Our type of holiday plans

Shiny silver photo backdrop with silver Christmas trees and hanging disco balls

Type 1s, we’ve done part of the planning for you — check out The Joinery for your holiday event. | Photo by @bloom.shakalaka

With so many holiday happenings around town, it can be hard to try them all. Here are our suggestions to find the perfect activity for you, based on your Enneagram personality type.

Type 1 — The Reformer
Rational, purposeful, self-controlled
You’re likely to be the one planning the family Christmas party — our list of rentable venues is here to help.

Type 2 — The Helper
Caring, interpersonal, generous
Put your helpfulness to good use by volunteering or giving to a toy drive this holiday season.

Type 3 — The Achiever
Success-oriented, adaptive, driven
Become a better (and more festive) version of yourself by taking a local class — we recommend a holiday-themed cooking class or painting class.

A white fireplace decorated for Christmas with a garland and gifts. — Type 4s can choose a decorated backdrop or start from scratch.

Type 4 — The Individualist
Sensitive, expressive, dramatic
Use your creativity to make the Christmas card of your dreams with a family photoshoot at a local photo spot.

Type 5 — The Investigator
Intense, cerebral, innovative
With Lakeland decorated in its Christmas best, there’s no better time to take a tour and learn more about the place you call home.

Type 6 — The Loyalist
Committed, engaging, responsible
You’re known for sticking to your favorite activities, but it’s also a great time to try something new — like a themed twist on your favorite markets.

Ballerinas pose on stage as snow falls on a performance of "The Nutcracker" — Type 7s are sure to enjoy a ballet performance by Florida Dance Theatre.

Type 7 — The Enthusiast
Spontaneous, busy, fun-loving
With this list of ballets, musicals, and plays, you can keep your calendar full of exciting Christmas performances.

Type 8 — The Challenger
Powerful, confident, decisive
Challenge yourself to see if you can complete a holiday half-marathon or a full day on Lakeland’s bike trails.

Type 9 — The Peacemaker
Easygoing, receptive, reassuring
Treat yourself or a friend to a self-care day for some peace of mind in the holiday rush.

All descriptions of Enneagram types are courtesy of The Enneagram Institute. To find your Enneagram type, you can take the Enneagram Institute test. For a free option, click here.

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Alzheimer Association’s in-person Caregiver Support Group. | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 12-1 p.m. | Hawthorne Inn, 6150 Lakeland Highlands Rd., Lakeland | Free | Connect with other caregivers at this group that meets on the second Tuesday of each month.
Molly’s Musicians Showcase | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free | Support local musicians at this free open mic night.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

New Yoga | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Dr., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and some water to this yoga class for all levels focusing on breath, alignment, balance, and strength — must be 16 or older.
Winter Haven Coffee, Tea, and Treats Tour | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 10 a.m. | Downtown Winter Haven | $45-$95 | Sip your way around downtown Winter Haven and learn from a local coffee roaster.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Circus Mutt w/ Jimmy’s Famous Seafood Express | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Whether you’re looking for a fresh bite or wanting to hear some live tunes, head to Swan Brewing for Circus Mutt and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood Express.
Songs of Christmas Past - A Community Outreach Program | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Heritage Park, 8950 N. Campbell Rd., Lakeland | Free | Learn about the history behind your favorite Christmas carols and the time periods in which they were written.

Friday, Dec. 16

Family Movie Night | Friday, Dec. 16 | 6:30-9 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | Free | Watch the holiday movie “Elf” outdoors with a view of Lake Hollingsworth — bring your own chairs or blankets.
“My Fair Lady” | Friday, Dec. 16 | 7:30-10 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $66-$86 | See this beloved musical where flower seller Eliza Doolittle is transformed by a linguistics professor.

Saturday, Dec. 17

The Joinery Dime | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Shop locally-made art, jewelry, handmade goods, and home decor, meet adoptable cats, and try craft cocktails.
Florida Dance Theatre presents “The Nutcracker” | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium, Robert Davis Performing Arts Center, Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | $15-$25 | Venture to the Land of the Sweets with the Nutcracker Prince in this traditional holiday favorite ballet.

