Plus, the Swan Roundup returns next week.
 
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Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.
 

This small town of mediums is larger than life

“An energy vortex": Visit Cassadaga, the psychic capital of the world
Print Collection
Can you handle a trip to Cassadaga? | Photo via Florida Memory
If you hop in your car and drive 90 minutes northeast, you’ll run right into the sleepy town of Cassadaga, Florida — the psychic capital of the world.

The small, unincorporated town in Volusia County is the center of local lore. Since its inception in 1875 by George P. Colby, the town’s roots lie in the tradition of spiritualism, “a movement based on the belief that departed souls can interact with the living.” The belief system was popular at the time in Colby’s northeastern upbringing.

A postcard of the entrance to Camp Cassadaga

Welcome to Camp Cassadaga.

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Image via Florida Memory

Upon the town’s founding, George opened the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, which still exists today, for spiritualists from around the world to gather and learn about its foundation.

Today, the camp is more of a community than a regular campsite and is regarded as the largest in the United States. It became a historic district on the National Register Of Historic Places in 1991.

Who are the residents of this camp? Mediums, healers, psychics, and spiritualist church members, to name a few. Some claim the land exists in an “energy vortex” with a thin veil separating the living from the dead, making it prime real estate for those of the spiritualist faith.

A brick structure shaped like a chair sits between two large gravestones. A statue of an angel sits atop the chair.

Take a seat, if you dare, in the Devil’s Chair.

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Photo by @sugarmagnoliapup

Cassadaga is, ironically, without a cemetery. Residents are buried half a mile north at the Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery, which is notorious for the “Devil’s Chair.” Many have claimed to see the devil himself when sitting in the chair, as well as many other unexplained phenomena.

Want to visit? Check in at the Hotel Cassadaga, which is notoriously haunted. Upon receiving your room key, you can opt into spiritualism classes — just keep an eye out for its ghostly guests.

To learn more about this piece of haunted Florida, check out the “Cassadaga Nights” episode of local podcast “Florida Men on Florida Man.” If you’re not too scared, plan your visit with our Great Escapes guide.
Asked

Guests at the Hotel Cassadaga report smelling what from resident ghost Arthur at the end of the hallway?
A. Burning wood
B. Gin and cigars
C. His cologne
D. Leather and bourbon
Take a ghostly guess
Bonnet Springs Park
 
Events
Thursday, Oct. 5
  • Holiday Market Sip & Shop | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 6-9 p.m. | Banquet61, 105 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Get a head start on holiday shopping at this market with 10+ vendors and themed cocktails by Nineteen61.
  • Cookies ‘n Convos | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 6-7 p.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Kids in grades 2-5 and their parents can learn about aviation careers from International Airline Captain Carl Valeri.
Friday, Oct. 6
  • Celtic Conundrum w/ The Crepe Company | Friday, Oct. 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Treat yourself to breakfast for dinner and live music.
  • Swan City Improv Comedy Show! | Friday, Oct. 6 | Times vary | Rec Room, 202 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $10-$15 | Laugh along at these improvised comedy shows — all ages are welcome to the 7:30 p.m. show and the 9:30 p.m. show is 21+.
Saturday, Oct. 7
Sunday, Oct. 8
  • Lakeside Second Sunday Market | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 12-5 p.m. | Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Dr., Lakeland | Free | Shop from local makers at this Halloween-themed market — costumes are encouraged and trick-or-treating will be available.*
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Community

Be inspired by this breast cancer awareness event
a woman smiling wearing pink and a breast cancer awareness ribbon
The breast cancer survivorship event will be held at the Lone Palm Golf Club in Lakeland. | Photo provided by Watson Clinic
Hey, LAL women: Grab your partner or your girlfriends for this free evening social that’s equal parts breast cancer education and inspiration.

On Thursday, Oct. 19 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., the Watson Clinic Foundation is hosting its annual Healthy in Pink Social, featuring:
  • A special presentation from acclaimed country music artist and breast cancer survivor Anita Cochran
  • The latest in research + treatment, led by Breast Surgeon Dr. Elisabeth Dupont and additional Watson Clinic specialists
  • A light buffet dinner
RSVP (before seats are filled)
News Notes
Community
  • The Swan Roundup will return to Lake Morton on Tuesday, Oct. 10. At 7 a.m., city staff will corral the birds, and My Pet’s Animal Hospital staff will conduct annual wellness checks the following day. Pro tip: Drive around the lake with caution. (The Ledger)
Number
  • $100,000+. That’s how much Polk County jurors have donated from their compensation to individuals affected by domestic violence since 2006. The donations have benefited Peace River Center’s Lakeland Domestic Violence Shelter.
Biz
  • MADE has it made. The advertising firm was recognized on the University of South Florida’s Fast56 list for the third year in a row. The list recognizes businesses owned by USF alumni that have made $250,000+ in a recent 12-month period.
Health
  • Polk County Fire Rescue ambulances will now carry traumatic brain injury kits thanks to a partnership with Tampa General Hospital and Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. With these kits, trained paramedics can treat injured children en route to the hospital. (WFTS)
Award
  • Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School has been recognized as a School of Distinction by Cognia, a nonprofit school improvement organization. Lakeland Collegiate was one of 33 schools and school systems in the country to make the 2023 list.
Sports
  • Find your golf partner and hit the links at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County’s Fore the Kids golf tournament. The two-person scramble will take place at two locations on Monday, Oct. 30: The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland and the Country Club of Winter Haven.
Cause
  • Donate to families in need with two drives hosted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Drop off new jars of peanut butter for local food pantries at any PCSO location. You can also donate stuffed animals + books at RE/MAX Experts (4110 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 110) through Oct. 31.
Watch
  • View a screening of “After Midnight,” a horror movie written and directed by Winter Haven resident Jeremy Gardner, on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven. Tickets are available now — proceeds will raise funds for the historic theater.
Edu
  • Even in a tough economy, nursing continues to come out on top as a growing and stable career field. Enter the field as a Registered Nurse, Travel Nurse + more with Southeastern University’s new two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Bonus: The program offers evening and weekend classes.*
Travel
  • How does Going work? Sign up for free, follow up to five airports, and get notified when flight deals to over 900 destinations are 40-90% off.*
 
Film

🎥 Chills and thrills from your automobile

See scary cinema at the Silver Moon Drive-In
LAL-silvermoon-drive-in-nov-2022
If you think it’s pretty now, check it out after dark. | Photo by @honey.allison
Get your fill of frightful films at Silver Moon Drive-In’s two Halloween movie marathons happening this month. Tickets are now available for events on Friday, Oct. 6 and Friday, Oct. 20.

Movie Marathon Night One
Both screens will be running with different movies on the first night. Choose the Chills side to see “Corpse Bride,” “Gremlins,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Lost Boys,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

The Thrills side will screen “Hotel Transylvania,” “Labyrinth,” “Ghostbusters,” “Christine,” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”

Movie Marathon Night Two
The second marathon is all about classic movie monsters — with a few creepy crossovers. The schedule includes “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” “Bride of Frankenstein,” “Wolfman,” and “Frankenstein Meets Wolfman.”

Tickets for each marathon are $25 per car. Movies start at 7:30 p.m. and play until around 4:30 a.m. Buy tickets now, if you dare.
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The Wrap
 
Connor-Keith-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
I won’t be visiting Cassadaga anytime soon, but I might hit up a farm for some fall fun. I’m still working up the courage for Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, but Fox Squirrel Corn Maze might be more my speed — it opens for the season on Saturday.
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