The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival returns this weekend with fresh-picked fruit, live entertainment, and family-friendly traditions, while also spotlighting the broader role agriculture plays across Louisiana.
Dubbed the “Strawberry Capital of the World,” Ponchatoula will welcome tens of thousands of visitors to Memorial Park beginning Friday at 11 a.m. Festival Chairman Roman Ernst says this year’s crop is exceptional.
“These strawberries were picked this morning and brought straight to the festival,” Ernst said during a live radio appearance. “They’re fully red, sweet all the way through, and some of the finest we’ve seen.”
The three-day festival features two music stages with nonstop bands, carnival rides, nonprofit food booths, and Farmer’s Row, where approximately 19 local strawberry farmers will sell freshly harvested berries along with jams, jellies, and other products. Friday offers discounted ride wristbands, while Saturday’s highlight is the iconic Strawberry Festival Parade at 9:30 a.m., drawing crowds that often exceed 100,000 people.
Festivalgoers can also enjoy strawberry desserts ranging from shortcakes and pies to chocolate-covered strawberries, plus traditional games like sack races, egg tosses, and popular strawberry-eating contests.
Supporting Louisiana Strawberry Farmers
Strawberry Queen Aubrey Brumfield, who represents the festival and Louisiana’s strawberry industry across the state, emphasized the importance of supporting local growers.
“My job is to educate people about Louisiana strawberries and how important it is to buy local and support our farmers,” Brumfield said. “This festival makes a huge difference for them.”
Ernst noted that strawberry farming is highly labor- and capital-intensive, with a short harvest window. Selling directly to consumers during the festival allows farmers to move large volumes of ripe fruit quickly.
“Ponchatoula berries are picked ripe, not green,” Ernst said. “That’s why they’re sweeter than imported strawberries, which are often harvested early and shipped long distances.”
Agriculture Beyond the Festival
The broadcast also featured Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, who discussed how events like the Strawberry Festival fit into the state’s larger agricultural landscape during a busy legislative session.
Strain emphasized that Louisiana agriculture relies heavily on farmer-supported programs and market access. He highlighted the importance of promotion efforts, similar to those used for strawberries, for other Louisiana products such as seafood, rice, sugarcane, crawfish, and grains.
“Farmers self-fund many of these programs,” Strain explained. “Promotion, insurance-style indemnity funds, and conservation efforts are critical to keeping agriculture sustainable.”
Strain also discussed legislative efforts focused on protecting farmers from grain broker defaults, modernizing soil and water conservation district elections, and ensuring accountability through the required five-year reauthorization of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
A Festival With Statewide Impact
While the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is known for its fun, food, and tradition, organizers say its impact reaches far beyond entertainment.
“This weekend supports farmers, nonprofits, and the local economy,” Ernst said. “It’s Louisiana agriculture on display.”
The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival runs Friday through Sunday, with full schedules, entertainment lineups, and parade details available at LAStrawberryFestival.com.
Listen to “Why the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Is a Win for Louisiana Farmers” on Spreaker.