Plus, public bathrooms in Munn Park
Visit Central Florida

Members only, please ✋

Join the club: Check out these Lakeland memberships
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Become a member at Bok Tower Gardens — the view never gets old.
Whether you’re looking to increase your patronage of the arts, spend more time in nature, or learn something new, become a member at one of these spots in and around Lakeland, FL.

Bok Tower Gardens | $75-$1000/year
Members receive unlimited year-round admission, discounts at Blue Palmetto Café and the Shop at Bok, invitations to members-only events, reciprocal admission at 300+ regional and national attractions, and more.

Daydreams Spa | $69-$120/month
Put your membership fee towards your favorite service each month, or let funds roll over in your account. Members receive 20% off massage and facial services, and 10% off nail services.

DEFY Lakeland | $19.99-$21.99/month
Members get special jump times, cafe discounts, and unlimited jumping at the $21.99 level.

Family Fun Center Birthday Club | Free
Register your children with Family Fun Center’s birthday club for a special birthday gift, birthday discounts, and a free game of mini golf or laser tag.

Florida Children’s Museum | $120+/year
Members receive free admission, discounted guest passes, invitations to members-only events, and more. Other Lakeland businesses like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Pressed, and The Nest also offer perks for FCM members.

Polk Museum of Art | Monthly and annual options available
This membership comes with perks like free admission to Bok Tower Gardens, free admission to After School Art and ArtLab programs, savings on spring break and summer camps, and more.

Red Door Lakeland’s Somm Wine Club | $100-$175/month
Enjoy small-batch wines from around the world with two or four bottle-per-month options. Members are invited to Somm Wine Club Happy Hours for tastings, plus exclusive quarterly tastings and seminars.

Salt Room Lakeland | $90-$189/month
Experience the benefits of salt therapy from NASA-inspired zero-gravity recliners — bring a book or even take a nap to strengthen your immune system or reduce inflammation.

What perks matter the most when selecting a new credit card?

A. Travel Points
B. Points Multipliers for Categories (e.g., 2X miles on grocery and restaurant purchases)
C. Low-Interest Rate
D. Cash Back Options
E. Introductory offers (e.g., % interest, point bonus)

Congratulations to Carol D. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!
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Lakeland Economic Development Council

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Feb. 20
  • Auditions: “Rhinoceros” | Monday, Feb. 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Come prepared to do a cold reading when you audition for this 1959 play by Eugène Ionesco.
  • St. Anthony Catholic School VPK Open House | Monday, Feb. 20 | Times vary | St. Anthony Catholic School, 924 Marcum Rd., Lakeland | Free | Meet the teachers and tour the classrooms during this open house.*
Tuesday, Feb. 21
  • SEO / Google Ads Lead Generation Workshop | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | $25 | Learn how to grow your business and hear from speakers from Brandtastic and Maximize Digital Media about search engine optimization (SEO) and Google Ads.
  • WPCV’s 5th “Concert for the Kids” | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $31-$262 | Benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital at this concert featuring country artists Brothers Osborne, Joe Nichols, Easton Corbin, and Hailey Whitters.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
  • Sunset Sounds: Tyler Dusek | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Enjoy farm-fresh food, handcrafted wine, beer, and cider, and live entertainment.
  • General Knowledge Trivia with Best Dressed Eggs Food Truck | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Put your general knowledge to the test and enjoy bites from Best Dressed Eggs Food Truck.
Saturday, Feb. 25
  • PACA Pick of the Month: Lake Wales Arts Festival | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 10 a.m. | Lake Wailes Park, 33 N Lake Shore Blvd., Lake Wales | Free | Presented by the Lake Wales Arts Council, the Citizens Bank & Trust Lake Wales Arts Festival features nearly 100 artists and attracts thousands of art lovers each year.*

