WHAT:
The time is ripe for strawberries with the inaugural Boca Strawberry Festival this weekend at Mizner Park.
We’re talking strawberry cupcakes, ice cream, shakes, waffles, crepes, cheesecakes, cream pies, cobblers, crunch bundt cakes, jams/jellies, funnel cakes, churros, shortcake cookies and — it goes without saying — strawberries dipped in chocolate. Where beverages are concerned, expect strawberry cocktails (and mocktails), beers, ciders, frozen daiquiris, slushies and smoothies.
Make sure you check out the strawberry/cream cheese empanadas, and strawberry BBQ sauces, hot sauces and slime. Yes, these are all things that actually exist.
“Florida is the No. 1 winter strawberry producer and we wanted to celebrate the wonderful weather we have here in South Florida in January with the Boca Strawberry Festival,” says Jackie Ralston, who cofounded the event with her daughter, Skyler Mendieta.
At the festival, you will find a Pop-Up Shopping Village with all kinds of specialty foods and vendors as well as food trucks and booths, video games, a petting zoo, a 70-foot inflatable obstacle course, bungee trampolines, lawn games, a baby-toddler soft play area, and a Strawberry S.T.E.A.M. Kids Exploration Station.
There will also be entertainment from the Puppy Pals Comedic Stunt Dog Show (seen on “America’s Got Talent”), magicians and live music.
Mendieta adds: “Our goal was to create an event that has something for everyone … from babies to empty nesters — a festival that is entertaining, taste-bud satisfying, adrenaline-inducing … and the whole event centers around strawberries. You name it, we have it!”
WHEN:
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21 to 22.
WHERE:
The address is Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton.
COST:
Single-day festival tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the gate
Weekend tickets are $22 in advance or $27 at the gate.
Also available: tickets for single-day and weekend unlimited activities.
Entry is free for children age 2 and younger.
INFORMATION:
Visit BocaStrawberryFestival.com, and .
