Arrested at the Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City

Arrested, detained or removed at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City? Attorney Ron Frey helps people who live in the Tampa Bay area and visitors from out of town when a day at the festival turns into a criminal matter. Attorney Ron Frey has been practicing law for over two decades.

The festival is a family event that draws hundreds of thousands of guests to Plant City each year, with headline concerts on many days and nights. With crowds that size, people do sometimes get arrested. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office handle security inside the festival grounds, and Plant City Police handle traffic and everything outside the gates. Guests go through a bag check at the entrances.

An accusation is not a conviction, and you don’t have to sort it out alone. If you or a friend or family member is stopped, searched, questioned or arrested at the festival, speak with a lawyer before you say more.

Facts About the Florida Strawberry Festival

The 2027 Florida Strawberry Festival runs for 11 days, March 4 through March 14, 2027. The festival grounds are at 303 BerryFest Place in Plant City, in eastern Hillsborough County. The festival reported 573,299 guests in 2026.

Festival parking is in the Blue, Gray and Red lots on Ritter Street, off Highway 92 or Highway 574, with a tram to Gates 10 and 14. Independent lots also operate around the grounds.

Festival rules and details can change. Check the festival’s current official information before you go.

Who May Be Involved

Where something happens can decide which agency writes the report or makes an arrest. Exactly which agency acts depends on the location, the people involved and what is alleged. Learn more about Hillsborough County Sheriff arrests and Plant City Police arrests.

Common Issues at the Festival

Most guests simply enjoy the festival. When an arrest does happen, it may involve allegations such as:

• Disorderly conduct or disorderly intoxication
• Trespass warnings after being removed from the grounds, and claims of coming back after one
• Theft. See theft charges in Tampa.
• Fights, assault or battery. See battery charges.
• Drugs. See drug possession charges.
• Underage drinking or fake IDs
• Resisting an officer. See resisting arrest without violence.
• DUI or a traffic stop driving to or from the festival. See DUI arrests in Tampa.
• Outstanding warrants that come up during an ID check or a stop

How each of these is handled depends on the facts, the evidence and the agencies involved.

Courts

A case that starts at the Florida Strawberry Festival can end up in a Florida state court in Hillsborough County, which is part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Under a court administrative order, misdemeanors and criminal traffic offenses that occur within the court’s East Division boundaries are assigned to a county criminal division based in Plant City. Learn more about the Plant City Courthouse and the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa. Where a particular case is heard depends on the charge and where it happened. For local court records and case information, the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court is the official source.

What to Expect, Including for Out-of-Town Visitors

Some people are released with a warning or a notice to appear, and others are taken to jail for booking. A person arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office or other local agencies is usually booked at the Orient Road Jail. A person who stays in custody generally sees a judge at a first appearance, generally within 24 hours of arrest, and the judge sets release conditions such as bond in Hillsborough County. Learn more about bond and bail in Florida, and what to do if a family member is arrested in Tampa.

Visitors who live outside Tampa Bay or outside Florida have more to think about: whether release conditions let them travel home, court dates in Hillsborough County, and whether they have to show up in person. A lawyer may be able to handle many steps for you, and a friend or family member back home can call on your behalf. Don’t miss a court date or ignore paperwork because you’ve left town. See arrested on vacation in Tampa Bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who handles security at the Florida Strawberry Festival?

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office handles security inside the festival grounds, and the Plant City Police Department handles traffic and the areas outside the gates. Festival security personnel and staff also work at the event.

What happens if I am removed or trespassed from the festival?

A person removed from the grounds may be given a trespass warning. Coming back after a warning can lead to a new allegation. If you received a warning or were removed, speak with a lawyer about what it means for you.

My friend or family member was arrested at the festival. What should I do?

Find out where they were taken and whether a first appearance or bond has been set. A person arrested by the Sheriff’s Office or other local agencies is usually booked at the Orient Road Jail. You can call a lawyer on their behalf. See what to do if a family member is arrested in Tampa.

Can I go home if I am arrested while visiting Plant City from out of town?

It depends on your release conditions. Visitors should know whether those conditions allow travel, when their court dates are, and whether they have to appear in person. A lawyer may be able to handle many steps for you. Don’t miss a court date or ignore paperwork because you’ve left town.

Every Situation Needs Its Own Review

Laws, regulations and procedures change, and small facts can change everything. Each situation has to be evaluated case by case under current laws and regulations, with a response tailored to it, not what the internet or AI tells you. Attorney Ron Frey looks at the whole record, including how any stop, detention or search was done, what video and other records exist, and what witnesses actually saw. Every case is different. Prosecutors still have to prove each charge with admissible evidence, and judges decide disputed issues.

The Florida Strawberry Festival is a fun family event, and people do sometimes get arrested there. If a day at the festival ends with a stop, a removal or an arrest, Attorney Ron Frey can help. He has been practicing law for over two decades, and The Frey Law Firm, LLC’s office is at 625 E. Twiggs St., #101A, in downtown Tampa. If you or a friend or family member was detained, arrested or removed at the Florida Strawberry Festival, don’t wait to get help. Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.

Related: Plant City criminal defense · Arrested at Gasparilla in Tampa · Arrested on vacation in Tampa Bay · Arrested at a stadium, arena or concert