Welcome to winter ❄️

A string of Christmas lights with a large lit display in the background

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. | Photo by @megsfundays

Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Lakeland. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, winter is where Swan City thrives.

Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 30 winter events happening between December and February.

Holiday parties/events

Magical Snowy Wonderland | Weekly, Thursday-Saturday | 6-9 p.m. | Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Dr., Lakeland | Free | Head to Lakeland’s outdoor shopping mall for a whimsical snowfall, weekly Thursday through Saturday from 6-9 p.m. — snow will fall at the top of each hour.

Light displays

A church steeple in the sunset surrounded by lit Christmas decor in the yard. — One More Child’s Night of Lights is the perfect holiday photo op.

Night of Lights | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | One More Child, 1015 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Fill the car with your favorite little elves and head to One More Child’s drive-thru Christmas light show, featuring a live nativity scene, Santa and his sleigh, and decorated cottage homes.

NYE celebrations

Holiday performances

Toast to the Holidays | Saturday, Dec. 3, Sunday, Dec. 4 | 7 p.m., 2 p.m. | Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $26-$49 | Lakeland Symphony Orchestra is kicking off the holiday with a performance of everyone’s favorite seasonal tunes.

Looking to fill your winter calendar? Click below to keep the festivities coming.

26 MORE WINTER FESTIVITIES

POLL

The most wonderful time of year to get out and explore the city is…

A. Spring
B. Summer
C. Fall
D. Winter
E. All of them

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EVENTS

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Wednesday, Nov. 30

“Friends” Trivia Night w/ Uncle Bucky’s BBQ | Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Pivot your plans and bring your lobster to test your knowledge of this classic show.
Open Mic at The Pink Piano | Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 8-11:30 p.m. | The Pink Piano, 1015 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Support local comedians and singers or perform onstage yourself at this open mic night.

Thursday, Dec. 1

Lakeland Christmas Parade | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 7-10 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Be part of the “Christmas Past, Present, and Future,” parade, starting with a firework show over Lake Mirror — no chairs allowed before parade day.

Friday, Dec. 2

First Friday: Hometown Holiday | Friday, Dec. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland, 117 N. Kentucky Ave. | Free | Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy free activities in Munn Park, and shop from local stores and vendors.
Night of Lights | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | One More Child, 1015 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Drive through this experience featuring decorated cottage homes, Santa Claus, a live Nativity scene, and Christmas lights.

Saturday, Dec. 3

A Christmas Legacy — Ardella’s 2022 Christmas Musical | Saturday, Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 3, Sunday, Dec. 4 | 3 p.m. | Ardella Baptist Church, 709 W Pipkin Rd, Lakeland | Free | This annual Broadway-style Christmas Musical is returning with special performances of “A Christmas Legacy.”
SNOWFEST | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 5-9 p.m. | Frances Langford Promenade, Lakeland | Free | Take a walk through the snow at the 42nd Annual Snowfest, presented by The City of Lakeland.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Dan Pepin w/ Tervone’s Kitchen | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St, Lakeland | Free | Dan Pepin is bringing the tunes starting at 2 p.m. — Tervone’s Kitchen will be serving up fresh bites starting at 12 p.m.
AFSP- Polk County Out of the Darkness Walk | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 2:30 p.m. | Lake Parker Park, 820 E Robson St., Lakeland | Free | Join community members at this Out of the Darkness Community Walk, a walk of remembrance and support for those affected by mental health afflictions.

Thursday, Dec. 8

Sofwave Christmas Event | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Ayan Wellness, 1046 South Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Professional demo of Sofwave (an age defying, collagen producing, anti-wrinkle service) plus champagne, wine, seasonal treats, and raffles and drawings for prizes and gifts.*

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

85º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain ⛅️

Number

$4.09 million. That’s what Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) paid for 2.2 acres for its freestanding emergency department. LRH plans to make healthcare more accessible throughout Lakeland and Polk over the next five years. Currently, the ratio of Polk patients to physicians is 2,080 to one. (LkldNow)

Lakelander

Dr. Tanya Vasylenko, a retired physician and Ukraine native, returned to Lakeland after nine months of treating injured soldiers from her home in Motovilikha, just south of Kyiv. Dr. Vasylenko taught locals how to treat troops and send food to the front lines. She will return in February. 🩺 (Fox 13 News)

Travel

Lakeland-based TRYP Air Charter has added another Pilatus PC12 turbo-prop plane to its Plant City Airport fleet. The luxurious private charter accommodates eight passengers and flies to destinations including Atlanta, the Bahamas, Key West, and Nashville. (Business Observer)

Ranked

No. 46. That’s what Lakeland ranked on WalletHub’s list of Best College Towns and Cities in America for small cities. Metrics considered in the rankings included wallet friendliness, social environment, and academic and economic opportunities. Pro tip: Check out our guide to Swan City’s higher education institutions. 🎓 (WalletHub)

Featured

Lakeland nonprofit Talbot House Ministries was featured in Bay News 9 earlier this week. The 814 N. Kentucky Ave. center provides hot meals and housing to those experiencing homelessness while also assisting them with important services like acquiring birth certificates, Social Security cards, and driver’s licenses. (Bay News 9)

Try This

Pure Barre Lakeland (1314 E. Town Center Dr., Ste. 102) is hosting a holiday fashion show on Friday, Dec. 2. Bring an unwrapped toy for Parker Street Ministries and see the latest styles in athleisure. Your $25 ticket — available at the front desk — goes towards a retail purchase of your choosing. 🛍

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Payne Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. c/o McQueen Marketing

PETS

New to Lakeland

A brown puppy gazes over the shoulder of a red-haired woman in a white shirt.

City Editor Rilee tried out Black & Brew Southside’s patio with her pup, Ruby. | Photo by LALtoday

Sometimes you just can’t leave your pup at home. Thankfully, Lakeland is pretty dog-friendly and has a handful of patios + restaurants where you and your pup can enjoy an outing together.

Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro | Multiple locations

“I went to the S Florida Ave Black & Brew. The place was very clean and lively and the staff was very friendly. They even offered my dog a pup cup without me having to ask for it. I was allowed to bring my dog inside the cafe to order. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. The food was tasty too. Will be coming back for sure!” — Jaitza

Cob & Pen | 1221 S. Florida Ave.

“We love Cob & Pen and had to take Ragnar here for his first real outing. The lawn and patio area is great for pets! You simply place your order inside at the bar and waitstaff will deliver your food and drinks to your table outside.” — Aubreigh

9 MORE PUP-FRIENDLY PATIOS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rilee.

Editor’s pick: Do I look for excuses to include my dog in LAL content? I can neither confirm nor deny, but I can tell you that Lakeland has a plethora of parks — to the tune of 70, give or take. Check out our guide to Lakeland’s parks (including dog parks). You can also take Spot to Bonnet Springs Park, just remember to keep him on a leash. 🐶

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We showed you how to shop local from the comfort of home, 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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