Lucky you. You just found LALtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place in and around Lakeland each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Big names will take the stage at the Florida Strawberry Festival this spring.
Photo by @flstrawberryfestival
Festivals
The Evelyn Bryant Cultural Festival | Saturday, Feb. 1 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Badcock Commons Park, Mulberry | Free | Join the town of Mulberry in a Black History Month celebration featuring live entertainment and a contest for artists + crafters.
Spirit of the Buffalo Pow Wow and Native American Festival | Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 16 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | International Market World, Auburndale | $4+ | Spend two weekends discovering crafts, intertribal dance competitions, historic displays, and 60+ exhibitors.
Black History Festival | Saturday, Feb. 15 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jackson Park | Free+ | Find entertainers, vendors, and activities at this family-friendly festival — don’t miss educational exhibits inside the Coleman-Bush Building.
Caribbean Carnival | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 5-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free+ | You’re on island time at this festival with a pop-up market of Black and Caribbean-owned businesses, plus more food vendors + performers.
Florida Strawberry Festival | Thursday, Feb. 27-Friday, Feb. 28 | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City | $4+ | Celebrate all things strawberry with this annual festival full of food, headliner entertainment, and midway rides.
Concerts
Gallery Concert Series | Thursday, Feb. 13 | 7-8 p.m. | Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | $38+ | Music + visual art combine at the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra’s performance in the “Dutch Impressionism” gallery.
Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” & More | Friday, Feb. 14 | 6:30-7:45 p.m. | Lake Mirror Auditorium | $32+ | A live orchestra will play you from winter to summer, lit only by candles.
Fleetwood Mach Tribute Show | Friday, Feb. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $25+ | Your “Dreams” will come true as Fleetwood Mac look-alikes play the band’s greatest hits.
Seasonal events
Moxie Le Femme Presents: My Beloved Moxie | Saturday, Feb. 8, Saturday, Feb. 15 | 7-11 p.m. | Union Hall | $20+ | The 18th season of this cabaret and burlesque variety show kicks off with a performance that promises to “tantalize and tease the imagination.”
Cupid’s Night Out | Friday, Feb. 14 | 5-9 p.m. | Lakeside Village | Free+ | Love songs will play as you shop a Valentine’s-themed vendor market and create a flower bouquet with your sweetheart.
Valentine Night Market | Saturday, Feb. 15 | 5-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | “Come and get your love” at this festive market with 150+ food vendors and makers.
Plantae-Palooza Garden Festival | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Hollis Garden | Free+ | Shop a variety of plants from flowers and succulents to exotic and native trees from local + visiting vendors.
Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 1:05 p.m. | Joker Marchant Stadium | $17+ | The Tigers return to Lakeland in the first game of the 2025 spring training season.
Flipping for Charities will move from Joker Marchant Stadium to the SUN ‘n FUN campus this year, but those delicious pancakes will still be there.
Photo by @vistelakeland
Get social
20th Annual VISTEBall | Saturday, Feb. 1 | 6-9:30 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN | $75 | Dress in golf casual for a night enjoying games + food on the “links” while raising money for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly.
Taste of Winter Haven | Thursday, Feb. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Venue 650, Winter Haven | $55 | Sweet or savory, baked or brewed — try it all with tastes from Winter Haven’s top culinary creators.
Flipping for Charities | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Aerospace Center for Excellence | $5+ | Local nonprofit leaders will flip pancakes at Kiwanis’ annual event to raise money for their organizations.
Saint Sophia Greek Festival 2025 | Saturday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 23 | Times vary | St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Winter Haven | $2+ | Enjoy Greek cuisine, pastries, dance, and live entertainment — and don’t miss a stop in Yia Yia’s Attic.
For the fam
13th Annual Planes, Trains & Automobiles | Saturday, Feb. 1 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Plant City Airport, Plant City | $7.50+ | Celebrate Central Florida’s aviation industry with hands-on family activities like flight simulators, aircraft displays, and a pinewood derby.
No Broken Hearts Teen Valentine’s Ball | Friday, Feb. 14 | 8-10 p.m. | 1833 Historic Venue | $20 | Teens are invited to don their ballroom best and learn organized dances — each guest will also receive a free book.
SYFY Bartow | Saturday, Feb. 15 | 11 a.m. | Downtown Bartow, Bartow | Free+ | Downtown will get downright villainous at this event that’s “comic con meets renaissance faire.”
PlatformKIDS Art Festival | Saturday, Feb. 15 | 1:30-3 p.m. | Florida Childrens Museum | Free+ | Polk County students will showcase their art, from visual media to film, fashion, music, and performance art.
Strawberry Bash | Saturday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 23 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Farm-fresh berries, cider, and wine await — plus friendly camels you can hitch a ride on.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.