Big names will take the stage again this spring. | Photo by @flstrawberryfestival
Hey Lakeland, what are you doing in about three months? Our calendars are already marked for the 90th Florida Strawberry Festival from Feb. 27 to March 9 in Plant City — and with the newly announced entertainment lineup, you’ll want to be sure yours are too.
The 2025 theme is “The Stage Is Set,” with an emphasis on entertainment. Expect a new soundstage and upgraded experiences throughout the festival, plus the headline performers. Here are just a few to look forward to:
Saturday, March 1 Lauren Daigle
Monday, March 3 Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, The Drifters, and The Platters
Tuesday, March 4 Sara Evans
Wednesday, March 5 Lynyrd Skynyrd
Friday, March 7 The Beach Boys Jon Pardi
Saturday, March 8 Nelly
And that’s not all. Five performers are still to be announced, meaning there are even more chances to see stars this spring. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Adventure Days | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Head to the Nature Center for engineering, design + problem-solving activities led by Bricks 4 Kidz.
Veterans Day Celebration | 5 p.m. | Z’s Teas | Free+ | This veteran-owned biz will be slinging free hamburgers + hot dogs along with drink specials for fellow vets.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Botanical Candle Making Class | 5-7 p.m. | Cob & Pen | $60 | Create a candle with Curious Botanicals while consuming cocktails.
Green Hat & White Gloves Tour | 6-7:30 p.m. | Lake Mirror | Free | Spots are limited for this historic tour around the Frances Langford Promenade.
90s-Themed Interactive Murder Mystery Party | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing | $30 | Party like it’s 1999 as you discover whodunit — arrive early to sip your complimentary drinks in character.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Gallery Concert Series | 7-8 p.m. | Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | $38+ | Music + visual art combine at the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra’s performances within featured exhibits.
Friday, Nov. 15
Selfies with Santa | 4-6 p.m. | Polk County History Center, Bartow | Free | Reserve your spot to get a picture with Father Christmas himself.
Veterans Day, a federal holiday commemorating people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Expect various closures related to the holiday, and help honor our military personnel at these local events.
Opening
Circle tomorrow on your calendar, because Circle B Bar Reserve will open to the public at 6 a.m. Some portions of the property — including Alligator Alley + Marsh Rabbit Run — remain closed due to hurricane damage, so take caution on all trails.
Civic
Miss the previous public meetings to give your feedback on Polk County’s Comprehensive Plan? Tomorrow night is your last chance to attend one. Join the final workshop at the Bartow Civic Center from 6 to 8 p.m. to meet face to face, or give your feedback online.
Environment
County commissioners unanimously agreed on the $24 million purchase of land near Lake Wales for conservation. It’s Polk’s first acquisition since voters approved a property tax to generate funds to buy environmental lands in 2022. (The Ledger)
Cause
Help is on the way for 11 local nonprofits impacted by Hurricane Milton, with Givewell Community Foundation + United Way of Central Florida donating $80,000 in grants. The funding will help organizations like One More Child and Combee Connection Ministries in their community recovery efforts. (The Ledger)
Eat
Cheers to you, veterans. In honor of Veterans Day, Keel Farms is giving a free lunch + beverage to all veterans and active military members today. Stop in from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and bring proof of service to enjoy this deal.
Plan Ahead
Lkld SantaCon is coming to town on Saturday, Dec. 7. This downtown bar crawl will benefit kidsPACK again, but organizers say the event will look a little different this year. Follow along on Facebook to stay in the know-ho-ho when updates are announced soon.
Holiday
Making your holiday gift lists already? Don’t forget to add items by local makers. Catapult released a guide to gifts from its member businesses, from mulling spices by One Good Knife and paper earrings by Inspired Alchemy to reusable paper towels by Evelyn & Co.
Health
This innovative device is changing the game of hearing aids. Its dual-processing systems separate speech from background noise, ensuring you never miss a beat. (Bonus: They’re rechargeable, comfortable, nearly invisible, and app-controlled.) Claim your free consultation.*
Category
Eat
🍽️ Taste the memories
Crispers closed its four remaining locations in fall of 2022. | Photo by LALtoday
We have some amazing restaurants in our city, and we love highlighting new culinary gems at LALtoday. But there have also been so many great, local restaurants that have closed over the years (Gelati Joe’s, we miss you) — and sometimes, we get a little hankering for a meal from a place that no longer exists. Sigh.
This got us thinking about the local restaurants from yesteryear that make our readers feel that same nostalgia — the spots that would be your go-to choices for dining out if they were still around.
Personally, if we had a time machine, we’d head straight to Strollo’s for a slice of its famous pizza and never look back.
Okay, your turn. Which Lakeland restaurant or meal would you give anything to eat one more time? Let us know and we may feature you in an upcoming newsletter.
Your favorite Nordstrom item on sale, since the store’s limited-time fall sale ends tonight. We’re seeing: discounts on cashmere sweaters, leather loafers, and crisp white fashion sneakers.
Anyone else get overly emotional at the sight of a Publix holiday commercial? It’s ok, no judgment here. This year’s Thanksgiving ad was just released and, as always, it’s a sweet one.
Answered
Answered
What was Lakeland’s total labor force in 2023?
Looks like we stumped most of you with this question on Friday. Only 12% guessed correctly: 52,730. Read up on more Lakeland stats.