We have a calendar filled with events and 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

NEWS NOTES

Weather

78º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain ☀️

Cause

Heartland for Children is seeking couples and single adults to help meet its goal of adding 25 Lakeland-area foster homes. The organization currently serves 2,025+ children in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. Click here to learn more about getting involved with foster care. (LkldNow)

Biz

The owner of the recently closed Federal Bar has announced plans to open a new event venue called The Chapel at 417 N. Massachusetts Ave. If approved by city commissioners in January, the 2,200-sqft spot would offer a private event space and public bar service on weekends. 🥂 (The Ledger)
Voting is now open for Catapult’s Lakeland Entrepreneur Awards, an annual celebration of the startups in our community and those who support them. Lakelanders can vote for their favorite local entrepreneur for the People’s Choice Award during the first voting round through Thursday, Dec. 15.*

Kids

Plan ahead for the Dream Fest Kids Edition: Day of Caring at the Florida Children’s Museum. Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with free museum admission, live performances, arts and crafts, giveaways, and more for the whole family to enjoy.

Open

Therapeutic Well-Being, LLC (5125 S. Lakeland Dr., Ste. 4) is now open to offer mental health services for individuals, couples, and families. This English and Spanish-speaking facility is also offering workshops throughout December — call to reserve your spot.

Shop

What do Munn Park, the Silver Moon Drive In, and the Polk Theatre have in common? They’re all featured in Mockingbird Artist’s 2023 Lakeland Landmark Calendar. You don’t have to wait for January for these — they’re available now at Scout & Tag. 🗓

Try This

Get crafty with the Handmade Holiday Bonanza happening through tomorrow, Dec. 14 at Picassoz Art Cafe. Sign up online or walk in from 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. to create clay ornaments or keepsake plaques.

Stat

28.5%. That’s how much Florida’s December orange crop forecast for the 2022-2023 season decreased from October’s forecast. The December forecast was the first to consider damage from Hurricane Ian, which wiped out as much as 100% of production in South Florida groves. 🍊 (The Ledger)

Holiday

Taking your Christmas photos just got even easier. Santa and Mrs. Claus will now be available for photos with all guests at The Back Nine. Dine in and play simulated sports, or just pop in for a picture on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance’s Holiday Gift Guide, your cheat sheet to shopping local and supporting artists + arts and cultural orgs right here in Lakeland. Shop the gift guide.*

Real Estate

Looking to maximize your time outdoors with your next home? Meet The Adventurer by Hulbert Homes — a 3, 4, or 5 BD, 4 BA stunner with a three-car garage, den, and flex space along with a pool + lanai that’s perfect for starting or ending the day. 🏡 *

Community

It’s time to get outside, Lakeland. Plan a visit to Bonnet Springs Park to soak in some nature at Central Florida’s (new) place of play. 🌳*

Eat

This deal is to die for. Dave’s Killer Organic Bread is $5.99 at Publix GreenWise Market through Wednesday, Dec. 14.*

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

SPORTS

Do you believe in Magic? 🏀

The Mexico City Capitanes play against the Lakeland Magic.

Zavier Simpson of the Lakeland Magic goes up for a shot against the Mexico City Capitanes. | NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

Looking to catch the Lakeland Magic in action? The NBA G League team known for exciting games, its friendly mascot Swish, and freebies for fans has released tickets for March home games at the RP Funding Center.

🏀 Gold vs. Magic | Sunday, March 5 | 3 p.m. | $12-$158 | The Magic is kicking off its March schedule by facing off against the Grand Rapids Gold.

🏀 School Day Game | Thursday, March 9 | 10:30 a.m. | $102-$177 | School’s out: Head to the RP Funding Center for this game versus the Wisconsin Herd.

🏀 Magic Gaming Night | Sunday, March 12 | 3 p.m. | $12-$158 | Attend the Magic’s first game against the Capital City Go-Go.

🏀 Women’s Celebration Night | Monday, March 13 | 7 p.m. | $12-$158 | Celebrate Women’s History Month at this game against the Capital City Go-Go — the first 1,000 fans will get a free Lakeland Magic bag.

🏀 Hoops for Hunger | Tuesday, March 21 | 7 p.m. | $12-$158 | Cheer on the Magic while they play the Long Island Nets — the first 1,000 fans will receive a free replica Hoops for Hunger jersey.

🏀 Fan Appreciation Night | Thursday, March 23 | 7 p.m. | $12-$158 | The Lakeland Magic is tipping its hat to the fans while they play against the Long Island Nets — be among the first 1,000 to receive a free mystery bobblehead.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: A few years ago, we asked our readers what Lakeland’s Enneagram type would be — you said it would be Type 6, the Loyalist. If you’re into more of these personality type articles, see which Lakeland street matches your type here.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We’ve got all the pro tips you need for navigating Orlando International Airport, here.

Connect with us.

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

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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