The streets of downtown Auburndale are about to turn a distinct shade of blue. On Saturday, April 11, 2026, the inaugural Polk County Blueberry Festival will take over the city’s government center and downtown park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., marking a new chapter for the region’s agricultural scene.
Presented by Visit Central Florida and Destroyer Media, the festival aims to put a spotlight on a crop that has rapidly climbed the ranks of Florida’s economy.
Over the last 20 years, Central Florida has leveraged its climate and research from the University of Florida’s IFAS program to become a leading producer of early-season blueberries in the United States. While Auburndale was built on a foundation of citrus in the late 1800s, the local landscape has diversified significantly, making the blueberry a primary player for modern area farmers…