Polk County Blueberry Fest

Blueberry farming is a growing industry in Polk County, and with so many local growers, it’s a no-brainer to highlight their hard work and delicious crops with a festival! Auburndale has wonderful facilities and is located in the heart of Central Florida, perfect for bringing everyone together for a really fun day! Visit Central Florida has teamed up with Destroyer Media to bring you this fun-filled day. Stop by the festival from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Auburndale’s Downtown City Park on April 11. Here’s what to expect:

Pancake Breakfast

Start your Polk County Blueberry Festival experience off with a delicious blueberry pancake breakfast presented by Iceberg Home Services from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.! Restaurants Against Hunger will be serving mini blueberry pancakes, two sausages, and a drink for only $10. The Polk County Blueberry Festival is free to attend, however the pancake breakfast requires purchasing a ticket. You can feel good about having this delicious blueberry pancake breakfast because all proceeds go to Restaurants Against Hunger, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping feed those in need. Thank you to Always Fresh for donating the blueberries, that was “berry” sweet of you. The pancake breakfast will be hosted inside the Auburndale Civic Center. Purchase tickets in advance at centralfloridatix.com.

Learn

You can’t have a blueberry festival without blueberries! There will be several local blueberry farms on site, where you can meet the farmers, learn about growing blueberries in Polk County, and of course, buy fresh blueberries.

There will be an Agricultural Education exhibit sponsored by the Polk County Farm Bureau and hosted by the experts at UF/IFAS. Families will learn everything they need to know to grow their own blueberries. Don’t miss the “Integrated Pest Management for Blueberry Trees Workshop” at 2:30 p.m. in the Civic Center, presented by UF/IFAS.

The historic Ephraim M. Baynard House will be open for tours. Baynard, born in South Carolina in 1861, had the house built in 1894 by Alfred Chipman Thorpe. This home is an example of the Folk Victorian architectural style and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Food & Drink

The Kemp Injury Law, PA Bar, located at The Depot, will be stocked with ice-cold beer and wine. They will also offer locally made Keel & Curley beverages. Get a drink, grab a table, and enjoy a break. Pro tip: Before heading into the bar, purchase drink tickets at the tent just outside of The Depot. No cash or card will be accepted inside the bar. Everyone will need to show their ID. Don’t forget to tip the bartenders!

The food trucks will all have a special blueberry offering just for the event. Expect blueberry lemonade, cookies, BBQ, jams, ice cream, jerky, empanadas, kettle corn, and more.

Entertainment

On the main stage:

1:30 p.m. Lauris Vidal - One man band sensation!

4:30 p.m. Skinny McGee - Rockabilly, primitive country blues

6:30 p.m. Oak Hill Drifters - Rockabilly, Americana

On the Civic Center Stage:

12 p.m. Story Time with No Covers

1 p.m. Jewett School of the Arts Rock Band

2:30 p.m. “Integrated Pest Management for Blueberry Trees Workshop” UF/IFAS workshop.

The Language & Literacy Academy for Learning Family Zone offers crafts for kids, interactive inflatable games, and more. Bring the little ones for some fun; parent supervision is required.

Spring Haven Senior Living will host Blueberry BINGO in the Senior Center, and it’s free to play. Beginning at 11 a.m., they will call five games at the top of every hour, with the last rounds beginning at 5 p.m. This is a great break from the heat, and you can win prizes!

The Blue Ribbon Art Show highlights local amateur artists and makers from Polk County and will be located in the lobby of the Civic Center. Spend some time checking out the art and see who won Best in Show.

The Sensory Room will be located inside the Recreation Center. If you or your child needs a quiet break, this is for you. Expect chairs and tables, A/C, no harsh lighting, restrooms, outlets for charging, and quiet. Please be respectful of others in the room; sometimes a slow, quiet space is needed.

Schedule subject to change.

Contests

11 a.m. - The Blueberry Toss will actually be a blue water balloon toss, but since it’s the Blueberry Festival, we’re calling it a blueberry. Participants will compete in teams of two; one partner will toss the water balloon to the other partner. If the toss is successfully caught without dropping or popping the balloon, the team moves back to the next cone. Each round increases the distance between partners, and the last team with their full balloon, wins!

12 p.m. - The Blueberry Spoon Race gives each participant a spoon with a single blueberry on it. Contestants must carry the spoon while balancing the blueberry on it, navigating through a course of cones. First person to cross the finish line, wins!

3:15 p.m. - The Pie Eating Contest is for anyone ages 13+ and is our most delicious contest. It’s simple, the first person to finish eating their entire blueberry pie, without the use of their hands, wins!

To participate in any of the contests, go to polkcountyblueberryfestival.com for the full list of rules and the links to register. Good luck to all!

Shopping

No festival is complete without a little shopping! The Festival will host 80 local vendors selling handmade goods, vintage finds, plants, home decor, and more. Just like the food vendors, everyone will be bringing special blueberry-themed items just for the festival.

Stop by the Blueberry Fest info tent to purchase official Polk County Blueberry Fest merch, including t-shirts, mugs, and more.

See You There!

We’re really looking forward to this delicious day celebrating one of our favorite and super healthy fruits, the blueberry!

BIG thank you to the City of Auburndale for being so kind and gracious with us. They are a dream to work with.

To stay updated on what you will find that day, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @polkcountyblueberryfestival or go to polkcountyblueberryfestival.com.

Polk County Blueberry Festival

April 11, 2026

Pancake Breakfast 10 a.m. - 11:30a.m.

Festival 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Downtown City Park 119 W Park St, Auburndale, FL

Our Super Friend, The Florida Blueberry!

Florida is a top blueberry producer in the U.S. The season runs from March through May, allowing them to hit the market before other regions. Major production occurs in Central Florida.

Nearly all commercial acreage is planted with southern highbush cultivars (such as ‘Star’, ‘Emerald’, and ‘Jewel’) designed for Florida’s climate.

Native, early commercial attempts failed until the release of lowchill, high-quality, early-ripening cultivars by the University of Florida in the 1970s.

Blueberries have some of the highest antioxidant levels among all fruits. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, stopping chain reactions that cause cellular damage. This helps to prevent conditions like heart disease (by reducing oxidized LDL cholesterol) and cancer,prevent or delay skin cell damage from sun exposure, and aid in maintaining overall health by defending against environmental stressors.

A single serving (one cup) provides essential fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and only 80 calories.