✈️ Fast facts

🗺️ Things to do

• Computer Skills Senior Scholars Class | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 1-3 p.m. | Rath Senior ConNEXTions Center | $60 | Older adults will enhance their computer knowledge through hands-on instruction.
• An Evening with Erin A. Craig | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 5-7 p.m. | Books-A-Million | Free+ | Meet this New York Times bestselling author and get a signed copy of her new book, “The Thirteenth Child.”
• Salsa y Bachata Class Plus Dancing at the Park | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | $10 | Mix up your dancing skills with a lesson on bachata, then head to Munn Park for an outdoor social.

• Dragonflies and Damselflies | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 10-11 a.m. | Mackay Gardens and Lakeside Preserve, Lake Alfred | Free | Get resources to build a pond to attract these insects and help your garden’s ecosystem.
• Clay Class: Hoot-iful Owl Coil Pots | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe | $40 | This rescheduled pottery class is sure to be a hoot.
• Disney Villains Trivia | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ | Free entry | Be prepared for a wicked night of trivia — will you + your team be the fairest of them all?

• Vintage Market Days of Metro Tampa | Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Times vary | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City | $5+ | Head to the Grimes Building and Astin Pavilion for this upscale, vintage-inspired fall market.
• Swan City Improv Comedy Show | Friday, Oct. 4 | Times vary | Rec Room | $10+ | Laugh along with this improvised comedy team’s family friendly and 21+ shows.

• Harvest Days | Saturday, Oct. 5-Sunday, Oct. 6 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free entry | Celebrate fall with hay rides, a corn maze, camel rides, a pumpkin patch, and seasonal drinks — parking is $10.
• Disney on Ice Presents “Frozen” & “Encanto” | Saturday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | RP Funding Center | $25+ | “Let it go” as skating performers bring two of Disney’s biggest hits to life on the ice.

• Waring Road will close tomorrow evening, Oct. 3, from Drane Field Road to Currymoore Drive as workers begin construction for the area’s new roundabout. Detours will be in place for both directions — plan your route accordingly.

• Did you know that Lakeland is home to a 26,000-sqft medical marijuana testing facility? Modern Canna, located off of Old Road 37, is one of just nine state-licensed testing facilities + is responsible for ensuring that cannabis for medical use is free of things like pesticides and fungicides. (The Ledger)

• 54,964. That’s how many square feet a new Publix Super Market location on NW Jersey Road in Winter Haven is planned to be. If approved, the store would be around 10,000 sqft larger than its location in Auburndale, just a half-mile away on Havendale Boulevard. (The Ledger)

• Sundown tonight marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Temple Emanuel will host services + celebrations today through Friday, Oct. 4. Shana Tova. (That’s Hebrew for “have a good year.”)

• PCPS will host college application workshops each Saturday in October to assist students and their families. Attend the Lakeland workshop this Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Regal Lakeland, down the road from Lakeland High School.

• Two new hurricane hunter aircraft are set to join NOAA’s Lakeland fleet by 2030. The C-130J Hercules aircraft will replace the existing WP-3D Orion models that have been used since the 1970s, bringing enhanced features to help teams investigate hurricanes. (Fox 13 News)

• Save the date for a special pop-up at Catapult on Friday, Oct. 18. From 5 to 9 p.m., Pinoy Cravings and MK Boba Tea will be dishing out traditional and fusion fare to celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month.

• There’s still time to rock around the Christmas tree — or rather, the Christmas float. The deadline for float applications for the Lakeland Christmas Parade has been extended to Wednesday, Oct. 30. Need inspiration for a landmark-themed creation? We’ve got you covered.

• We can berry-ly get anything past you. Earlier this week, we tested your history knowledge by asking whether it was true or false that strawberry production in the Kathleen area inspired an award-winning novel. The correct answer was true, guessed by 93% of respondents. Learn more Kathleen fast facts.

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• Upgrade your morning cup of joe when you switch to VitaCup’s Genius Coffee. It’s infused with vitamins and minerals that support all-day energy + focus. Try it in coffee pods.*