PONCHATOULA - This quiet small town becomes one of the state's largest cities this weekend, as more than a quarter-of-a-million people converge on southern Tangipahoa Parish for the annual Strawberry Festival.

Billed as the state's largest free festival, festival-goers will be welcomed with strawberries of all shapes and sizes and in all kinds of fried and cocktail forms. In addition to food, there are plenty of shops, festival booths and rides a the city's park. Musical headliners include the Bag of Donuts, former American Idol contestant and local Lindsey Cardinale, and others. There is a strawberry eating contest Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Earlier this week, the Strawberry Festival King and Queen were on WBRZ's morning show, 2une-In. Watch the interview HERE.

The Strawberry Festival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday morning, State Police issued its annual traffic advisory for the festival. Drivers were warned, State Police and local authorities will be in the area, watching for dangerous motorists. Travelers are advised to use I-12 to Pumpkin Center and take La 22 into Ponchatoula from Baton Rouge, from the Northshore, use exit 47 on I-12 (La. 445) and take La. 22 into downtown from the east and from New Orleans, drivers are advised to use Cauesway to La. 22 west. I-55 is an alternative from Metairie and Kenner or lower Ascension Parish.

It should be perfect weather for the festival, the WBRZ weather department reported Friday.

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