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
Lakeland Regional Health

Weather
  • 81º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain 🌤
Development
  • Munn Park’s revitalization could bring an additional change to downtown: Public restrooms. There are no concrete plans in place, but potential options — including a permanent structure with LDDA offices, a welcome center, and public restrooms at the park’s northeast corner — have been discussed. (The Ledger)
  • A second controlled implosion hosted by Total Wrecking & Environmental is taking place at Lakeland Electric’s CD McIntosh Power Plant. The demolition company will implode a 225-ft fossil fuel-fired boiler on Saturday, March 4 at 11 a.m. Pro tip: Keep an eye out for possible traffic delays around Lake Parker. 💥
Civic
  • Sidewalk improvements, street lamps, and a grocery store. Those were priorities identified by the public at last Thursday’s Downtown West public forum. The City has hired GAI Consultants to assist in ideating the best course for Downtown West; top priorities include nurturing neighborhoods and improving connectivity. (LkldNow)
Biz
  • Soloman Wassef, owner of Lakeland Loft and Hookah Palace, wants to bring a Tiki bar to 201 E. Main St. Soloman’s plans for the vacant space directly below Lakeland Loft include recessing the building’s ground floor facade to create outdoor seating, similar to next door Black and Brew. 🍹 (The Ledger + LkldNow)
Number
  • $400,000. That’s how much The CareSource Foundation is offering to Florida nonprofits and community organizations that address the needs of children in "medically complex care.” Applications are open through Thursday, March 9 — apply online to win up to $50,000 for your organization. Learn more about eligibility and applying. (The Ledger)
Travel
  • Ciao. Mick Pugliese, owner of Il Forno, is hosting the Italy 2023: Taste the Experience tour from June 24-July 4. Join Mick in his hometown of Campi Flegrei, Italy for sightseeing, wine tasting, and cooking classes. You’ll also visit cities like Naples, Rome, Pompeii, and more. View the full brochure. 🇮🇹
Read
  • Pressed has launched its March book clubs. Sign up and then purchase your book online through Pressed (make sure to select Pressed LKLD as your store) to discuss books like “Spare,” “River Sing Me Home,” and more with other Lakelanders.
Concert
  • Head to Southeastern University on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. for the Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert: “Tales of Distant Lands.” Composers including Georges Bizet, Aaron Copland, and William Grant Still will be featured. The concert takes place in Bush Chapel and is free for the public.
Cause
  • Registration is officially open for the Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center Promise Run. The annual 5K/10K — which will be hosted at the Lake Mirror Promenade on Saturday, March 4 — allows the community to help conquer cancer and celebrate loved ones impacted by the disease. Learn more + register. 👟*
Shop
The Word
  • Baño. That’s Spanish for “bathroom” — something you’ll definitely need to know if you’re traveling to Central or South America this year, like 12% of our readers. Babbel’s easy, bite-sized lesson plans will ensure you know what to say when you have to go. (Read: Be talking like a local in as little as three weeks.) 🌏 *
Shop
  • Say goodbye to wrinkled clothes. This sleek garment steamer is leakproof and lightweight, making it easy to steam your clothes from home or while on the go. Bonus: It heats up in just 30 seconds and is suitable for a wide range of fabrics. 👚 *
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Calling all history fanatics

Lakeland’s 2023 History Lecture Series
The Lakeland History Room
Step inside the Lakeland History Room to meet with expert historians. | Photo by LALtoday
If you’re anything like us, you love Lakeland history. Luckily for you, the Lakeland History and Culture Center began hosting a free History Lecture Series this spring, featuring expert speakers. This month’s lecture takes place this week.

🚂 Henry Bradley Plant: Unexpected Friends, Long-Forgotten Dreams & Surprising Twists and Turns | Thursday, Feb. 23 | Author and Florida historian Dr. Canter Brown, Jr. will educate the public on the “King of Florida” — Henry Plant, known for putting Lakeland on the map with a stop on his railroad.

🧊 We Freeze to Please — The Lakeland Ice House | Thursday, March 30 | Author and historian William Lloyd Harris will teach about the Lakeland Ice House.

🎖 Buffalo Soldiers — Those Men That Came Before | Thursday, April 20 | Buffalo Soldiers Florida, Inc. President Richard Wilder will teach about the Buffalo Soldiers.

All events take place in the Lakeland Public Library’s Lakeland History Room from 5:30-7 p.m.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rilee.

Editor’s pick: All this talk about downtown Lakeland makes me thankful to be alive during such an exciting time for our city. That being said, I wouldn’t mind traveling through time to see Lakeland’s original railroad depot or the iconic hotel that hosted Thomas Edison and Theodore Roosevelt.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We answered your burning Swan City questions, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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