A Complete Guide to the Poteet Strawberry Festival [2025]
Every April, Poteet, Texas, comes alive with the smell of fresh strawberries, sizzling festival food, and live music. The Poteet Strawberry Festival is one of Texas’s biggest and oldest festivals, drawing thousands of visitors every year. It is a weekend packed with concerts, rodeos, carnival rides, and the sweetest strawberries you will ever taste.
If you have never been, now is the perfect time to plan your visit. Whether you love live entertainment and great food or just want to experience a true Texas tradition, this festival has something for everyone. Here is everything you need to know before heading to this year’s Poteet Strawberry Festival.
What is the Poteet Strawberry Festival?
The Poteet Strawberry Festival started in 1948 and has grown into a massive weekend-long festival filled with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The festival puts a spotlight on Poteet’s strawberry farmers. Known for producing some of the juiciest, most flavorful strawberries in Texas, these farmers take great pride in their crops—earning Poteet the rightful name of “Strawberry Capital of Texas.”
At its heart, the festival is about more than just strawberries. It raises funds for local scholarships, helping students in the community pursue higher education. Every ticket, strawberry shortcake, and festival t-shirt sold plays a role in supporting future generations.
History of the Poteet Strawberry Festival
The Poteet Strawberry Festival emerged in 1948 with a clear purpose: to revitalize the local strawberry industry. Located in downtown Poteet during the second weekend of April, the first festival exceeded expectations, marking the beginning of a beloved Texas tradition! The festival grounds now span 100 acres, featuring live entertainment, rodeo shows, carnival attractions, and food stands run by local organizations that serve the region’s famous strawberries.
Education remains at the heart of the festival’s mission. The Poteet Strawberry Festival Association provides approximately 30 scholarships each year to local students. High-performing recipients have opportunities for renewal, creating lasting educational impact throughout South Texas. The program has helped countless students pursue higher education and return to strengthen their communities.
More than 8,000 volunteers make the festival possible. What started as a Poteet-only volunteer effort now includes dedicated individuals from across South Texas. These committed community members preserve cherished traditions while expanding the festival’s reach year after year.
Things to Do at the Poteet Strawberry Festival
The festival offers non-stop activities across 100 acres of grounds. From morning parades to evening concerts, every hour brings a new experience. Enjoy all these events to make the most of your visit!
Taste of Texas Food Show
Local chefs transform fresh strawberries into creative dishes at the food show. Sample strawberry tamales, homemade jams, and innovative desserts while meeting the culinary minds behind them. The show runs throughout the day, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to taste everything from traditional recipes to modern interpretations.
Strawberry Auction
Experienced growers present carefully selected berries for competitive bidding, with proceeds supporting agricultural education programs. Want to participate? Registration opens at 8 a.m. on the day of the auction. The Strawberry Auction takes place on April 12th at 12:30 p.m., with all entries made between 9 a.m. and 11:59 a.m.
Live Music
Three stages host continuous performances throughout the festival. Country, Tejano, and rock artists fill the grounds with music on Friday and Saturday night.. The 2025 lineup features both established Texas performers and rising stars like Mexican OT, De Parranda, Kolby Cooper, and more.
Carnival
Family-friendly rides and games line the midway, creating a classic festival atmosphere. The carnival area includes options for all ages, from spinning teacups to high-speed attractions. Food vendors serve traditional fair treats alongside strawberry-themed specialties all weekend long.
Parade
Saturday morning’s parade brings the community together in downtown Poteet. Starting at 10:00 am sharp, floats, bands, and performers travel down Main Street. Arrive early to secure a viewing spot—the parade draws thousands of spectators each year!
Arts and Crafts
Multiple vendors display handmade goods in the festival’s dedicated craft area. Find leather goods, pottery, jewelry, and strawberry-themed décor created by Texas artisans. Many craftspeople demonstrate their techniques, offering visitors insights into traditional and modern crafting methods.
Plan Your Visit to the Poteet Strawberry Festival
Time to plan your visit to the Poteet Strawberry Festival! Here’s all the information you need to make a trip, including tickets, parking, location, and more.
Where to Buy Authentic Poteet Strawberries
Poteet strawberries define excellence in Texas agriculture. The sandy soils of Atascosa County produce strawberries with distinctive characteristics: deep red coloring, firm yet juicy texture, and natural sweetness that makes them stand apart from commercial varieties. Local farmers maintain strict growing standards passed down through generations to ensure superior quality.
At the festival, purchasing directly from growers guarantees authentic Poteet strawberries. Each farmer maintains a dedicated space on the festival grounds, offering fresh-picked berries throughout the weekend. The official Poteet packaging serves as certification of local origin—look for these markings to ensure authenticity!
