4 tips for hosting an all-star tailgate 🏈

Hampton Farms has the ultimate tips for hosting a tailgate fit for champs. | Photo provided by Hampton Farms

Let’s hear it for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, it’s that time of year again: football season — which means it’s time to pull out the grill, grab some friends + start planning a winning tailgate party.

Looking to be the best tailgater in the lot? Here are four tailgating tips that will turn your tailgate into tail-great.

🎉 Rep your team with decor

Make your presence known and get your fellow fans excited about the game. Flex your team pride by decorating your car, tent, or table with team colors (or the team mascot). A fun way to take this tip to the next level: Have themed beads, tattoos, flags, and photo props for your guests.

🍂 Make sure guests are comfortable

Have portable chairs on hand so your guests can sit back, relax, and enjoy the pre-game festivities. Pro-tip: If the forecast calls for cooler weather, bring a basket of blankets to ensure it’s the party that stays cool and not your guests.

🍻 Have drink options

While cold beer is a tailgate favorite, it’s not everyone’s drink of choice. Have options like soda, seltzers, wine, water, and non-alcoholic beverages available to accommodate everyone. They’ll thank you later.

🥜 Keep the snacks stocked

Finger foods are a huge part of any tailgating event. Enter: Hampton Farms in-shell peanuts. The peanuts are roasted with flavor packed inside the shell. For those who want a kick, have Cajun Hot Nuts on hand, and, for your saltier friends, bring the Salted Fancy Peanuts. Bonus: Impress your guests with this easy to make Spicy Fried Peanut recipe.*

STOCK UP ON SNACKS

This content was created in partnership with Hampton Farms and written by Michaela Leung.*

POLL

What’s your favorite part of tailgating?

A. Hanging with friends
B. The food
C. The team-spirit atmosphere
D. Other

LET US KNOW

Center for Independent Living in Central Florida

EVENTS

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Today

After School Art | Mon., Oct. 17 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art | $5.00 | Parents and children can learn creative skills with a new art lesson each week.
Amplify Lakeland: Find Your Voice. Increase Your Influence | Mon., Oct. 17 | 6-8:30 p.m. | The Well Lakeland, 114 E Parker St, Lakeland | Free | Learn about leadership from Mayor Bill Mutz, Polk County Commissioner Martha Santiago, and Toastmasters International President Matt Kinsey — refreshments provided.

Tuesday

Fun Run/ Music Bingo w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Tue., Oct. 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Start off the evening with a fun run + stick around to play music bingo with eats from Smokin’ Chanchos food truck.
Storytime | Tue., Oct. 18 | 10-10:30 a.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland | Free | Junior ACEs ages 2-5 can hear a story and take part in an interactive learning experience.

Wednesday

Line Dancing Lessons & DJ Steev G | Wed., Oct. 19 | 5 p.m. | Union Hall, Lakeland | Free | Kick off your Sunday shoes and take these free line dancing lessons — stay for music by DJ Steev G and drink specials starting at 8 p.m.

Thursday

T-R-I-V-I-A | Thu., Oct. 20 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Show what you know to win prizes while enjoying deals on beer, wine, and cocktails.
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.*

Friday

Festive Flix: Halloween Edition | Fri., Oct. 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Frances Langford Promenade, Lakeland | Free | Catch a free screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with popcorn + refreshments available for purchase — bring your own lawn chair or blanket.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Haunted Jail Tour | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6:30-10:30 p.m. | Polk County Jail, 455 N. Broadway Ave, Lakeland | $12.00 - $20.00 | Join the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their annual Haunted Jail Tour with new unexplored areas — all proceeds will benefit the United Way of Central Florida.

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.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

89º | Mostly sunny | 20% chance of rain

Opening

The highly-anticipated grand opening of Bonnet Springs Park is this weekend, Sat., Oct. 22 and Sun., Oct. 23. From live music to art installations and food, the grand opening festivities are sure to be a weekend you don’t want to miss. 🎉
Following Bonnet Springs Park’s opening, guests will be able to explore the new Florida Children’s Museum on Fri., Nov. 4-Sat., Nov. 5. Go behind the scenes with LkldNow to learn more about the space — from classes and programs to various spaces offered. (LkldNow)

Community

The City of Lakeland’s 42nd Annual Swan Roundup is happening tomorrow, Tues., Oct. 18, at Lake Morton. In case you forgot, the annual event serves as a wellness check for our royal swans — learn more here. 🦢
Do you have feedback for The City of Lakeland? Take this annual survey through Tues., Nov. 15 to share your top priorities for the city — from amenities you’d like to see in the future to public safety and more.

Traffic

No more free rides. You may have noticed a welcome phrase — “Tolls suspended” — if you’ve taken the Polk Parkway recently, but that suspension is officially over. As of Sat., Oct. 15, the parkway reinstated its normal fees. 🚙 (Fox 13 News)

Number

28 million. That’s how many boxes of Florida oranges are predicted to be harvested this year following Hurricane Ian, where farmers lost between 30-100% of their crop. Last year, 42 million boxes were harvested, which was the lowest harvest on record at the time. (The Ledger)
$2.9 million. That’s how much Gary Young spent on 441 acres near Frostproof for his dream retirement project: A racetrack. The Polk County Planning Commission approved Gary’s private two-mile track in a 4-3 vote. Barring an appeal by nearby residents, Gary can move forward with his dream. 🏎️ (The Ledger)

Learn

Florida Southern College is hosting the Eighth Polk Real Estate and Economic Update on Fri., Oct. 28. Register by Fri., Oct. 21 to hear from local industry leaders in banking, real estate, and more. The event will feature a networking social and breakfast, multiple panels, lunch, and an award presentation.

Festival

The Plant City Balloon Festival is taking place on Fri., Oct. 21-Sat., Oct. 22 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds (303 N. Lemon St., Plant City). Stop by for tethered hot air balloon rides, music, food, a night glow and laser show, and more. Tickets start at $10. 🎈

Asked

It’s that time of year again, we have brunch on the brain. As we’re looking ahead to updating our brunch guide, we thought we’d ask our best resource — that’s you — to tell us your favorite brunch spot. 🍳

Biz

First impressions go a long way, especially in business. Find out what your startup needs to stand out — and how to avoid common mistakes — in this podcast episode from Catapult. 🎧 *

Eat

Looking for a healthy midday snack? Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs are buy one, get one free at Publix GreenWise Market through Wed., Oct. 19.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

History

The aerial view of the haunted stretch | Photo via Google Maps

Happy spooky season, LAL. You’ve most likely trekked through traffic on I-4 — aka, one of the most dangerous interstates — but did you know it’s also home to a myriad of graves?

Known as the I-4 Dead Zone, this stretch of interstate is known as America’s most haunted highway. Of the 132 miles that make up I-4, the dead zone lies within a quarter-mile, a little over an hour away from the greater Lakeland area just south of the St. Johns River and north of Orlando.

Drivers report an abundance of car accidents, electronic incidents, and, you guessed it, paranormal activity. And, because of the disturbed gravesites underneath the eastbound lanes that house the remains of yellow fever victims, it’s no surprise this stretch is rumored to be responsible for almost 2,000 accidents since 1963.

Click below for a few unnerving coincidences, if you will, occurring in that spot.

CLICK HERE IF YOU DARE

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rilee.

Editor’s pick: Just when I thought driving on I-4 couldn’t be scarier. Do you have a spooky story with Lakeland or Polk as the setting? Send it my way so I can tell it around the campfire or share it in an upcoming newsletter. 👻

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We asked the experts what to expect from Lakeland’s real estate scene, 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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