What the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Is
The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is an annual April celebration of Louisiana's state fruit in the town that calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World." It is free to enter, family friendly and large, drawing crowds in the thousands to Memorial Park and North Sixth Street. Visitors find two music stages, food booths, carnival rides for kids, strawberry contests and local growers selling berries. The 2026 festival was the 54th annual. The next festival is April 9 to 11, 2027.
The 2026 Schedule
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday, April 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the parade at 9:30 a.m. |
| Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Those hours were adjusted for added security and safety after a shooting at the festival the year before. Hours for 2027 will be posted on lastrawberryfestival.com.
What You Will Find
Friday
The Strawberry Royalty is introduced, followed by live music, and rides are part of the event.
Saturday
The parade steps off in the morning, and the day includes a strawberry eating contest and live music.
Sunday
Carnival rides, food and live music close out the weekend.
The Strawberry Eating Contest
Competitors race to eat a pint of strawberries and must eat the whole berry, including the stem. Contests are held Saturday and Sunday.
Food and Farmers Row
Booths serve strawberry shortcake made with fresh local berries and deep-fried strawberries in a beignet-style batter dusted with sugar, with a cinnamon-flavored version too. Local growers sell their strawberries along Farmers Row throughout the weekend. More than 40 booths in 2026 were run by local nonprofit organizations.
Want to pick your own after the festival? Mrs. Heather's Strawberry Patch and Landry-Poche Strawberry Farm in nearby Livingston Parish are two options.
Admission and Where
Admission is free. The festival is held in Memorial Park, 301 N. 6th St., Ponchatoula, LA 70454.
Questions
When is the next festival?
April 9 to 11, 2027.
Does it cost anything to get in?
No. Admission is free, though food, rides and berries are paid for separately.
When is the parade?
On Saturday. In 2026 it was at 9:30 a.m.
Can I buy local berries?
Yes, along Farmers Row, where local growers sell berries all weekend.
Official Links
- Louisiana Strawberry Festival: festival website
- Schedule of events for 2026 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival: hours and parade
- Guide to the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival: contests, food and Farmers Row
- Tangipahoa Parish tourism festival listing: 2027 dates and address
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Tangipahoa Parish Fair
Amite hosts the parish fair each fall, with 4-H exhibits alongside midway attractions; the most recent dates were September 30 to October 4, 2026.
1301 NW Central Ave, Amite, LA 70422 Official event details - State Fair of Louisiana
The 120th State Fair of Louisiana fills the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport for eighteen days, with livestock shows, midway rides and food. The fair has run since 1906.
3701 Hudson Ave., Shreveport, LA 71109 | Organizer: State Fair of Louisiana Official event details - Allen Parish Fair
Four-day parish fair at the Allen Parish Fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin, with general and agricultural exhibits. Held each year; the 2025 fair ran Nov. 12-15 and the 2026 fair is set for Nov. 11-14.
Tiger Lane, Oberlin, LA 70655 Official event details - Port Barre Cracklin Festival
Four-day festival in Port Barre built around Louisiana cracklin, the fried pork rind. Held each year; the most recent dates were November 12-15, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Park.
- Christmas Time at the Farm
Holiday farm day in Bossier City on the LSU AgCenter events calendar, set for December 12, 2026.
Bossier City, LA | Organizer: LSU AgCenter Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.