Trail Blog

March 10, 2011

Hot Item » Spring Means Time for Ponchatoula’s Strawberry Festival

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

 

Festival Facts:   This year, the festival will be held April 8–10 at Ponchatoula’s Memorial Park and North Sixth Street. On Friday, carnival rides and food booths open at 4 p.m., with live entertainment kicking off at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., you can hear the winner of the festival’s “Strawberry Idol” contest.

  •             In addition to rides and live music, Saturday’s events feature a downtown parade, rolling at 9:30 a.m., and a strawberry auction, where you can bid on ribbon-winning berries.
  •             Sunday starts early with the Strawberry Strut 10K and 1-mile fun run at 8 a.m. Rides and entertainment continue from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., when the festival closes.

You can find more information about the festival at www.lastrawberryfestival.com.

 

You’ve Gotta Try:    As you’d expect, the festival’s food booths feature a variety of strawberry dishes. The most popular is thestrawberry shortcake, made in front of you using fresh local berries. Another must-try: deep-fried strawberries. They’re dipped in what’s described as a beignet batter, deep-fried, and dusted with sugar. Sample the cinnamon-flavored ones too.

 

Other Food Favorites:    The festival boasts more than 70 different food booths, each serving up a different dish. You’ll find grilled oysters, fried catfish, hamburgers, boiled crawfish, funnel cakes and more.

 

Belly Up for a Berry-Eating Contest:   A Louisiana festival isn’t complete without some sort of eating contest. Here, three different age groups (9 and under; 10–17; 18 and up) compete to see who can eat a pint of strawberries the fastest. The rules stipulate that they must eat the entire berry to win, including the stem. Because of the large number of eager participants, the contest usually requires multiple heats.

 

Strawberry Souvenirs: Don’t leave without taking home some of the area’s favorite fruits. You’ll find local growers selling their crop along the festival’s Farmers Row throughout the weekend.

 

Berry Basics: Though there are fewer farmers than there once were, the Ponchatoula area still grows some 300 acres of strawberries. These healthy snacks are great sources of vitamin C, folate, and potassium.

            The Louisiana Strawberry Marketing Board offers the following tips for purchasing and storing strawberries: 1.) Be sure check for mold growth. 2.) Buy plump, bright red berries with fresh green caps still attached. 3.) Remove any damaged berries and store the remaining good berries unwashed in a ventilated container in the refrigerator. 4.) For the best flavor, use them within the first couple of days of picking.

 

While In Town:   If you have time to explore more of the Ponchatoula area, you’ll find it’s got great culinary gems. First up, try Paul’s Café for some good home cooking. They have daily specials, like shrimp étouffée and roast beef, rice & gravy, but they’re best known for their strawberry daiquiris, using local berries, of course! (Paul’s Café: 100 East Pine St., Ponchatoula; 985.386.9581; www.paulscafe.net)

  •             Rockefeller’s is another popular choice. It boasts an oyster bar and a menu with items such as soft-shell crab Delacrois, trout Mardi Gras, and New Orleans-style poboys. (147 N.W. Railroad Ave., Ponchatoula; 985.370.0930; www.rockefellersrestaurant.com)
  •             Middendorf’s, on Lake Maurepas, has been serving locals and travelers for more than 75 years. Their thin fried catfish is considered the best in the world by Southern Living magazine. (30160 Hwy. 51 S., Akers; 985.386.6666; http://middendorfsrestaurant.com)
  •             Amato’s Winery is a family-owned business in Independence, which produces a strawberry wine. You can stop by the winery for tours and tastings if you call in advance to make an appointment. (12415 W. Black Rd., Independence; 985.878.6566)

 

If You Want to Pick-Your-Own: Can’t make it to the festival or want to treat your family to a pick-your-own strawberry farm? Nearby Livingston Parish offers a few options.

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
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