Mission Statement
It is the mission of the San Jacinto Day Foundation to encourage and promote the observance of San Jacinto Day and produce one of the largest fund raising events in the state of Texas, the Pasadena Strawberry Festival.
The San Jacinto Day Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Proceeds from the Pasadena Strawberry Festival benefit San Jacinto Day Foundation projects including:
Scholarships for area high school and college students
Books for college libraries
Preservation and promotion of Texas History and Pasadena
Fundraising efforts for local civic, youth and non-profit group
In 1974 a small group of enthusiastic Pasadena citizens gathered in a tent on a football practice field for the opening of the Pasadena Historical Museum and celebrated San Jacinto Day with the very first Strawberry Festival. Strawberries, famous for their size and sweetness, were the first big business in Pasadena, Texas. As many as twenty-eight train carloads of strawberries a day left Pasadena loading sheds going as far north as Chicago and Kansas City. These strawberries not only brought premium prices, but also earned Pasadena the coveted title "Strawberry Capitol of the South."
Today, with over five hundred volunteers, the Pasadena Strawberry Festival continues to celebrate Pasadena's heritage on the 106-acre Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds complex and attracts over 45,000 visitors.
You, too, are invited to come enjoy three fun-filled days of activities, attractions and entertainment the whole family will enjoy.
Bicycles/glass bottles/beverages, coolers/Scooters/Skateboards/ Food, Frisbees/Rollerblades/Flyers/Signs/Weapons/Pets and Radios
What Happens if it RAINS?:
Strawberry Festival goes on rain or shine. If weather forecast calls for rain, please bring rain gear, umbrellas mud boots. The Festival will not refund or exchange tickets due to inclement weather. Some performances might be delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather.
Advance tickets are available in the Festival office for $ 10 until Thursday May 16th at 5 pm. Tickets available online here &at the gate $12General Admission/Children 0-4Free & 5-12$5Senior Citizens (55 & older)$5
Parking & Shuttles:
Parking On site and off site is FREE. Shuttle is available at offsite parking.
Lost & Found:
Lost & Found is located at the Festival office. Not in the Convention Center. All items will be brought to the festival office and must be claimed there also. All items not claimed after 30 days from the closing of festival will be destroyed. We will make every effort to find the owner.
From Downtown Houston: take 45 South to Beltway 8 east, exit Genoa Red Bluff (last free exit) turn right on Genoa Red Bluff
when Genoa Red Bluff runs into Red Bluff turn left, fairgrounds on your right. From Galveston: take 45 North to Beltway 8 east, follow directions above. From ship channel bridge (610): take 225 East to East Blvd. Right on East Blvd. to Fairmont Pkwy. Right on Fairmont Pkwy to the Fairgrounds.
Can I Pick Strawberries:
No, we do not have anywhere to pick strawberries. All of the berries sold here at the festival come from a produce company. We sell the big Driscoll’s $20 flat, can be bought by the flat, ½ flat, pint, Chocolate dipped. All Strawberries are sold inside the gates.
Who Runs the Strawberry Festival:
Strawberry Festival is sponsored by the San Jacinto Day Foundation, a 501 C 3 non- profit organization. A board of 33 directors, 3 paid staff organize it and with help from 1500 volunteers, 80 sponsors as well as in kind donations. Click here to view our BOARD.
In August 2004, members of the Pasadena Strawberry Festival decided it was time for a new addition to their family. They went into family planning mode and budgeted for that addition. With the help of Dixie Flag Manufacturing, their dream of having a sweet little Buzz Berry Was Finally going to come true. We knew all the children who would come to see him would love him. He would be a great help with promoting the annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival at the various functions throughout the year as well as at specified Strawberry Festival functions such as the annual kickoff parade, the Opening Ceremonies and off course, the festival itself. On March 16th, after much anticipation, the beautiful, sweet addition to the family finally arrived. We could tell at first glance he was going to be a very happy and very active little character. Our speculations were absolutely correct. He proved to be a very successful and most popular member of our festival family and just loves promoting the festival. At each appearance, he drew a lot of attention, allowing the other family members in attendance to speak to the many potential festival visitors about the variety of entertainment, attractions and participant events planned for the upcoming festival. The Strawberry Festival received local newspaper coverage several times thanks to the attention drawn by Buzz Berry at public venues. He also appeared on our local Fox26 News on opening day of the festival in conjunction with the live coverage of the building of the World's largest Strawberry Shortcake.
We look forward to watching him grow up and hope to see a Mrs Berry and maybe even a couple of baby Berry's in his future.
Strawberry Festival has accessible restrooms for our handicap, wheelchair guest, at each indoor facility & at each set of port a lets. Handicap Parking is available at the Orange Gate Red Bluff lot, Yellow Gate at Convention Center. Also available Special Shuttle to help our older guest & handicap move around the festival grounds. Power wheelchairs and 3 or 4 wheeled scooters are allowed for use by person with mobility disabilities.
A confection to do Texas proud! This cake, produced by HEB Foods officially made the Guinness book of World Record in 2005. It Was 1905 sf.ft., covered with more than a ton of strawberriers, glaze and whipped topping. The cake is reproduced each year, unveiled and cut during the festival's opening ceremony on Friday at 5 PM. You've got to see it to believe it! Huge slices and sheet cakes are available for purchase!
Todd Lilley owner of Todd's Restoration
Purchase the last piece of cake.....For $325.00
Not for the delicious taste BUT for SCHOLARSHIPS!!!!
On site Information stations are located in the Convention Center (Yellow Gate) and inside the Buzz Berry’s Adventure Zone (kids area) and are staffed by Strawberry Festival volunteers to answerquestions & help guest locate activities at the festival.
Coming in from out of town? You’ll need Hotel Accommodations. We encourage you to stay at one of our Host Hotels. Our Host Hotels Comfort Suites LaPorte and Candlewood Suites Deer Park offer a discounted price for Strawberry Festival Guest, please mention Strawberry Festival discount when booking your accommodations .
