{"id":176090,"date":"2026-03-03T07:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T07:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/176090\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T07:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T07:51:13","slug":"roots-n-rides-southwest-florida-ag-expo-has-strong-opening-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/176090\/","title":{"rendered":"Roots \u2018N Rides: Southwest Florida Ag Expo has strong opening weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Lee County dignitaries cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park. The expo continues through Sunday, March 8.<\/p>\n

CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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The Joker, a new ride,\u00a0during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park.<\/p>\n

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Dre’s Place BBQ has a whole bunch of eats cooking during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park.
\nThe numerous food vendors at the Southwest Florida Ag Expo will once again compete for the Blue Ribbon Bites award.
\nThe expo continues through Sunday, March 8.<\/p>\n

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Chasing Denver performs in the main tent\u00a0during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park. The exciting lineup of live entertainment continues through Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Nathaniel Romero tries to win a prize for his girlfriend, Jalissa Williams,\u00a0during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park. The midway offers ample opportunity for games of skill and chance.<\/p>\n

CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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Kyra Waterman, 9, participates in a sketch with magician Grayson Matchett at the Agri-cadabra show\u00a0during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park. The expo continues through Sunday, March 8, and features a variety of live entertainment each day.<\/p>\n

CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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A group of riders enjoy Riptide\u00a0during the first day of the\u00a0Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Thursday at Mike Greenwell Regional Park.<\/p>\n

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The Southwest Florida Ag Expo had a strong opening weekend, attracting thousands of attendees.<\/p>\n

From the event start at 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday evening, more than 31,400 residents and visitors attended the 11-day festival at Mike Greenwell Regional Park in North Fort Myers.<\/p>\n

The 11-day festival, tagged Roots \u2018N Rides this year, started with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and continued with all of its historic favorites \u2014 rides, food, midway attractions, live entertainment and, of course, its agricultural component.<\/p>\n

District 5 Commissioner Trish Petrovsky said she hopes the entire county will come this year to share the joy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is completely run by the county and we are totally in love with it. The community has been so supportive,\u201d Petrovsky said. \u201cWe have the 4-H kids out, we have rides and the Blue Ribbon Bites going out and the public will be able to vote on them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman has been attending the expo since he was a kid. He said the exposition that emphasizes Lee County\u2019s rural roots is such a significant part of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year is about honoring the traditions of this event. As a kid growing up, I would come out and enjoy the rides, eat the great food, especially the donuts that are the size of my head,\u201d Hamman said. \u201cI hope your family can make new traditions here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, around 90,000 attended the expo, and a whole bunch of them came for the food. There were plenty of funnel cakes and fried Oreos to be had, as well as turkey legs and five-star barbecue on opening day.<\/p>\n

Dannie Moreland, from Lehigh, has been serving turkey legs and kabobs for as long as he can remember. He started with his family 48 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went all over and I finally settled down here. Got married to a local lady and now I live here,\u201d said Moreland, who does fairs all over the country. \u201cWe do about 100 fairs every year. But I\u2019m a fisherman and hunter, and my wife is from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andre Bulluck came from North Carolina to bring his barbecue to Lee County, complete with turkey legs, brisket and two kinds of barbecued ribs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our 20th\u00a0year here, but the recipes we use are over 150 years old and it\u2019s the best barbecue you ever want to put on your lips,\u201d Bulluck said. \u201cI usually win the people\u2019s choice awards at these fairs and people are the most important thing. Don\u2019t you want to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a limited entertainment roster on first day but the Agri-Cadabra educational magic show that taught kids about agriculture was a hit.<\/p>\n

Grayson Matchett is on the road 11 months out of the year doing his show, doing about 2,500, with performances several times a day. He also owns concession stands<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fun. You get to hang out with kids and it\u2019s great. They don\u2019t teach agriculture as much anymore and they\u2019re very important to the fairs, which was how they started out,\u201d Matchett said.<\/p>\n

In the beer tent, the North Fort Myers Civic Association was serving the beer, which has become the biggest fundraiser for the organization, according to president Toni Hill, adding the money they raised last year funded all the organization\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n

Opening day featured a whole schedule to performers. <\/p>\n

Chasing Denver was the first one, followed by many others throughout the entire expo. More than 30 acts will perform on the main stage and in the expo hall.<\/p>\n

There are nearly four dozen rides for people of all ages, including the new Joker ride that might be the most impressive one to date.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are the kiddie rides such as the Merry-go-Round for the smaller ones and their parents.<\/p>\n

