Plus, new workforce housing coming soon.
 
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Today’s Forecast

89º | 38% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:22 a.m. | Sunset 7:09 p.m.
 

Pitch perfect

Meet the finalists for Launch Pitch Night at Catapult
Lakeland entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses pitch their big ideas at Catapult's Launch Pitch Night for the chance to win up to $10,000 in funding.
Lakeland entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses can pitch their big ideas at Catapult’s Launch Pitch Night for the chance to win up to $10,000 in funding. | Photo by Catapult
Welcome to the tank, Lakeland. Next week, five local entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for up to $10,000 in micro-grant funding at Catapult Lakeland’s Launch Night.

In this “Shark Tank”-style event, business owners will have roughly 10 minutes to present their ideas and why they deserve the funding. This round’s finalists represent a broad range of businesses — from accessory makers to sandwich bakers — who could impress even the Mr. Wonderful.
  • Passport Subs | You might find this food truck dishing out global-inspired sandwiches at events all around town. Cuban sandwich, anyone?
    Seeking funds for: Kitchen equipment + new vinyl wrapping for the biz’s trailer
  • Sculpted Swan | This pilates-focused studio is focused on enhancing physical + mental well-being by offering workout classes and nutrition guidance in private and small-group settings.
    Seeking funds for: New workout equipment
  • East of These | Co-creator Taylor Ard built this biz from headbands + scrunchies into a full lifestyle brand. ICYMI, the brand recently opened a dual storefront with Bloom Shakalaka on Traders Alley in downtown Lakeland.
    Seeking funds for: A heat press, steamer, embroidery machine, and storage
  • Resilient | Lakelander Thalia Vila founded this nutrition company to take the stress out of healthy meal prepping. Pro tip: You can even hire Vila to create a completely custom meal plan for you based on your preferences + nutrition goals.
    Seeking funds for: Commercial kitchen appliances and equipment
  • WonderHere Press | Teachers turned co-founders Tiffany Thenor + Jessica Zivkovich have turned their passion for joyful learning into a full-scale educational cooperative offering classes, workshops, curriculum, and more.
    Seeking funds for: Publication tools and machinery
Want to be in the room where it happens? RSVP for the free event happening Thursday, Oct. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Catapult’s Lakeland Assembly Room.
Asked
 

Which biz are you most likely to use or frequent?
A. Passport Subs
B. Sculpted Swan
C. East of These
D. Resilient
E. WonderHere Press
F. All of them
 
 
Events
Friday, Oct. 4
  • Harvest Holler Corn Maze | Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Times vary | Harvest Holler Corn Maze, Polk City | $14+ | Explore a corn maze and pumpkin patch, or take a hayride through this fall farm.
  • Terrace Hotel Lakeland Centennial Celebration | Friday, Oct. 4 | 6-10 p.m. | Allen Kryger Park | Free | Party like it’s 1924 with complimentary bites + mocktails, a speakeasy, and a fireworks show over Lake Mirror.
  • Wonder House Halloween Night Tour | Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Wonder House, Bartow | $15+ | Take a family-friendly, Halloween-themed tour of this historic home — tickets are cash-only.
Saturday, Oct. 5
  • Lifting Literacy | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 9-11 a.m. | Florida Air Museum | Free | ACE and the YMCA of West Central Florida will host breakfast + hands-on activities for kids through fifth grade.
  • Harvest Days | Saturday, Oct. 5-Sunday, Oct. 6 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Celebrate fall with hay rides, a corn maze, camel rides, a pumpkin patch, and seasonal drinks — parking is $10.
  • Lakeland Drive Electric Day EV and Clean Energy Show | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Well | Free | Get charged up with electric vehicles on display and clean energy exhibits.
  • Jokes and Jam Festival | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 12-11 p.m. | Tanner’s Lakeside, Winter Haven | $10 | This benefit event is bringing the tunes and the laughs with a day full of performances.
  • Docent-Led Tour | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 1-2 p.m. | The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | Free | Get a guided tour of the AGB’s exhibits from the museum docents — registration required.
  • Ultimate 2000s Dad Rock Night | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Not Dead Yet will perform covers of your old favorite tunes, and Saddle Up Burger Barn will bring the grub.
Monday, Oct. 7
  • Low-Impact Exercise Class | Monday, Oct. 7 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | Free | Increase circulation + improve heart health in this low-intensity workout class.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
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📢 PSA: Don’t dump oil down the drain. Do this instead.
LALtoday 10.4.24
You’ll find these dropoff bins conveniently located around the city.  | Photo provided by City of Lakeland
Picture this: You just cooked a full batch of bacon (a great way to start any morning, if you ask us), and you’ve got a lot of excess grease. Do you tip that pan into the sink and call it a day?

