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• First Friday: Foodie Fest | Friday, April 5 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free entry | This month’s event will feature small bites from local restaurants and food vendors, in addition to the Makers Market.
• Open Book | Friday, April 5 | 6-8 p.m. | Pressed Books & Coffee, 213 E. Bay St., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Sign up to read an original work or a passage from a favorite book for $5, or join for free as an audience member.
• Swan City Improv Comedy Show | Friday, April 5 | Times vary | Rec Room, 202 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $10-$15 | Celebrate this comedy team’s seventh anniversary with a family friendly and 21+ show.

• 2024 Knights on the Run 5K | Saturday, April 6 | 8 a.m. | First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | $40 | Run to raise money for a digital sign at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy.
• Auditions: “Radium Girls” | Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Show off your acting chops by auditioning for this stage read of a play about the female factory workers who painted radium dials.
• Keel Farms Blueberry Festival | Saturday, April 6-Sunday, April 21 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel & Curley Winery, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Celebrate blueberry season with family activities + blueberry treats — entry is free, parking is $10.
• Goat Yoga on the Farm | Saturday, April 6 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, 6170 Robins Rd., Lakeland | $20-$29 | We’re not kidding around — try this beginner-friendly, 45-minute goat yoga class.

• Songkran | Sunday, April 7 | 12-6 p.m. | Grove Roots Brewery, 302 3rd St. SW, Winter Haven | Free | Celebrate Thai New Year with a Thai food market, dance performances, and fruit carving exhibitions.
• Candle Pour Class | Sunday, April 7 | 3-5 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | $50 | Create your own unique candle with the help of Always Rich Creations, then grab a drink from the bar during Happy Hour.

• iNugGits Robotics STEM Bootcamp | Saturday, June 1 | 2:30-5 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | $1,250 | iNugGits is a STEM-focused Bootcamp Academy with a concentration in Robotics. Students will follow a project-based curriculum while learning to program Otto the Biped Robot.*

• Buena Market is going on a break. In a two-part Instagram update, founder Stephanie Bernal shared that while the Buena team is taking a break from vendor markets, other opportunities are underway and will be shared soon.

• Florida Polytechnic University broke ground yesterday on its third academic building, the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Building. Plans for the building were announced in October 2023 and construction is set to wrap up by summer 2025.

• Reconstruction on the stretch of I-4 from Championsgate to Osceola Parkway will begin this year — up to 20 years ahead of schedule. The project will take about 10 years to complete, with construction in the Polk County segment expected to begin in 2027. (The Ledger + WFLA)

• Polk County ranked No. 10 on a list of Florida counties with the fastest home sales. According to February data from Redfin, Polk homes spent a median of 55 days on the market and had a median sales price of $319,995. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

• More than 800 middle and high school students, including 17 from Polk County, gathered at the RP Funding Center this week for the annual State Science and Engineering Fair. Students vied for $1.2 million+ in scholarships, including a new scholarship from Florida Poly. (LkldNow)

• BBX Logistics Properties and FRP Development are teaming up to build a 213,500-sqft industrial park in Lakeland at 8255 State Rd. 33 N. Construction is set to begin later this year and tenants will move in next year (Business Observer)

• Lakeland company Help(her) is gaining recognition for its efforts in pairing women with flexible jobs. Learn more about how helpers + employers alike can use the app to accomplish their professional goals. (Spectrum News 13)

• After two years of construction, Sow Exotic’s nursery expansion in Winter Haven (6405 Thornhill Rd.) is open for business. In addition to regular shopping hours Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the nursery will be holding special events over the next several weeks to celebrate.

• Polk Vision will host a free, day-long seminar on mental health’s connection to technology. “Conversations in Behavioral Health: Navigating the Digital Age” will be held at Polk State College’s Public Safety Campus on Wednesday, May 1 at 9 a.m. Secure your spot.

• Did you know Publix used to have Danish bakeries inside some of its stores? The first Publix Danish Bakery opened in 1957 — by the 1970s and 1980s, there were just as many bakeries as there were grocery stores. Read more on the chain’s bakery beginnings.

• Southern Living featured Bok Tower Gardens as one of the 20 best “secret” spots in Florida. The publication praised Bok Tower for its unique mix of architectural styles + seasonal flowers and nature trails. (WFLA)

• 100+. That’s the number of unique aircraft set to be showcased at the 50th Anniversary of the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, soaring over the city April 9-14. Expect jaw-dropping aerial displays, 500+ exhibitors, food, and a whole lot more. Snag your seats while you still can.*

• BetterHelp creates a safe, stigma-free space where you can be your authentic self and explore your concerns. Get 25% off your first month of therapy.*

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