6AM City In-house

Make fall festive 🍁
Young child laying in tub full of corn kernels at Harvest Holler in Polk City, FL
No matter where you go, you’ll have an a-maize-ing fall. | Photo by @gilesboys_mama
It’s fall, y’all, and we’re ready to celebrate. Visit one of these corn mazes, pumpkin patches, or spooky tours to welcome the season.

🌽 For adventurers

Corky’s Corn Maze, 1603 Hawk Griffin Rd., Plant City | Sat.-Sun. through Nov. 30 | $10 for kids, $15 for adults
Venture through a four-acre corn maze and try Keel & Curley wine and cider.

Fox Squirrel Corn Maze, 6151 Varn Rd., Plant City | Sat.-Sun. through Oct. 23 | $10 for kids, $11 for adults
Start with a walk through the pumpkin patch or butterfly garden, and end with taking your best aim at a scarecrow using a giant slingshot.

Harvest Holler, 950 Tavares Rd., Polk City | Fri.-Sun. through Nov. 13 | $12 for kids, $15 for adults
Ride down the Big Frank-n-Slide, jump in the corn tubs, or take a ride around the farm to feed animals.

Entrance to Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in Plant City, FL

Enter into fall at these farms, trails, and more.

Photo by @loshtv

👻 For ghosthunters

Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, 2837 S. Frontage Rd., Plant City | Fri.-Sun. through Nov. 5 | $32+
Dare to enter outdoor haunted trails and escape rooms, and try your hand at laser tag + ax throwing.

Wonder House, 1075 E. Mann Rd., Bartow | Fri.-Sun. through Oct. 30 | $10+ for kids, $25+ for adults
Tour this Bartow home full of mysterious history — like a coffin in the former parlor.

Fluffy baby cow on Cow Creek Farm in Plant City, FL

Pet Cow Creek Farm’s fluffy cows at the Harvest Festival.

Photo by @cowcreekfarm

🐮 For animal lovers

Bell Family Farm, 6170 Stagecoach Rd., Polk City | Wed.-Sun. through Dec. 31 | $12 online, $15 at the gate
Pet farm animals and unique critters like mini zebu + kunekune pigs.

Cow Creek Farm (6802 Five Acre Rd., Plant City) has nearly sold out of tours, but you can still visit the Highland Harvest on Sat., Oct. 22. Tickets are $8 for kids and $10 for adults online, and $12 for all at the gate.

Don’t see your favorite spot? Tell us where you’ll be celebrating this season.
Publix Employees Federal Credit Union
EVENTS
 

Click here to have your event featured.

Today
  • Lunch Pop-Ups at Catapult: Bandidas | Mon., Oct. 10 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | From focaccia sandwiches to specialty pastries, enjoy a meal from Bandidas’ ever evolving menu at this fall lunch series.*
  • SEU Music Faculty Gala | Mon., Oct. 10 | 7:30-9 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church, 75 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | Free | Faculty members of SEU’s School of Music will perform pieces from a wide variety of music genres.
Tuesday
  • The Chonky Alphabet: Victoria Saunders, Local Author Visit | Tue., Oct. 11 | 10:30-11 a.m. | Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W McLendon St., Plant City | Free | Join local author Victoria Saunders as she reads her cat-themed children’s book, “The Chonky Alphabet.”
Wednesday
  • Star Wars Trivia w/ Hold On I Know This w/ Gin Khao Food Truck | Wed., Oct. 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Grab a bite from Gin Khao and compete to see if Yoda biggest Star Wars fan.
Thursday
  • The Most Awkward Network Event 2.0 | Thu., Oct. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 Florida Ave S, Lakeland | $15.00 | Get awkward with this networking event — register to become an EMERGE member for a discount.
Friday
  • Just Between Friends Sale | Fri., Oct. 14 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W Lime St, Lakeland | $2.00 | Shop this community-wide consignment sale for children’s clothing + gear — register online for free admission.
Saturday
  • Swantoberfest 2022! | Fri., Oct. 14 - Sat., Oct. 15 | 12-7 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Celebrate Oktoberfest season with Swan Brewing’s gold medal-winning beers, live music and food trucks.
Plan Ahead
  • Grand Opening of CIL’s Lakeland Office | Thu., Oct. 20 | 3-6 p.m. | CIL’s Lakeland Office, 2025 Crystal Wood Dr., 2nd floor, Lakeland | Free | Lakelanders are invited to the grand opening of the new Lakeland Office and learn more about the work CIL is doing in the area.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
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ARTS
 

Get creative with the Polk Arts + Cultural Alliance
LAL-Polk-museum-of-art-classes-SEPT2022.jpeg
Register for adult art classes like oil painting + monochromatic drawing | Photo provided by Polk Arts + Cultural Alliance
Ever wonder what makes Lakeland so unique, inclusive + vibrant? Our city holds a variety of creative events thanks to Polks Arts & Cultural Alliance (PACA). Get to know PACA to support a colorful future for the arts in Lakeland. 🎨

Established in 2004, this nonprofit organization was designated by Polk Co. Board of County Commissioners as the Local Arts Agency. This means PACA is able to support local artists and promote their own events through grants, partnership funds + publishing a seasonal “Art-i-facts” magazine.

