Read these stories, if you dare 💀

Exterior view of The Joinery decorated with fake skeletons climbing the walls

No bones about it — these stories will get you in the spirit of Halloween. | Photo by LALtoday

This weekend is sure to be a frightful one in Lakeland. Get a ~~headstone~~ head start on the festivities with this collection of our best Halloween-themed stories from over the years. Read them by flickering candlelight with a cup of hot coffee to keep your blood from running cold.

Haunted landmarks in Polk County
Have you seen the ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright appear at Florida Southern College? How about a spirit in the Old Polk County Courthouse? Learn more about locations around our county inhabited by apparitions.

Meet the three ghosts that haunt the Polk Theatre
This theatre built in 1928 has its fair share of hauntings, from an organ that plays itself to voices whispering in the ears of employees. Our team took a tour to experience the ghosts firsthand.

Polk County’s creepiest antique dolls
We won’t lie to you, this story is not for those with a fear of dolls. But if you’re into that kind of thing, we’ve got a map for easy access to these antique toys.

Sign at Spook Hill in Lake Wales — Visit Spook Hill to try rolling uphill for yourself.

Experience Spook Hill in Lake Wales
Visit this site to see the impossible — cars roll uphill rather than downhill. Is it just an optical illusion, or could it be a paranormal force?

The haunting of I-4 — America’s most haunted highway
Nearly 2,000 accidents — and a whole lot of paranormal activity — have happened in one stretch of I-4 built on top of yellow fever victim grave sites, aptly named the “I-4 Dead Zone.”

Bartow’s oldest man
Is it possible to live to 137? Visit the Bartow grave of Charlie Smith, thought to be the oldest man in America, to find out.

Have a creepy story of your own? Send it in and we may share it in an upcoming newsletter...if we live to tell the tale.

EVENTS

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Friday, October 28

Halloween Bash | Fri., Oct. 28 | 6 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 Florida Ave S, Lakeland | $8.00 | Get festive at Union Hall with local art vendors, a costume contest, and performances by No.9, The Paperback Whale, Marrison, Lesa Silvermore, The Daisy’s, and Anisette Mayer.
Haunted Jail Tour 2022 “Doomsday” | Fri., Oct. 28 - Sat., Oct. 29 | 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.
Spooky Pineapple Carving + Cocktails | Fri., Oct. 28 | 8-9:30 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E Main St, Lakeland | $45.00 | Get ghostly with pineapple carving and specialty “boos” — AKA, cocktails mixed for just the occasion — price includes a pineapple, two drinks, and necessary tools.

Saturday, October 29

Mr. Central Florida | Sat., Oct. 29 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park Entertainment Center, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd, Lakeland | Free | Enjoy hors d’oeuvres catered by Frescos Southern Kitchen and Bar, complimentary libations, live entertainment, and an online auction while supporting Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center.
Corky’s Corn Maze | Sat., Oct. 29 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Keel Farms, 1603 Hawk Griffin Road, Plant City | $10.00 - $15.00 | Find your way out of the corn maze before enjoying unlimited hay rides, kids zone, and family activities.
Fall Night Market | Sat., Oct. 29 | 4-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Shop from 100+ local vendors in downtown Lakeland while enjoying live music, food, drinks, and more — this event will not include trick-or-treating.
SUN ‘n FUN Spooktacular - Halloween Event | Sat., Oct. 29 | 4-8 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus, 4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland | $10.00 - $79.40 | Head to SUN ‘n FUN for haunted trails, trick-or-treating, s’mores, and other festive Halloween activities — for an extra frightful weekend, set up camp for $79.40.

Sunday, October 30

FSC|Dance: Fall Into Dance 2022 | Sun., Oct. 30 | 2:30 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium, Robert Davis Performing Arts Center, 1100 JOHNSON AVE., Lakeland | $10.00 - $20.00 | The FSC Dance Program and the FSC Chamber Jazz Ensemble join to transform Branscomb Auditorium into a jazz club.
The Haunted Museum | Sun., Oct. 30 | 6-10 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland | $5.00 | Take a gallery ghost tour, sing creepy karaoke, chow down on a Hallo-weenie, and more.
PAL-oween Party | Sun., Oct. 30 | 5-8 p.m. | Lakeland PAL Youth Complex, 325 West 2nd Street, Lakeland | Free | The whole family can get into the haunting spirit with trunk-or-treat stations, photo opportunities, and a haunted house.

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.

