Food

A hand holds a "Strawberry Season Passport" listing various local farms in front of the Parkesdale Farm Market storefront.
Business
Explore Central Florida’s best berries with Strawberry Season Passports
Did you get your hands on the popular Strawberry Season Passports before they sold out? If not, no worries — just follow along with our editor’s tasty travels.
March 11, 2026 10:55 AM
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A photo showing several plates of food including chips and guacamole, noodles, eggs and biscuits and a sandwich.
Sponsored
Add to cal: Central Florida’s inaugural food festival
Sponsored by
A large tree covered in jack-o-lanterns and lit with red lighting.
Experience
Fall fun in and around Lakeland
Check out fall and Halloween-themed events happening in and around Lakeland in this seasonal guide.
September 20, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The exterior entrance of S&L Restaurant in Lakeland. Signs painted on the building read, "Warning! Our burgers are habit forming!"
Food
Eat down the street: Combee Road restaurants
Discover a hidden gem or try a local favorite restaurant for the first time in this series.
August 29, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The exterior of a coffee shop is shown. In the foreground, a cup is holding an iced latte.
Business
Drink coffee + support foster care at ECHO Coffee House in Winter Haven
Learn how this coffee shop is helping a Lakeland-based nonprofit in its mission to support children in foster care.
August 28, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
LAL-plant-city-farm-and-flea-market-2019
Food
Where to get seasonal produce in Lakeland
Learn what produce is currently in season in Lakeland, along with recommendations for local farms to shop from.
August 20, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
A cuban sandwich with avocado.
Food
The Cuban sandwich’s connection to Florida and where to get one in Lakeland
This classic Florida menu item was created just down the road in Ybor City — since then, it’s become a favorite for Lakelanders on lunch.
August 1, 2024
 · 
Katelyn Lewis
A grid collage of rainbow colored drinks from various Lakeland establishments.
Food
Drink through the rainbow at these Lakeland establishments
You’ve never learned Roy G. Biv like this before.
July 25, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
An exterior view of Mitchell's Coffee Shop in Lakeland, FL
Business
The 25-year history of Lakeland’s oldest coffee shop
Mitchell’s Coffee Shop has been serving up coffee and gourmet food since 1998. See what inspired the coffee shop’s founder to open the first shop of its kind in Lakeland 25 years ago.
July 24, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Four pictures of beverages have been spliced together into a collage image. The first is a frozen coffee, the second is a cocktail in a mule mug, the third is an orange energy drink with whipped cream, and the fourth is a frothy cocktail in a swan glass.
Food
Show off your Swan City pride by sipping on these Lakeland-inspired drinks
We asked four different businesses around Lakeland to make us a beverage that they felt encapsulated the Swan City vibe — here’s what they came up with.
July 23, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
A glass of beer on a wooden bar at Swan Brewing. In the background are beer taps and customers.
Culture
Local libations: A round-up of Lakeland-centric craft beers
A turn of phrase here, a recognizable Lakeland nod there — these craft beers found around Swan City take local pride seriously.
July 22, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
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The downtown Lakeland viewed from across Lake Mirror. Clouds in the sky cast shadows over the lake and the mix of high and medium-rise buildings, including the Lakeland Electric building.
City
By the numbers: Lakeland’s 2026 fiscal year budget
The City of Lakeland has finalized its 2026 budget before the next fiscal year begins — let’s take a look at the $815 million bottom line.
September 22, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A swan glides near lily pads on a lake in Lakeland, Florida, with city buildings and trees visible in the background.
Culture
What we “unfortunately do love” in Lakeland
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
September 18, 2025
 · 
Maria Adnado
Two pumpkin spice lattes in mugs on table with a pumpkin muffin
Food
Where to find all things pumpkin spice in Lakeland
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An aerial satellite image above Lakeland. Green land and lakes surround the city, which is labeled with a blue arrow. There are blue lines heading in each direction — north, east, south, and west_ stretching out beyond the edges of the map.
Travel and Outdoors
Which cities share Lakeland’s latitude and longitude?
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
An aerial view of the Eaglebrooke Golf Course in Lakeland, FL. There is a green in the foreground and sand traps, water hazards, and trees in the background.
Experience
Tee it up at these Lakeland golf courses
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Cat George
Four runners sprint quickly on a track as a spectator watches from behind a fence. The runners are wearing athletic gear and competitor number bibs.
City
3 interesting facts from the Polk County Community Health Assessment
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.
September 15, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A bright, sunny photo of the Subs 'n Such restaurant sign, a local business with an old-fashioned feel.
Food
Dine on history at Lakeland’s oldest restaurants
Take a bite of Lakeland’s past at these restaurants that have stood the test of time.
September 15, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A hand holding a container of ice cream in front of a Publix Super Markets sign
Tourism and Hospitality
Celebrate your birthday with Lakeland deals and freebies
It’s your party and you’ll enjoy these deals if you want to.
September 12, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A photo of an Enhydritherium terraenovae fossil on display, a tall skeleton that looks like an otter.
Travel and Outdoors
Meet 5 prehistoric creatures who once roamed Polk County
Millions of years ago, marine animals, mammals, and reptiles called Florida home. Learn about five whose fossils have been found in the Bone Valley area of Polk County.
September 8, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
LAL-downtown-kentucky-ave-lakeland-walfaro30-SEPT2022.jpeg
Weather
Fall weather forecast for Lakeland
Prepare for fall weather in Lakeland, Florida with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
September 8, 2025
 · 
Staff