Part of their work includes highlighting art events around Lakeland, including:
  • Drawing courses for beginners
  • Community theatre productions 🎭
  • Art history lectures
  • Professional art exhibits
  • Arts sessions for participants with special needs
  • Musical performances for the community
By becoming a member of the Polk Arts Alliance, you also become an advocate for creativity in Lakeland so these life-giving events can be here to stay. ❤️ *
PICTURE THE POLKS ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE
NEWS NOTES
 

Weather
  • 88º | Scattered showers | 60% chance of rain 🌦
Civic
  • At today’s City Commission meeting, applicants for an open interim commissioner seat will interview before the public. Each candidate will get up to 15 minutes to answer questions submitted by commissioners. Visit City Hall at 9 a.m. to sit in on the interviews, or watch online. (LkldNow)
  • The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency has declared the South Florida Road Diet a success and supports making the road diet permanent. Officials are considering further changes to ease traffic in the area, and a workshop with FDOT is scheduled for December. 🚗 (The Ledger)
Number
  • $20 million. That’s how much Hurricane Ian cleanup efforts are expected to cost in Polk County. It may take 3-4 months for all debris to be picked up as 70 contracted trucks start on the south side of the county and work their way to the north side. (Fox 13 News)
  • $6.2 million. That’s how much will now return to the state’s general budget, after Gov. Ron DeSantis decided not to approve funding for Polk organizations. That figure had been approved by the Florida Legislature in September as grant funding for 13 Polk organizations, like Se7en Wetlands and Peace River Center. (The Ledger)
Plan Ahead
  • The SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo is soaring back to Lakeland from Mar. 28-Apr. 2, 2023. The expo is the largest air show in the south, featuring workshops, demonstrations, and family-friendly entertainment. Get tickets now to attend or camp out at Lakeland Linder International Airport. ✈️
Today Is
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Recognized as the second Monday in October by the Florida House of Representatives in 2021, this national holiday honors the past, present, and futures of Native people throughout the US.
Sports
  • The Lakeland Magic have released their theme night and promotional schedule for home games starting Fri., Nov. 11 at the RP Funding Center. Tickets are available for themed games like “Star Wars Night.” As the season starts, tell us what kind of sports content you want to see in LALtoday. 🏀
  • Let’s hear it for the home team, LAL. What better way to celebrate football season than with a tailgate surrounded by friends. Here are four tips for hosting a tailgate fit for champs. 🏈 *
Film
  • Locally-made horror film “The Darkest Night” debuted this weekend at the Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven. The movie was filmed across Polk County, and even features a cameo from Sheriff Grady Judd. The frightful flick will be available on streaming services starting Sun., Oct. 30. (The Ledger)
Cause
  • Camp Margaritaville is raising funds for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its Cheers for Charity program. For every alcoholic or non-alcoholic frozen drink purchased this month, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida. We’ll toast to that. 🍹
Finance
  • Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by your savings account. 🙋‍♀️ Greenville Federal Credit Union’s Share Savings Account options make saving easy. Pro tip: Designate a certain amount or percentage to be automatically deposited from your paycheck so you don’t even get a chance to miss it.*
Travel
  • In addition to beignets aplenty, New Orleans is home to a spectacular showcase of Creole cuisine, lively jazz bars, stunning French architecture, and historic ghost tours. Escape to the city for a weekend and experience it all while staying in this renovated condo complete with a charming private courtyard.*
Learn
  • Become bilingual — but make the learning process fun. Babbel’s bite-size, 10-minute lessons are designed to fit into your busy life, helping you learn a new language in as little as three weeks. Pro tip: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🗺️ *
Stat
  • 1 in 5 small businesses will fall victim to a cyber attack. Entrepreneurs and side hustlers: Check out these six ways to protect your biz. 🖥 *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
6AM City In-house
TRY THIS
 

A tour like no other 🪦
Gravesites and trees at Roselawn Cemetery in Lakeland, FL
Learn more of our local history by seeing into our past. | Image via Google Maps
Calling all local history buffs and supernatural super-fans. The Lakeland Public Library opened registration for the Stories and Stones Historic Cemetery Tour this weekend, and you don’t want to miss this.

Visit Roselawn Cemetery (713 N. Ingraham Ave.) on Sat., Oct. 15 from 9-10:15 a.m. for a free tour. Walk through the graves hearing stories about Lakeland residents of the past. You’ll also learn how to decode headstones and their iconography.

This event will occur once a month from October-March, with tours rotating between Roselawn, Lakeview, and Tiger Flowers Cemeteries. Register now — it would be a grave mistake to miss this.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: After somehow getting roped into Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios last week, a relaxing walk through a corn maze sounds like a better way to welcome fall. I’m planning my next trip to Harvest Holler for Maw-Maw’s homemade cobbler.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Catch this month’s local art shows and performances, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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