival will have all the magic of spring in one place, and it's free. There isn't even a parking fee! Each day the fun starts at 10:00 in the morning stretching until 4:00 in the afternoon. There will be live demonstrations, musical entertainment, shows, craft vendors, food trucks, and animal interactions at the fest. Some activities will be happening on all days, while others are scheduled for specific dates; make sure to check their website for your favorite experiences before attending. Food and drinks will be a huge part of the celebration at the Fruitville Grove Berry Fest, so you're gonna wanna come hungry. You can enjoy fresh-out-of-the-oven seasonal fruit pies topped with hand made, fluffy whipped cream, strawberry shortcakes (with an optional ice cream scoop), milkshakes, smoothies, funnel cakes, curly fries, and much more. View this post on Instagram Yea! It’s strawberry season and that means strawberry shortcake! Check out the Berry Festival at @fruitville.grove for a berry good time. . I skipped the whipped cream because it came from a can (Reddi-Wip) and added creamy delicious vanilla ice cream from Big Olaf. It was so good. . . #fruitvillegrove #berryfestival #strawberry #strawberryseason #strawberryshortcake #ediblesarasota #sarasotafoodie #aroundsarasota #bestofthesunshinestate #freshproduce #eatlocal #locallygrown #suncoast #eatdessertfirst #supportlocalfarmers #sarasota #florida #srq #bigolaf #floridagrown #seasthedayflorida A post shared by Heather (@seastheday_florida) on Mar 9, 2019 at 4:36pm PST A food truck rally will also take over this fest, so there will be tons of delicious options to eat and drink, including cocktails. The beer tent will have popular beer brands, and even berry-themed beers. Wines will also be available. Attendees can enjoy an array of activities including a butterfly garden, craft show, pony, hay and mini train rides, live music performances, a kid's zone, face painting, a much more. For all the animal lovers out there, some adorable experiences await at this event. You can hold a piggie, hug a goat or even snuggle a skunk. Having a magical encounter with a 'unicorn' can also be part of your experience and makes for an excellent photo-op for IG. View this post on Instagram Believe in Unicorns and Yourself 🦄 . @fruitville.grove #nyc #brooklyn #ootd #kindergartenrocks #kindergarten #timessquare #fashion #unicorns #teachersfollowteachers #CatsFollowCats #ScottishFold #dtsp #hudsonvalley #LoveFL #TampaBay #teacherlife #unicornsarereal #sarasota #StPetersburgFl #fairies #fruitvillegrove #unicornsofinstagram #berryfestival A post shared by Victoria Rhodes (@missvikkers) on Mar 17, 2019 at 12:58pm PDT The cost for activities will range from $1 and up, with many being cash-only, so don't forget to hit up the ATM. View this post on Instagram I meant to pose for a picture, but I was really busy gazing at my freshly picked berries. #boysenberries #berryfestival A post shared by London Vale (@londonvale) on Jun 14, 2019 at 11:42am PDT If you are planning to attend the festival, make sure to wear sunscreen and comfy closed-toe shoes, since you'll be under the hot Florida sun and doing a bunch of walking. The organizers have also said that well-behaved pets are more than welcome to attend on a leash, but be prepared to pick up after them if you bring along your furry friend. Proof of up to date vaccinations may also be required. View this post on Instagram This year's #AbbyBerryFest will feature berry sales from our friends at @neufeldfarms & @leppfarmmarket! What are your favorite berry treats to make each year? 🍓 | 📷: @jcastro_ & @torihackett23 / @leppfarmmarket | • • • • #downtownabbotsford #abbotsford #abby #exploreabbotsford #eatplayloveabby #play #love #local #lovelocal #yxx #berries #berry #berryfestival #leppfarmmarket #neufeldfarms #strawberries #raspberries #abbotsfordberryfestival #localberries #berrycapitalofcanada A post shared by Downtown Abbotsford (@downtownabbotsford) on Jul 4, 2018 at 11:11am PDT The Fruitville Grove Farm Market is open seven days a week (including the festival dates) selling fresh and seasonal products, both certified and non-certified organic. Besides this berry delicious fest, they also hold an adorable pumpkin patch every fall. Fruitville Grove Berry Fest Price: Free When: March 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22 Address: Fruitville Grove Farm Market — 7410 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, FL Why You Need To Go: Get ready to have adorable animal encounters, enjoy tasty food and drinks, and tons of live music and activities for all ages. This will be a "berry" cute festival, indeed. Website
