Ready for a “Berry” good time? The 12th annual Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival is returning to the McPherson complex on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The festival begins at 9 am with FREE admission and ends at 5 pm. Volunteers from Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) will assist with traffic control and parking for the festival. Proceeds collected from parking ($5 per vehicle) will benefit the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association and Habitat for Humanity of Marion County. The festival starts with over 235 unique and exciting vendors, a kid’s zone with a petting zoo, strawberry food items that melt in your mouth, a bigger-than-ever car show with cool cars, trucks, and motorcycles, a pie-eating contest, a BMX show, and a variety of live entertainment throughout the day.

Many nonprofits will have vendor booths, and several photo booths will be available. The festival offers fresh strawberries (from Plant City farmers) to purchase with many delicious strawberry treats. Come watch the strawberry pie-eating contest. The festival is for all ages, there is food for all tastes and fun for all generations of festival-goers. Habitat for Humanity could not host this event without our dedicated volunteers who have donated their time, efforts, and knowledge to assist. There are over 700 volunteers assisting throughout the festival. Habitat would like to thank all our wonderful and dedicated sponsors for helping us host another great event.

All proceeds raised at the annual Strawberry Festival will be used to build a new home which will be called the Strawberry House for low-income families with an affordable mortgage and a safe and secure environment to raise their children.

Thank you to our sponsors of one of the BIGGEST events in Marion County!