PONCHATOULA, La. (BRPROUD) — This year marks the 51st anniversary of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Louisiana’s largest free harvest festival will be from Friday, April 14-16 in Ponchatoula.
Since 1972, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival attracted visitors from near and far to celebrate local strawberry farmers, nonprofits, and the community, making it the largest free harvest festival in the state of Louisiana.
The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is the strawberry capital of the world, and each year getting 300,000 people. One local, Mallorie Vaccaro said it’s getting more popular with out-of-town visitors each year.
“We’ll get people who are from Baton Rouge, people who have never been before, people are starting to hear about it a lot more. It’s definitely grown,” said Vaccaro.
The family-friendly event offered carnival rides, food, and games. The festival is primarily focused on a strong purpose, helping Louisiana Farmers.
One farmer in Springfield Louisiana, Trey Harris, owner of Harris Farms said it’s been difficult to grow crops.
“We have been having a lot of stress on the plants due to cold weather, then extreme hot,” said Harris. “We need seventy to eighty-degree weather, we don’t need to be in the ’90s.”
The king and queen of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, King Arthur Thompson, and Queen Kristen Drozd both agreed that their favorite part is when people come out and support the farmers.
“You know farming is just a really hard business,” said Thompson. “These guys are just so dedicated and women are just so dedicated.”
The festival grounds are located at 301 N. 6th Street in Ponchatoula.
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