Pick Your Own Strawberries! The Space Coast Strawberry Festival Coming to Viera at Space Coast Daily Park Feb. 3-4
By Space Coast Daily // September 5, 2023
pick the beauties right off the strawberry bushes!
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Florida has been the winter strawberry capital of the United States for more than 100 years, and to celebrate that tradition in Brevard, the Space Coast Strawberry Festival, an exciting two-day outdoor family event, will be held February 3 and 4 in Viera at Space Coast Daily Park.
The Space Coast Strawberry Festival will feature a thrilling environment for people to enjoy affordable, healthy and wholesome fun and offer a wide range of enjoyable activities – all celebrating the wonderful strawberry!
The University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, or UF/IFAS, has been developing new strawberry varieties for farmers since the late 1940s at its Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma.
The luscious red berries we find at the market are quite different then what would have been grown in the early days, a result of decades of careful breeding programs to bring out the best in the fruit.
Strawberry harvest season in Florida goes from December through April, and these days Florida farmers grow strawberries on about 12,000 acres and generate more than $300 million in crops each year.
In that tradition, the Space Coast Strawberry Festival will plant and grow a beautiful multi-acre strawberry field at Space Coast Daily Park so that festival attendees can pick the beauties right off the strawberry bushes. The Space Coast Strawberry Festival will provide high quality berries, value prices, and a unique atmosphere with a very fun experience.
They will also offer raw honey made from honey bees who help pollinate strawberries. Grab some homemade strawberry jams, strawberry rhubarb and strawberry jalapeño preserves in the country tent store.
Space Coast Daily Park is a 38-acre, outdoor green space, specifically designed for outdoor events of all kinds. Located at 5775 Stadium Parkway, Space Coast Daily Park in Viera has parking space for up to 2,000 vehicles, adjacent to the palm tree lined event area, with a paved pathway, a beautiful lake, camping areas and is suitable for all kinds of activities.
“The whole family s can have a great time in the strawberry patches, picking your own berries, making some memories and taking photos of all the big smiles,” said Space Coast Daily Partner and Space Coast Strawberry Festival Director Giles Malone.
“It’s a great way to spend time together, and way better than buying berries in the grocery store! Plus, children of all ages will love this family outing. A weight scale will tell you exactly how many berries are in your bucket or box before you leave to check out.
“You can also stop inside the store tent to reward your little pickers with homemade strawberry donuts, milkshakes, sundaes and slushies. Adults may enjoy a fresh made Strawberry Daiquiri for sustenance! Virgin ones are available too along with fresh squeezed strawberry lemonades.”
Gate admission is just $6 for adults and includes all day access from open to close. If you need to leave the park, no problem, simply show your armband for re-entry. Children under age 2 receive free admission. Parking is just $5 per vehicle, and if you need to leave the park, simply show your parking pass for re-entry on the same day.
Vendors and Art Festival Exhibitors Can Book Now
The Space Coast Strawberry Festival Arts & Crafts Fair is expected to host over 150 exhibitors, representing all types of art and craft media.
The highly experienced management team that operates the festival has been producing events in Brevard County for three decades including the Space Coast Seafood & Music Festival, Space Coast Home Shows, Space Coast State Fair, over 130 concerts, the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, the Central Florida Humanitarian Awards –and much more.
“The fair will draw thousands of eager shoppers from across the Southeast to the beautiful, palm tree lined grounds of Space Coast Daily Park, in charming Viera on Florida’s Space Coast,” said Malone.
■ Arts and Crafts: The local organizing committee will judge the entrants. These items must be one hundred percent handcrafted by the artists. Food is not accepted in this category. Outside spaces are 12′ x 12′: $150.
■ Non-handcrafted re-sale: Foods like dips/sauces, jewelry, Scentsy, Avon, etc. Outside spaces are 12′ x 12′: $185.
■ Business booths: banking, insurance, medical etc. Outside spaces are 12′ x 12′: $345.
■ Food and beverage vendors: Call 321-323-4460 for more information and booking-in.
■ Non-profit registered organizations: Outside spaces are 12 x 12: $75.
CLICK HERE TO BECOME A VENDOR
For more information, visit SpaceCoastStrawberryFestival.com or call 321-323-4460.
Stroll through the home-grown strawberry fields at the Space Coast Strawberry Festival to pick the beauties right off the strawberry bushes. Guests pre-pay for a $6 quart or $28 for a gallon-sized bucket before heading out to the fields. Pre-picked strawberries are $4 per pound. A 1-gallon bucket with berries provides a convenient way to tote your berries home and wash them.
