PONCHATOULA — Multiple agencies worked together to keep attendees safe at this year’s 54th annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, which began April 10. During the festival, officials arrested 19 people, which includes two juveniles.
Before the festival, law enforcement agencies investigated several potential threats while implementing new security measures for the 2026 event. These steps come after two shootings during last year’s festival.
At the request of the Ponchatoula Police Department, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted security patrols at the Strawberry Festival, along with deputies from Iberville, St. John, Livingston, Washington Parish and Pike County, Mississippi, sheriff’s offices. Louisiana State Police troopers also patrolled the weekend festival.
TPSO reported the following from the Strawberry Festival:
- 19 arrests, including 2 juvenile arrests
- 13 guns confiscated
- Drugs and paraphernalia recovered
TPSO Sheriff Gerald Stickers credits this activity, which focused primarily inside and on the perimeter of Memorial Park, with proactive enforcement efforts throughout the event, including random bag checks.
“The rules for festival attendance have never changed, but this year, those rules, including no weapons, were widely publicized,” said Sheriff Sticker. “There is no need for anyone to have weapons or illegal drugs at a family event like the Strawberry Festival, but Louisiana laws make it clear neither are allowed in that environment, regardless.”
During last year’s Strawberry Festival, police responded to two shootings — one near the ticket booth and another five minutes later at the Ponchatoula Community Center on North 5th Street and Beech. In 2022, there were shots fired nearby the festival grounds.
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