But what would a fair be without the animals? 4-H will present more than 650 animals, such as steer, hogs, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. All of these animals will be auctioned off at the end of the fair.<\/p>\n

Elaina Martinez, vice president of Team Leadership at 4-H, said she loves to show her animals as an exhibitor and when the community comes out to support them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate the people who come to watch us show and support us at the fair. It\u2019s a great help and motivation for us.\u201d Martinez said. \u201cWithout those who come and help support this, we would not be able to have this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tracy Cameron, who leads the 4-H club called Southern Pride, was happy her hay bale won first place. Having come to the event her whole life, she said it has special meaning to everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love the atmosphere this creates and how everyone comes together, especially when walking through the livestock barn,\u201d Cameron said. \u201cWatching these kids learn these projects and the kids who do the Creative Living entries and learn to take pictures and art.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Southwest Florida Ag Expo runs through March 8. Gates open at 4 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.<\/p>\n

Community Night is Monday. That is followed by $2 Tuesday, Senior Day on Wednesday and Hometown Heroes day on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The final weekend features a second round of Moonlight Madness Friday night, Ag Day on Saturday and Family Fiesta Day to close out the expo on Sunday.<\/p>\n

For more information, including special promotions, visit \u00a0www.swflagexpo.com.<\/p>\n

Mike Greenwell Regional Park, formerly the Lee County Civic Center Complex, is at 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.<\/p>\n

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2026 Southwest Florida Ag Expo\u00a0Promotion Days<\/p>\n

Today, Monday, March 2<\/p>\n

Community Night<\/p>\n

Gates open at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

Free admission when you bring three non-perishable food items.<\/p>\n

$5 General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

$25 Ride Wristband<\/p>\n

$2 Tuesday<\/p>\n

Tuesday, March 3<\/p>\n

Gates open at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

$2 Tuesday<\/p>\n

$2 General Gate Admission and $2 Rides<\/p>\n

$2 food items<\/p>\n

Senior Day<\/p>\n

Wednesday, March 4<\/p>\n

Gates open at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

Senior Admission (Half Off) \u2013 $5 for 50 years+<\/p>\n

$25 Ride Wristband<\/p>\n

Hometown Heroes<\/p>\n

Thursday, March 5<\/p>\n

Gates open at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

$5 gate admission for Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement & Lee County School District Staff<\/p>\n

General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

$25 Ride Wristband<\/p>\n

Moonlight Madness<\/p>\n

Friday, March 6<\/p>\n

Gates open at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

4-8 p.m.:\u00a0General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

Moonlight Madness \u2013 8 p.m. to midnight:\u00a0$30 admission (includes wristband for rides*)<\/p>\n

Ag Day<\/p>\n

Saturday, March 7<\/p>\n

Gates open at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

$40 Ride Wristband<\/p>\n

Family Fiesta Day<\/p>\n

Sunday, March 8<\/p>\n

Gates open at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

General Gate Admission<\/p>\n

$40 Ride Wristband<\/p>\n

*** *** ***<\/p>\n

In addition to the various promotional nights, the SWFL\u00a0Ag\u00a0Expo also will feature Creating Living, which has eight different divisions \u2013 fabric and thread, handcraft, cottage food, fine arts, photography, tablescape, home gardening and horticulture and STEAM.<\/p>\n

The gates are open for the Southwest Florida\u00a0Ag\u00a0Expo\u00a0from 4 to 9 p.m. during the week with the exception of Friday during Midnight Madness, and from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n

General admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 4 to 11 years old and free for children 3 and under. All active duty and veterans will receive free gate admission with proof of military ID.<\/p>\n

There are walk through metal detectors at all entry gates for enhanced security measures. The permitted bags include small purses, clutches, wallets, or clear totes with maximum dimensions of 12x12x8 inches, and one-gallon plastic zip top bags.<\/p>\n

Large totes, backpacks and cooler bags are prohibited. Both medically necessary bags and diaper bags containing only baby supplies will be permitted upon inspection by security.<\/p>\n

Parking is free. There is an overflow parking lot available during peak hours with LeeTran offering shuttle services to transport attendees back and forth when needed.<\/p>\n

For more information visit\u00a0swflagexpo.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Mike Greenwell Regional Park, formerly the Lee County Civic center complex, is at 11831 Bayshore Rd., North Fort Myers.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story has been updated to include first weekend numbers.<\/p>\n


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