The field will always have employees available to guide you through the process and answer questions.
The best time of day to pick is early in the morning when the berries are still cool or in the late afternoon when the sun is setting. If the sun is too hot, the strawberries get softer and may not keep as well.
■ Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden strawberries ready for harvest.
■ Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries do not continue to ripen after they are picked.
■ Use both hands, one to hold the leaves, and the other to pick the berries.
■ Keep the stems and hulls on the fruit.
■ The small berries are often the most flavorful.
■ Keep them in the shade.
■ Don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them. They’ll spoil more quickly. Strawberries last for a few days in the refrigerator.
■ Here you can mix strawberry picking and wine tasting. What could be better? Go to the wine garden for a sample.
■ This family-owned farm is a 3-acre strawberry patch that is pesticide free, so there’s no need to worry about the little ones taste testing as you pick.
Bonus: the rows are wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs.
10+ Things To Do With Your Strawberries
Enjoy them fresh: The simplest and most delicious way to enjoy freshly picked strawberries is to eat them as they are. Wash the strawberries, remove the stems, and let your kids enjoy the sweet and juicy berries.
Make strawberry popsicles: Blend the strawberries with a little sugar and lemon juice, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze them for a few hours until solid, and you’ll have refreshing homemade strawberry popsicles.
Prepare strawberry shortcake: Slice the strawberries and serve them with freshly baked biscuits or sponge cake. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a delightful strawberry shortcake dessert.
Create strawberry-infused water: Slice the strawberries and add them to a pitcher of water. Let it sit for a while to infuse the water with a hint of strawberry flavor. It’s a refreshing and healthy drink option for the whole family.
Make strawberry jam: Turn your freshly picked strawberries into homemade strawberry jam. Involve your kids in the process by letting them mash the strawberries, stir the mixture, and help with canning. It’s a great way to enjoy the berries throughout the year.
Bake strawberry muffins or bread: Use the strawberries in baking projects with your kids. Make strawberry muffins or bread together by incorporating the sliced strawberries into the batter. It’s a fun and tasty way to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Create strawberry fruit salad: Combine the strawberries with other fruits like sliced bananas, blueberries, and oranges to create a colorful and nutritious fruit salad. Let your kids assist in arranging the fruit and drizzling some honey or yogurt as a topping.
Host a strawberry-themed tea party: Turn your strawberry bounty into a special event by hosting a strawberry-themed tea party. Serve strawberry lemonade, strawberry sandwiches, and strawberry pastries. Get creative with decorations and involve your kids in the planning process.
Strawberry Smoothies: Blend the strawberries with yogurt, milk, or a dairy-free alternative, and a sweetener of your choice (such as honey or maple syrup). Add ice cubes and blend until smooth. It’s a refreshing and healthy treat.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: Melt some chocolate (dark, milk, or white) and dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off. Place them on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate until the chocolate sets. A delicious and elegant treat!
Strawberry Yogurt Parfait: Layer sliced strawberries, Greek yogurt, and granola in clear glasses or bowls. Repeat the layers and top it off with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. It makes for a delightful and nutritious breakfast or dessert.
Strawberry Lemonade: Blend the strawberries with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a sweetener like honey or sugar. Strain the mixture to remove any seeds or pulp. Dilute with water, taste and adjust the sweetness, and serve over ice for a refreshing drink.
Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups: Puree the strawberries, heat it for ten minutes, and spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at a low temperature (around 200°F/93°C) for several hours until the puree is dried and no longer sticky. Cut into strips and roll them up for homemade fruit roll-ups.
Strawberry Salad: Combine sliced strawberries with mixed greens, crumbled feta cheese, candied pecans or walnuts, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. It’s a delightful and refreshing salad option.
From all our team, volunteers and families at the Space Coast Strawberry Festival, we’re wishing you much sunshine, joyful family memories, and a bushel full of beautiful strawberries.
LOCAL CHARITY DROWN ZERO WILL BENEFIT FROM FUNDS RAISED AT THE FESTIVAL
Funds raised from the event will benefit the 501.C3 charity “Drown Zero”. The Drown Zero initiative started as a Cocoa Beach Rotary Club project that has successfully installed sixty-two (62) Drown Zero flotation device stations along Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral from Harbor Heights Avenue to South 15th Street.