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.
Festivals
Keel Farms Blueberry Festival | Saturday, April 4-Sunday, April 26 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Pick, eat, and drink all things blueberry until you’re blue in the face — parking is $10.
Bloom at BSP | Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free+ | The park will come alive with floral installations, garden tours, a makers market, and live entertainment.
Polk County Blueberry Festival | Saturday, April 11 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Downtown Auburndale Park | Free+ | Local farmers and vendors will come together for a fun day in honor of the blueberry industry.
SUN ‘n FUN
SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo | Tuesday, April 14-Sunday, April 19 | Times vary | SUN ‘n FUN | $50+ | It’s the 52nd year of this wildly popular expo featuring daily airshows and aviation entertainment for the whole family.
Opening Day Concert | Tuesday, April 14 | 6-9 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN | $50+ | Country musician Cooper Alan will headline SUN ‘n FUN’s big opening performance — included with expo admission.
Wednesday Composite Airshow & Concert | Wednesday, April 15 | 2-10 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN | $50+ | This new afternoon/evening airshow will combine aviation and music, with performances by “American Idol” winner Iam Tongi and more.
Night Airshow & Fireworks | Saturday, April 18 | 7 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN | $50+ | If you’re more into fun than sun, catch this nighttime show to see aerobatic teams and a fireworks spectacular after dark.
Grab food truck bites and compete for the best hat at the Swan Derby.
Photo by @sunshinestatedrones
Get social
Inspire Avant-Garde Hair Show | Sunday, April 12 | 7 p.m. | Union Hall | Free | Come dressed as a character from the Capitol or the Districts for Venue Salon’s artistic hair show inspired by “The Hunger Games.”
Swan Derby | Friday, April 24 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Frances Langford Promenade | Free+ | Wear your derby best to cheer on swan boats racing across Lake Mirror to support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.
Super Star Sports Party | Saturday, April 25 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Yancey’s Taproom | $150+ | Play and party for a cause — sports and arts scholarships for at-risk youth.
Arts
Depot Walk: “For the Love of Color” | Saturday, April 4 | 2-6 p.m. | Depot Arts District | Free+ | Make your way from studio to studio to see local artists creating colorful new pieces.
Lakeland Symphony Orchestra Concert: “Bewitching Broadway” | Saturday, April 4 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College | $30+ | Be entranced by symphonic renditions of songs from enchanting musicals like “Wicked” and “Hamilton.”
Gallery Concert Series | Thursday, April 9 | 6-8 p.m. | The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | $60 | Indulge in an intimate concert by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra among the AGB’s art galleries.
Lakeland Community Theatre 40th Anniversary Gala | Saturday, April 18 | 7 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $30+ | LCT stars of past and present will perform songs from Lakeland shows over four decades — don’t miss the 21+ after-party at Eala’s Speakeasy.
Spring Bloom Garden Tea Party with Classern Quartet | Saturday, April 25 | 12-3:30 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales | $20 | Take a promenade through the gardens with sweets and bubbly before a concert featuring music from period dramas.
Battle of the Bands: High School Edition | Sunday, April 26 | 5-10 p.m. | Union Hall | Free | High school bands will leave it all on the stage to be crowned best cover band, best original band, or best in show.
Food
Easter Brunch | Sunday, April 5 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Garden Bistro | Price of purchase | Reservations are available every half hour to enjoy the bistro’s full brunch menu, plus specials like raspberry waffles and lamb chops.
Easter Grand Buffet | Sunday, April 5 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Terrace Grille | $45+ | Celebrate Easter with a festive buffet featuring an abundant spread of coastal favorites, seasonal classics, and decadent desserts, plus a visit from the Easter Bunny.
Spring Fling & BBQ | Saturday, April 11 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Downtown Bartow | Free+ | Get sweet + smoky with shopping, live music, and a barbecue competition.
Lakeland Foodie Fest | Saturday, April 18 | 12-7 p.m. | Lakeland Square Mall | Price of purchase | Come hungry, because food trucks will be lined up with plenty of treats.
Pitmasters in Paradise | Friday, April 24-Saturday, April 25 | 5 p.m. | Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale | $10+ | Put your taste buds on island time as you try barbecue and enjoy family-friendly entertainment.
Festival del Sanguich | Friday, April 24 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $11+ | Taste test Latin sandwiches, from the Cuban to medianoche — entry is included with tickets to the Flying Tigers’ Hispanic Heritage Night game.
Springtime means plenty of events are blooming at Bok Tower Gardens.
Photo by @boktowergardens
Family
Easter Bunny Photos | Friday, April 3-Sunday, April 5 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Dinosaur World, Plant City | $22+ | Bring your own camera for photos with the bunny of the hour and an egg hunt in the park, both included with admission.
Heritage Day | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kathleen Area Historical Society Heritage Park | Free | Look back on decades of local history with pioneer skills demonstrations, family activities, and live music under the old oak tree.
Meet the Easter Bunny | Saturday, April 4 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Family Fun Center | Free+ | Bring your own camera for photo ops, then join the Easter egg scavenger hunt to win prizes.
Brunch & Bunnies Easter Extravaganza | Saturday, April 4 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale | $33+ | Dig into a festive brunch before hunting for eggs, meeting the Easter Bunny, and stuffing a plush toy to take home.
Easter Sunrise Service | Sunday, April 5 | 7-8 a.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales | Free | Watch the sun rise over Iron Mountain, enjoy carillon music, and hear an inspiring message at the Gardens’ 100th Easter service.
Pedalpalooza | Saturday, April 11 | 1-4 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | Free+ | Roll up for wheel-y cool bike demos from pro riders, and register in advance to receive free bike helmets before a Flying Tigers game.
World of Reading | Saturday, April 18 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Barnett Family Park | Free | Bring young readers for entertainment, author meetings, and free books from the Junior League of Greater Lakeland.
Sports
Lakeland Flying Tigers Home Opener | Tuesday, April 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $12+ | It’s opening day for Lakeland’s Minor League Baseball team, starting off with a series against the Daytona Tortugas.
All American Show Ski Tournament | Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Winter Haven | Free | Top water ski teams will shock you with their splashiest skills on Lake Silver.
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.