 -April is sweet in Texas - thanks in part to the sweetest annual festival in the Lone Star State, the Poteet Strawberry Festival, where the sweetest fruit in the world is featured, honored and appreciated.
Only thing is - by the time to get to Poteet, these strawberries are almost all gone, and unreasonable facsimiles are offered at roadside stands leading in and out of town - strawberries from California, Mexico - just about everywhere, but Poteet. And for good reason, Poteet strawberries are so sweet and delicious, they are almost sold out before they are even harvested.
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According to the Strawberry Festival Association, Poteet is located in the heart of the Artesian Belt, and recognized as the "Strawberry Capital of Texas". No doubt, Henry and Ida Mumme, the city's founders, would be amazed to see what acclaim is now attached to the crop which started as a few rows in Mumme's kitchen garden.
The first year of marketing Poteet strawberries proved very successful and strawberries sold for $20....that's more than they sell for on today's market. In 1921 a group of Poteet citizens invited guests from San Antonio to partake in its newfound delicacies. Headlines in the San Antonio Express read, "Crimson Berries Beckon Hungry Tourists to Poteet."
The annual event draws crowds in excess of 100,000, so the demand for Poteet strawberries is greater than the supply. Unfortunately, outside strawberry vendors move into the Poteet area to take advantage of the crowds. The Association says they have no control of vendors outside the Festival Grounds, however, all local berries will be in newly designed boxes which state "Fresh Produce-Poteet, Texas" during Festival Weekend.
But even without the berries, the festival is a good time for all. There certainly will be no shortage of major performers acts. The headliners for the 59th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival include two living legends and two rising new superstars. Country music legend, Mel Tillis, started performing in the early '50 with a group called The Westerners while serving as a baker in the US Air Force. In 1956, Webb Pierce recorded a song written by Tillis and it launched his musical career as a songwriter, singer and actor. Tillis performs in concert Saturday, April 8 at 5:00 PM on the Budweiser-Pepsi Stage #8.
Joe Nichols, Los Desperadoz, and Ruben Ramos will also headline throughout the festival weekend and many other performers will keep the many stages hopping. In addition, there are open rodeos, Jackpot bullriding, nightly dances, children's activities, magic, a hypnotist, dancers, a reptile adventure, a dog show, a carnival, arts and crafts, Texas Food Fest and - of course - strawberrries, if you get there soon enough!
The 59th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 7, 8 and 9. The Poteet Strawberry Festival Grounds are located 30 minutes south of San Antonio on Texas Highway 16 and includes free parking. The Festival Grounds will open at 6:00 PM Friday and at 10:00 AM both Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is free on Friday evening. On Saturday and Sunday adults only pay $10.00. Children age 12 and under and active, reserve, and retired military personnel with proper ID are admitted free of charge. Gate admission covers all stage entertainment on the Festival Grounds.
The Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival is one of the largest and most popular festivals in Texas and was chosen as one of the Top 250 Events in the nation. For more information and a complete schedule, visit the festival Web site.
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