The answer: No — that oil can wreak havoc on our city’s wastewater system.

Oil + grease collect and solidify inside pipes, sewage lines, and equipment, causing constricted flow and blockages that lead to:
  • Backups in home plumbing
  • Costly equipment malfunctions
  • Sewage spills
  • Street overflows
  • Foul odors in our community
Enter: The Cooking Oil Recycling Effort (C.O.R.E.), a free Lakeland program that provides containers and designed collection centers for residents to safely recycle their excess oil.

Simply pick up a jug at any C.O.R.E. location and save your cooled oil. When the jug is full, drop it right back off.

Use this handy map to find one of the 5+ locations near you.
 
News Notes
Development
  • Developer Alliance Residential Co. is planning to build a new workforce housing community off of James L. Redman Parkway in Plant City, ~20 minutes from Lakeland Linder. The 360-unit apartment complex, expected to open in 2026, will be the company’s second Lakeland-area development. (Business Observer)
Plan Ahead
  • Honor + celebrate veterans with two events on Saturday, Nov. 9. The LDDA will host its inaugural Veterans Day Celebration in Munn Park starting at 9 a.m., and the Polk County Veterans Council will host a ceremony + parade beginning at 10 a.m. in Veteran’s Memorial Park. (The Ledger)
Civic
  • Speaking of November events — mail-in ballots are now available in Polk County for the Nov. 5 election. Those looking to vote early can do so from Monday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 3. Find your early voting location. (Bay News 9)
Sports
  • On your marks, get set, go — in 2027, that is. The NCAA has selected Lakeland’s Holloway Park as the host site for the 2027 Division II Cross Country Regional competition. Dates for the competition are TBA, but you know we’re already rooting for the Mocs.
Eat
  • If your palate is craving all the fall flavors, Honeycomb Bread Bakery is releasing its new autumn menu this weekend. We’ve got our eye on the butternut squash bisque + sun-dried tomato pesto toast, paired with a classic pumpkin spice latte.
Kids
  • Carve out some time for this. Entries are being accepted for Lakeland Public Library’s annual Book Pumpkin Contest. Kids 17 and under can submit their best book-inspired pumpkins now through Thursday, Oct. 24. Three winners will be announced after public voting from Oct. 25 to Oct. 31.
Show
  • If you have the opening monologue of “Law & Order” memorized, tonight’s Swan City Improv’s 21+ show is for you. Head to Rec Room following First Friday at 9:30 p.m. for “Lakeland Legal,” a court drama that plans to bring just as many laughs as it does gasps. Tickets are $10.
Try This
  • Are you the person who always gets called upon to bring the barbecue to the potluck? Now’s your chance to show off your chops — literally. Applications for Lakeland Pigfest are open now. The 28th annual event will be held Jan. 24-25 at SUN ‘n FUN.
Job
Cause
  • What’s better than a prime rib dinner, raffles, games, live music + a crowd-favorite fashion show (featuring the fun-loving men of the Brotherhood of Pinkness)? All that, plus raising money for breast cancer patients at Lakeland Regional Health’s Hollis Cancer Center. Register for Puttin’ on The Pink for Breast Cancer, happening Friday, Oct. 11.*
Finance
Naples Hotel Group
 
History
 

🎂 It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a... flying cake?
Untitled design (24)
Keep reading to learn the history of this iconic tower + how heavy it really is. | Photo courtesy of Publix
If you’ve ever wondered what’s up with the giant cake water tower on New Tampa Highway near Silver Moon Drive-In, get ready to sink your teeth into an interesting story.

The Publix birthday cake water tower, nicknamed “hydrocake,” was the brainchild of former Publix President Joe Blanton. As Publix expanded its industrial compound with its dairy and bakery facilities in the late 1970s, it needed a new on-site water system to meet the company’s growth. To meet the need and create something unique, Blanton sought to transform the design of the conventional water tank — thus, the hydrocake was born.

The marvel of steel fabrication was completed in 1982. At the time, it was considered the only structure of its kind designed in the shape of a birthday cake. The Steel Plate Fabricators Association acknowledged Publix’s hydrocake for its exceptional engineering design with a plaque dedicated to Joe Blanton and Publix’s founder, George Jenkins, in 1983.
 
The Buy

The Buy 10.04.24 (Affiliate)
A pair of Rain-X Weather Beater blades — so you’ll be prepared now for incoming fall + winter weather. Reliable and easy to install, these weather resistant windshield wipers improve your visibility and safety while you’re on the road.
More worth The Buy
6AM City In-House pt 2
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
TGIF, Lakeland. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, we’ve quite literally got you covered — more than 50 events are happening this weekend alone in the Lakeland area. If you spot these City Editors out and about, don’t be afraid to say “hey.”
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