It’s one of Louisiana’s sweetest traditions and it’s back for another year. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival returns this weekend with three days of food, music, and family-friendly activities, all centered around the region’s signature crop.
Festivalgoers can expect live entertainment, rides, and plenty of strawberry-inspired treats, along with a parade on Saturday and a fun run and church service on Sunday.
This year’s grand marshal, Emily McNeilly Matise, says the event is all about bringing families together.
“It’s such a family-focused, community-oriented event,” she said. “And I especially love the strawberry eating contest.”
Festival King David Atkins says the celebration also shines a spotlight on the farmers behind the fruit.
“We've lost some farmers, but the ones that are still here are growing some of the sweetest and best berries around.”
And for those in the agricultural community, the impact goes beyond the festivities. Strawberry Festival Blossom Heather Robertson says the event plays an important role in supporting local growers.
“Farming can sometimes mean just breaking even,” Robertson said. “Events like this help fill in those gaps and make a real difference.”
Organizers say the festival continues to be a celebration not just of strawberries, but of the people and traditions that keep the industry thriving in Louisiana.