PLAN YOUR HALLO-WEEKEND

NEWS NOTES

Weather

86º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Edu

Polk County Public Schools is not keeping it old school. Renovation projects totaling $916 million are currently in progress, including new gymnasiums, cafeterias, and more. The district is also planning to build at least five new schools and additions within the next 10 years. 🏗 (LkldNow)
Looking for a local hospital to complete your residency? Lakeland Regional Health utilizes state-of-the-art facilities, technologies, and equipment to train residents — and has a faculty dedicated to preparing graduates for a lifetime of medical care and service. Learn more about their Graduate Medical Education program.*

Ranked

No. 9. That’s what Polk County ranked on a list of counties with the highest net migration across the US from 2019-2020, according to information from the IRS. Polk’s net migration was 8,156 (read: 26,425 tax filers moved in compared to only 18,269 that moved out). (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Festival

Take a trip back in time with Lake Wales’ 46th Annual Pioneer Days Festival happening Sat., Oct. 29-Sun., Oct. 30 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Lake Wailes Park (499 E. Park Ave.). Play old-fashioned games, shop handcrafted goods, and watch historical demonstrations like canoe carving and candle making. 🕯

Feel Good

After being paralyzed from the neck down in a car crash six years ago, Polk State College student Chase Roberts has made a full recovery — and now he’s giving back. Chase is finishing his studies to become a licensed occupational therapy assistant and help others experiencing a similar situation. (WFTS)

Cause

The Aerospace Center for Excellence is hosting a Youth Sim Race on Tues., Nov. 29. Join in on the excitement by donating to your chosen simulated racing team to benefit ACE’s educational programs — the team with the most funds raised gets early access to the race route.

Learn

Halloween isn’t over yet, but we’re already getting ready for the holiday season. Register now for a hands-on cooking class on Wed., Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. to learn Thanksgiving recipes for your air fryer and Instant Pot. Meal prep will be as easy as pumpkin pie. 🥧

Active

Break a scary sweat at this weekend’s Wicked Workout classes at the YMCA. Visit the Fontaine Gills Family YMCA (2125 Sleepy Hill Rd.) on Sat., Oct. 29 and the Lakeland Family YMCA (3620 Cleveland Heights Blvd.) on Sun., Oct. 30 to try the new classes. See all class times here.

Arts

Head to the Pink Piano tomorrow, Oct. 29 at 8:30 p.m. for a Halloween party with live music by Matthew Lowry, Marrison, and The Daisy’s. Tickets are $6 to hear these artists perform originals and cover songs — consider this our official request to hear “Monster Mash.” 🎶

DYK

Did you know we want to share your Black Friday deals with our LALtoday readers? Promote your business with us by submitting a deal to be included in our Fri., Nov. 25 newsletter. Pricing varies by market + must be submitted by Wed., Nov. 16.

Eat

Celebrate the end of the week with a sweet treat that’s twice as nice: GreenWise Brookies (the perfect combo of a cookie + a brownie) are buy one, get one free at Publix GreenWise Market through Wed., Nov. 2. *

Open

Drumroll please… The long-anticipated Bonnet Springs Park is now open. We recently took a stroll along the Crenshaw Canopy Walk to experience its scenic views. Here’s how it went (and why you should go this weekend).*

Finance

Picture this — you receive an unsolicited phone call asking for personal or private identification information. What do you do? Publix Employees Federal Credit Union says don’t respond, even if the call looks legitimate. Share these tips with your family members to help avoid scams.*

The Buy

Real talk: You’re an adult, and it’s time to say goodbye to those sad, flat pillows and invest in bedding that supports your neck and back. Marlow designed a pillow specifically for side sleepers with customizable firmness, three angles to support your neck, and cooling technology — code 6AM saves you 10%, plus buy-more, save-more discounts up to 40%. ☁️ *

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

Business

There’s more in store ☕️

Gates closed outside Unfiltered Lakeland coffeeshop

We can’t wait for these gates to open again soon. | Photo by LALtoday

Development is coming along quickly at Unfiltered Lakeland, a new coffee shop, artisan market, and event space. Earlier this week, it was announced that four local small businesses — Champagne and Gravy, East Of These, My Crazy Plant Life, and The Vintage Warehouse — will set up storefronts on site.

Here’s what you can expect from each biz:

Champagne and Gravy | A build-your-own-hat bar with different styles and accessories
East of These | Ethically sourced, handmade accessories like turbans, head wraps, and bows
My Crazy Plant Life | A collection of house plants like orchids, begonia, and succulents
The Vintage Warehouse | Vintage and repurposed furniture, decor, clothing, jewelry, and more from 20+ vendors

You’ll be able to shop from these stores soon — Unfiltered is shooting to open in late November at 801 E. Main St. Until then, visit its Bartow location at 160 S. Broadway Ave. for a taste of what’s to come.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: Great news for our coffee lovers out there (your favorite city editors included): Black & Brew’s third location officially joined South Florida Avenue this week. Stop by 4209 S. Florida Ave. for your favorite menu items — I’m coming for you, apple pie chai.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Find the perfect local venue for your next event, 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.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

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