Dedicated farmers plant strawberry crops each fall, monitoring and nurturing the plants through winter for an April harvest. The Poteet Strawberry Growers Association was founded in 2019 to advocate for farmers, growers, and businesses in the strawberry production business. The association is home to more than 40 growers within the county.
Location and Parking
The Poteet Strawberry Festival is just 30 miles south of San Antonio. Getting there takes about 45 minutes from downtown San Antonio, making the festival perfect for both day trips and weekend getaways. The sprawling 100-acre festival grounds feature 14 distinct entertainment zones, each filled with activities, food vendors, and attractions!
Planning your arrival makes a significant difference in your festival experience. Free general parking spaces are available throughout the grounds. That said, securing a spot close to the action requires early arrival, especially during peak Saturday hours. For guaranteed convenience, premium parking costs $20 per vehicle and provides spaces near the main entrance.
The festival gates open at specific times: 6:00 p.m. Friday, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. Sunday. Alternative transportation options include designated rideshare pickup zones, though service availability varies during festival hours. For the most current parking information and ground maps, visit the official festival website before your journey.
Parking Passes
- General Parking: Free spaces throughout the grounds
- Premium Parking: $20 per vehicle near the main entrance
Advance ticket purchases eliminate day-of stress and guarantee entry during peak festival hours. The organizers recommend securing tickets at least two weeks before the event to ensure availability.
Tickets
The festival offers multiple ticket options to match your needs, and securing them early ensures the best possible experience! You can buy tickets:
- Online: Purchase through the official festival website for immediate confirmation
- At the Gate: Available during festival hours with potential wait times
General Admission
- Adults (13+ and up): $15-20 per person
- Children (Ages 6-12): $10-15 per person
- Children under 5: Free admission
The Poteet Strawberry Festival also offers a 3-day admission package for $50. This package includes a ticket for each day the festival is open. Ticket purchases are non-refundable, so plan your trip accordingly.
VIP and Reserved Seating
The VIP ticket package includes four gate admissions for the live music, guaranteed table seating in front of the main stage, access to exclusive restrooms, and a full bar for drinks. Prices for the VIP ticket package range from $600-$800.
Active military, veterans, first responders, and seniors receive special pricing with valid identification. The discount applies to single-day and weekend passes.
Head to the Poteet Strawberry Festival of Texas!
The Poteet Strawberry Festival represents a true Texas tradition, combining agricultural heritage with modern entertainment. Fresh strawberries, live music, and family activities create an atmosphere unlike any other festival in the state!
The festival provides numerous opportunities to extend the experience beyond the weekend. Purchase flats of fresh strawberries directly from farmers, along with preserved products such as jams and baked goods. These items allow festival attendees to savor the distinct flavor of Poteet strawberries long after the celebration ends.
Interested in more than just a visit? With its growing popularity and affordable land prices compared to nearby urban areas, Poteet presents excellent opportunities for investment. Poteet’s reputation for sweet, juicy strawberries isn’t just for show. The fertile soil and natural artesian wells make it ideal for:
- Small family farms
- Home gardens
- Hobby farming
- Custom homesteads
Owning land in Poteet isn’t just about property—it’s about a lifestyle full of possibilities. Whether your goal is to establish a permanent residence, initiate a small business venture, or secure a peaceful getaway, Poteet offers a place where your vision can become reality. Discover the charm, opportunity, and promise that make Poteet more than just a destination—it’s where your future takes root.
Browse land for sale near Poteet, Texas
FAQs About the Poteet Strawberry Festival
Fresh strawberries are available throughout the festival grounds—and they sell out fast! Local growers offer flats of hand-picked berries, preserves, and fresh-baked goods at designated farmer booths.
The Poteet Strawberry Festival Association has been the driving force behind Texas’s largest strawberry celebration since 1948. The association’s primary mission focuses on providing scholarships to Atascosa County students, with millions of dollars distributed to date.
Through dedicated community service, the association maintains strong partnerships with local farmers while supporting nonprofit organizations and educational programs. The result is a festival that not only celebrates agriculture but directly impacts future generations.
The festival welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually, marking its place among South Texas’s most significant agricultural events. The substantial attendance means strategic timing is essential. Friday mornings and early Saturday hours provide optimal opportunities to explore with smaller crowds.
The festival runs for three full days, from April 11-13th in 2025. Operating hours vary each day:
Friday: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
While the festival spans one weekend, Poteet’s strawberry season continues for several weeks. Local farms maintain roadside stands and market locations throughout the harvest period, offering multiple opportunities to experience fresh Poteet strawberries.
