In the early 1900’s Portland’s big industry was “strawberries.” In addition to the large number of farms and agricultural businesses growing the country’s finest berries, there was a crating factory, a fruit processing plant, a canning factory and a freezing facility producing strawberries for Breyers Ice Cream and other national brands.
During the peak of the strawberry business, Portland would ship out 30 railroad cars a day. Portland started hosting the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival in 1941 and that tradition continues today. Each year in mid-May the festival brings 40,000+ people together to celebrate the importance of the strawberry industry to Portland’s heritage.
Portland has become more industrialized over the past few decades, but we still have several local strawberry farmers who bring strawberries to sell at the Festival and have pick-your-own farms available in the area. We can’t predict what the strawberry crop will look like each year as the weather plays a huge factor in the size of the strawberry crop, but our community still celebrates together each May the importance strawberries have on our town’s heritage.
We hope you will join us this year to celebrate! The Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival provides an opportunity for people to travel to Portland to enjoy the events, the food, the community and the small-town feel of Portland with family and friends.
The weekend before the main festival, there will be a Strawberry Quilt Show happening May 3rd-4th, the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival Pageant on May 4th and the Strawberry Slam Wrestling Event also happening May 4th.
The Annual Strawberry Golf Tournament will happen May 7th at Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course in Franklin, KY and the carnival will be held the 7th-11th as well at Richland Park.
Kicking off the festival on Friday, May 10th will be the Strawberry Jam Concert & Fireworks! Live music, food vendors and a classic car cruise-in will start at 5pm with Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute headlining at 6:30pm followed by fireworks at 8:30pm! Friday night events are off E. Market Street in downtown Portland!
The main festival day will be Saturday, May 11th! 200+ vendors, multiple music stages, robocars, 5K walk/run, pancake breakfast, bingo, carnival, mechanical guitar, KidTown USA, strawberry farmers and more! The parade will begin at 4pmand finish out a day full of fun.
Make sure to utilize the free parking at Portland High School (600 College Street) and Generation Church (960 Highway 52) and the free shuttle that drops you off right at the festival area.
Visit www.MiddleTNStrawberryFestival.com for more information and schedule of events and download our app available on Apple & Google Play.
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