Small shops, big impact | Here are a few of the locally owned retailers + restaurants our readers love — plus a few editors’ picks — in honor of Small Business Saturday.
Rising through the ranks | Lakeland may be a small town compared to Florida’s largest cities, but it’s making a big impact in national rankings when it comes to quality of life.
New eats on Main Street? | It might not look like much right now — but if city commissioners approve a new plan, this site could soon be bustling with food truck bites.
Events
Events
Saturday, Nov. 30
Holiday Craft Bazaar | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Munn Park | Free+ | Craft vendors will have you covered for winter holidays, from Christmas to Kwanzaa to New Year’s.
Holiday Sip & Sprout Plant Festival | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Metals & Nature, Plant City | Free+ | Put a botanical twist on your shopping with a collection of greenery and garden decor.
Carols & Carillon | 6-8 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales | $20 | Bring a blanket or chair to ring in the season with a carillon concert at The Singing Tower.
“The Wiz 2.0" | 7-9 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $50+ | Lakeland native Demetrius Haynes directs this fresh retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” story.
Sunday, Dec. 1
Holidays at LEGOLAND | Sunday, Dec. 1-Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Legoland Florida, Winter Haven | $74+ | Bricktastic family fun awaits on select days, including LEGO decor, entertainment, and seasonal eats.
Goat Yoga on the Farm | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm | $20+ | Start your month off with an outdoor yoga class, surrounded by friendly goats.
Monday, Dec. 2
STEM Sprouts | 9-10:15 a.m. | Aerospace Center for Excellence | $10 | Kids ages 3-5 and their parents will learn a letter of the alphabet + an aviation concept through play — this week’s topic is kinetic energy.
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Winter Wreath Workshop | 7 p.m. | Bloom Shakalaka | $75 | If a handmade wreath is on your wish list, create one for your home in this step-by-step workshop.
Our state is full of young and rich people — and we’re not just complimenting you. According to this study, Florida is the No. 1 state where the young and wealthy move. But how difficult is it for them to buy a home in Swan City? (Stacker)
Cause
Have you been eyeing our guide to 40+ volunteer opportunities in Lakeland? You’re not alone. According to a new study by AmeriCorps, formal volunteering and informal helping (think: helping your neighbor collect their hurricane debris) are on the rise again after dipping in 2021 due to COVID-19.
Art
A banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $6.2 million this month. We’re not art critics, but we’re pretty sure you don’t need to pay that much to see good art around Lakeland. (Smithsonian Magazine)
Seasonal
It would cost you nearly $50,000 to buy all the gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” — up 3.6% from last year. Or you could just peruse our gift guide. Sorry, no partridges in pear trees here. (Tegna)
City Guide
City Guide
🌽 Farmers (markets) only
Find local vendors galore at these markets. | Photo by Catapult
Need to restock your pantry after all that Thanksgiving cooking? In the spirit of supporting all things local, shop fresh food from one of these nearby farmers markets open this weekend.
Yourfavorite thing on Oprah’s Favorite Things list for 2024. We’re seeing goodies like fluffy mittens and paint-by-numbers portraits. Psst — Oprah’s also picked finds from small businesses, like a hot chocolate collection made by Asheville, NC’s French Broad Chocolate.
If you’re starting your holiday shopping this week, we recommend supporting Lakeland’s small businesses. The comments of our Small Business Saturday post are a great place to find inspiration, and don’t forget to bookmark our dining guides so you can refuel during your shopping trips.
Answered
Answered
What cuisine do you want in a new food truck court?
We polled you on your picks for a potential food truck court, and tacos + burritos were the top choice. Many readers also wrote in Mediterranean cuisine or suggested specific trucks they’d like to see there, including:
I Wanna Wok
The Smoke Wagon
The Lakehouse Kitchen
Manna International Street Food
City commissioners will vote on whether to approve the project in Monday’s meeting.
