Swan City’s about to get hotter by several degrees — college degrees, that is. As we get ready to celebrate grads from four of Lakeland’s colleges + welcome their loved ones to our city, we’ve rounded up the information you need to know so you can plan your weekends accordingly.
Graduation schedule
Lakeland is home to five total colleges — Florida Southern College, Southeastern University, Polk State College, Florida Polytechnic University, and Keiser University.
Photo courtesy of @polk_state
All of the following commencements will be held at the RP Funding Center.
Southeastern University
| Friday, April 26 | 6:30 p.m.
Polk State College
| Thursday, May 2 | 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Florida Southern College
| Saturday, May 4 | 1:30 p.m.
Florida Polytechnic University
| Sunday, May 5 | 2 p.m.
Things to know
Around 12,655 students attend college in Lakeland each year — that’s about 10% of the city’s population.
Photo by @photographyemmarenee
On the days of the graduations, make sure to plan for traffic delays and leave earlier than usual if you’re traveling near the RP Funding Center. Pro tip: We recommend avoiding West Lemon Street, Lime Street, and Sikes Boulevard if possible — instead, consider accessing downtown via South Florida Avenue or Bartow Road.
If eating out is in your weekend itinerary, be prepared for extended wait times — especially if you’re planning to dine at one of these go-to brunch spots . Consider checking out one of these hidden gems around Lakeland instead, or branch out and try these places less than 30 minutes away.
Are you a graduating college senior this year? Send us your Lakeland college graduation photos and we may highlight them on our socials.