Events

Don’t miss these top Lakeland events happening all year long

We’ve got the ultimate list of Lakeland events you don’t want to miss out on each year. Mark your calendar for these community celebrations.

January 16, 2026 • 
Connor Jacobson
A crowd sits in camping chairs watching fireworks over Lake Mirror during the Red, White & Kaboom Lakeland event. Trees and street lights block part of the view.

Go into this year with a bang, Lakeland.

Photo by LALtoday

Have you ever said, “I didn’t even know this was going on,” after missing a big festival, parade, or celebration? Save this list of the top Lakeland events throughout the year and never miss out on the fun again.

Spring

tigers

Grab your peanuts + popcorn — we’re taking you out to the ball game.

Photo by @jessicasreyna

Play ball. The Detroit Tigers have held Spring Training in Lakeland for decades, and 2026 will be no exception. You can catch them around Central Florida from Saturday, Feb. 21 through Tuesday, March 24, with home games happening at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Can’t get enough baseball? The Lakeland Flying Tigers Minor League Baseball team starts its season on Friday, April 3.

Three performers in colorful junkanoo costumes at Bonnet Springs Park

Prepare to party, eat, and celebrate at BSP.

Photo by @bonnetspringspark

Bonnet Springs Park hosts Caribbean Carnival in late February, and this year’s event is Saturday, Feb. 21. It’s free to join this parkwide party filled headlined by Grammy-winning artists Kabaka Pyramid & The Bebble Rockers.

Two people hold strawberries from their seats in front of the Florida Strawberry Festival stage. The seats surrounding them are teal, and a few other audience members sit closer to the stage.

We’re berry excited for this year’s festival entertainment lineup.

Photo by @jkarr7

Celebrate all things sweet at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. The festival brings together entertainment, food, and fun each spring, right around peak strawberry season. This year’s festival is Thursday, Feb. 26-Sunday, March 8.

People walking along a boardwalk lined with colorful flowers on a sunny day in Bonnet Springs Park.

Flowers will fill the park during Bloom at BSP.

Photo by LALtoday

If you love flowers as much as strawberries, mark your calendar for the free Bloom at BSP floral festival Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12. Bonnet Springs Park will come alive with colorful displays, a vendor market, and live performances.

Six planes fly in a line formation over a control tower at SUN 'n FUN. Each plane has a cloud of vapor trails following it.

SUN ‘N FUN International Fly-In & Expo | Photo by Danika T.

Photo by @guelito_prspotter

Did you know that the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is the biggest annual convention in Florida, bringing in 200,000+ visitors? Catch aviation and aircraft fun Tuesday, April 14-Sunday, April 19 — there’s something for everyone in the family.

Interior of Pressed Books with books on shelves and tables

Booksellers like Pressed get in on the Book Crawl action each year.

Photo by LALtoday

Bookworms are sure to find another addition to their bookshelves when the Lakeland Book Crawl comes to town. From Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26, you can hop around to Lakeland’s independent bookstores for deals and special events.

Summer

Shoppers browse fine art at an outdoor art festival. Each artist is set up in a small white tent with a domed top set up in the grass by Lake Morton. Trees grow behind the tents, and downtown highrise buildings are seen in the background across the lake.

Fine art by Lake Morton — what more could you ask for?

Photo by Gregory Mills

Consider your Mother’s Day plans already made. Mayfaire by-the-Lake, a long-running fine art festival, takes place on the shores of Lake Morton every Mother’s Day weekend. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 9-Sunday, May 10.

A burst of Red, White & Kaboom fireworks shoot off from the lake; downtown Lakeland's skyline reflects on the lake

Red, White & Kaboom is one of Lakeland’s most beloved annual events.

Photo by @lifechanges_klw

Red, White & Kaboom is the City of Lakeland’s Independence Day celebration, happening each year on July 3. Head to the Frances Langford Promenade for live entertainment leading up to a fireworks show over Lake Mirror.

Fall

performers wearing bright colors on a stage

Past Bienvenido a BSP entertainment has included live music and salsa dancing.

Photo provided by Bonnet Springs Park

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Bonnet Springs Park’s Bienvenido a BSP event. The park comes alive with music and family festivities in September.

An artist paints an abstract design on a large canvas at Art Crawl. The artist wears a bandana, glasses, and lanyard.

Art Crawl welcomes artists of all mediums.

Photo provided by Art Crawl, Inc.

Let out your inner artist at Art Crawl in early November. Shop for a new piece to bring home, watch performances + contests, or even take part in a hands-on demonstration. After several years in Munn Park, the crawl now takes place at Swan Brewing.

Winter

A Christmas parade float is decorated with red and white glitter, realistic looking reindeer, and a sleigh. Santa and Mrs. Claus sit in the sleigh, waving to guests above and below the float.

You’ll catch Santa and Mrs. Claus at the end of every Christmas Parade.

Photo by LALtoday

You can already mark the first Thursday of December on your calendar — that’s when the Lakeland Christmas Parade takes place downtown each year. This event brings tens of thousands of people, so make a plan for setting out those chairs.

The Crenshaw Canopy Walk at Bonnet Springs Park decorated with Christmas lights

Light Up BSP is one of the biggest events in Lakeland — don’t miss it.

Photo by @cnc.photos

The details on this final event are still TBA, but we already know we won’t be missing Light Up BSP. This holiday light extravaganza at Bonnet Springs Park was a huge success in its first two years, but the park took a pause in 2025 until more parking is added. Keep an eye out for dates to be announced later this year.