The Swans have sent 200+ students from 39 countries to the next level of soccer so far. | Photo provided by Lakeland United FC
When the Florida Tropics left Lakeland a few years ago, it left a soccer ball-sized hole in the hearts of local sports fans. Now, another team is taking the mantle and kicking up the sports scene a notch. Meet Lakeland United FC, a team that’s already making a mark after first being established in 2020.
This semi-pro team serves as a bridge program for players from around the world to take the next step in their soccer career, from playing at the collegiate level to going pro. When you watch this team play, you’re seeing some of the best the world has to offer.
Where they play: Bryant Stadium. Bonus: Games are free to attend, and food trucks are on-site.
Mascot: Swans (that’s easy to remember)
Team colors: Blue, white + black
Major accomplishments:
Three Florida West Conference tournament victories
Line Dance Lesson & Bar Night | 5-11:45 p.m. | Union Hall | $8 | Everybody do the watermelon crawl — your ticket includes your first drink of the night.
Wine Cork Christmas Tree Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $50 | Pop it, then craft with it — create your own cork tree while sipping on Keel & Curley drinks.
Thursday, Nov. 7
The Reserve Book Club | 6:15-7:30 p.m. | Kelly Branch Library | Free | Meet with fellow bibliophiles to discuss “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters.
Decades Trivia | 6:30 p.m. | Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ | Free+ | Calling all time travelers — test your knowledge of past pop culture + movies.
Friday, Nov. 8
Harvest Holler Corn Maze | 4-8 p.m. | Harvest Holler Corn Maze, Polk City | $14+ | Explore a corn maze and pumpkin patch, or take a hayride through this fall farm.
Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Downtown Winter Haven | $35+ | Grab a tasting ticket to try curated sips + bites at more than 40 downtown shops.
Goat Yoga on the Farm | 10-11 a.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm | $20+ | We’re not kidding around — connect with nature and meet friendly goats as you work your way through a guided yoga practice.
Votes are still rolling in for Florida in the general election. If you’re watching the numbers, check the Polk Supervisor of Elections’ unofficial election results.
Edu
The newly opened IDEA Lakeland school expects four times as many students by 2026, which could mean additional traffic off of Kathleen Road. Later this month, city commissioners will vote on a development agreement to add turn lanes, a school zone, and sidewalks around the school. (LkldNow)
Outdoors
City staff rounded up the swans on Lake Morton yesterday, counting just 44 — the lowest number in recent years. Staff said several have been killed in car accidents in the past year + urge drivers to slow down and pay attention when driving around the lake. (The Ledger)
Real Estate
While temperatures heated up this summer, home prices + big ticket purchases were cooling off from last year. New stats show that the August median home price in Polk County decreased by nearly 3% from 2023, and million dollar listings were down from 65 to 23. (The Ledger)
Holiday
In honor of Veterans Day, the Polk Clerk’s office is offering free passport photos for veterans + active-duty military members all month. To get your free photo, bring a DD-214, military ID, or drivers license with a veteran designation to one of the Clerk’s three locations.
Award
The Polk Arts & Culture Alliance (PACA) made its pick for the 2024 Organization of the Year, selecting the City of Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts department. PACA chose the department for its arts programs + initiatives — explore them for yourself.
Cause
SPCA Florida + the Lakeland Fire Department’s 7 Days of Giving campaign is underway. The organizations are seeking $7,000 in donations, which will be matched by an anonymous donor, to give away 47,000 pounds of pet food to anyone in need this Sunday, Nov. 10.
Arts
Several creators went brush to brush in the live Art Wars competition at Sunday’s Art Crawl event. The top awards went to Cricket Edmonds, Kelsey Reynolds, and M’ria Swire, and Dare Branch won the People’s Choice Award.
Finance
This expert-recommended credit card allows you to pay zero interest until 2026 — a game-changer for those trying to pay down outstanding credit card debt. See what all the hype is about.*
Home
A brand-new printer. Automatic ink refills. And 24/7 Pro live assistance — try the HP All-In Plan risk-free for 30 days + transform your business or home office.*
Category
Try This
🧶 Make it more than a hobby
You might find one of us city editors across from you at Painting with a Twist. | Photo by LALtoday
What’s better than local art? When you’re the artist. Stretch your creativity by joining one of these Lakeland spots for a crafting class.
Picassoz
Walk-ins are welcome here, so pop in any time to express yourself through mosaics, painting, and clay creations. Next workshop: Paw print ornaments | Today | 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Tienda Studio
Step into this DIY studio for workshops on painting, candle making, and even edible art. Next workshop: Candle pouring | Thursday, Nov. 7 | 11 a.m.
Art Centric Studio
Let the young artist in your life build their creative muscles in after-school classes, camps, and kids’ night out events. Next workshop: Kidz Night Out | Saturday, Nov. 9 | 5:30-8 p.m.
Fabric Warehouse
Learn the basics of sewing + quilting, then find all the tools and material you need. Next workshop: Basic sewing machine operations | Monday, Nov. 11 | 9:30 a.m.
Have you made it out to a Lakeland United FC game yet this season? You’ll find me decked out in black + blue at their next game against Fort Myers City FC on Saturday, Nov. 16. The best part?Tickets are always free.
