You’ll catch Santa and Mrs. Claus at the end of every Christmas Parade. | Photo by LALtoday
The Lakeland Christmas Parade is back this Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Whether it’s your first year attending or your 43rd — yes, it’s been that long since the parade began — you won’t want to forget these tips.
Last Christmas
...there was a high-profile route shift to Lake Morton. This year, the parade is back to its original 1.25-mile route winding around Lake Mirror.
Pro tip: The City of Lakeland asks residents to refrain from placing their chairs until the day of the parade + to keep sidewalks clear.
Want to be the first one leaving the parade? Sit near the route’s start on Lemon Street.
Expect heavy traffic. Road closures around the parade route may begin as early as 3:30 p.m., and the event drew 50,000 visitors last year. Save the city’s interactive map + our downtown parking guide for help in snagging a good parking spot.
Pro tip: Park outside the downtown core for more options. Citrus Connection’s free Squeeze service will also run from 2 to 8 p.m.
The Wonderland of Lights | Wednesday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 29 | Times vary | International Market World, Auburndale | $25+ | Pack up to eight people in your car to drive through hundreds of holiday light displays.
Thursday, Dec. 5
Board Game Night | 5:30-9 p.m. | HP Guild Games | Free | Borrow a game to play with others, or BYOB — bring your own board (game.)
Friday, Dec. 6
Gardening in Florida for New and Part-Time Residents | 10-11 a.m. | Peggy Brown Building | Free | Join UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and the City of Lakeland Water Utilities for a workshop on Florida-friendly landscaping.
Puppy Yoga | 6-7 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $25 | Practice your downward dog among adoptable pups from the Mercy Full Project.
Saturday, Dec. 7
LKLD SantaCon 2024 | 5-11:59 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub | Free+ | Dress in your festive finest and join this bar crawl throughout downtown Lakeland.
Holiday Sip & Scent Perfume Workshop | 8-9:30 p.m. | The Swan Room | $50 | Discover your signature scent as you create your own custom fragrance.
Friday, Dec. 27
Wright After Dark | 7-8:30 p.m. | Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center | $35 | Experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic architectural designs in a whole new light during this moonlit tour of Florida Southern College’s stunning campus — call 863-680-4597 to reserve.*
Fly nonstop routes from Central Florida to destinations like Nashville, TN through Avelo Airlines. | Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air
Spring Break may be months away, but it’s never too early to plan. We have a destination idea: What about Nashville, TN?
Beginning service in March, Music City is the newest nonstop flight offered from Lakeland (LAL) through Avelo Airlines. (Read: No layovers + extra vacation time.)
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will begin the process of removing its pumps from Lake Bonny after recent tests showed that the lake has returned to normal water levels. USACE will work with city, county, state, and federal officials throughout the removal process to ensure a smooth transition.
Community
Find out what the Florida Department of Transportation has planned for Polk’s district through 2030 at its upcoming public meeting. Join in person at FDOT’s District One office in Bartow on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., or attend the online webinar. (The Ledger)
Development
Polk County will raise impact fees for developers beginning Jan. 1 after the Board of County Commissioners approved the increase this fall. Builders can qualify for the current rates by submitting permit packets + plans by the end of this year.
Closing
Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department is closing Gandy Pool this month to begin a $433,000 refinishing project that will last until the summer. The city will wait to close the pool until the Simpson Park pool reopens in the next two weeks. (LkldNow)
Seasonal
It’s officially Florida strawberry season. Celebrate by visiting Fancy Farms Market for milkshakes, shortcake, cobbler, and cookies during its new winter opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Open
Bahia Bowls has opened its new location in the Lakeland Square Mall, just in time to fuel those holiday shopping trips. Find the stall in the mall food court, or head to the Lake Miriam Square plaza to try its original spot.
Lakelander
Step aside, Santa. Lakeland’sJulie Bulloch has been recognized as one of Bay News 9’s Everyday Heroes for her work collecting + delivering donations for North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene. Later this month, she’ll deliver Christmas gifts for kids — see where to donate.
Concert
The RP Funding Center’s “Classic Albums Live” series will return next year with four new tribute concerts. Pro performers will play through full albums by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Marley, and Bon Jovi from June to October. We volunteer as tribute.
Try This
Be among the first to experience the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum’s new expansion this holiday season. You won’t want to miss “Dutch Impressionism: The Hague School, 1860-1930" on display now through Feb. 23. The free exhibit includes 80 rare paintings, never before seen in the US.*
Want to turn four-hour tasks into 15-minute wins? Download your free ChatGPT mastery guide for 100 battle-tested prompts you can copy/paste ASAP — no coding required. Plus, the guide explores how to use AI ethically at work.*
Wellness
Discover the secret to hearing every detail with the Horizon IX by hear.com. These discreet, rechargeable hearing aids deliver sound so clear and natural, you’ll forget you’re wearing them. With phone connectivity, award-winning service, and flexible payment options, join the 425,000+ customers who love them.*
Travel
Planning to take your RV on the open road in 2025? Buy coverage online in minutes with Roamly, rated five stars by thousands of RV owners.*
Category
History
📍 Put LAL on the map
The Tudor House set off for its new location in 2014. | Photo via @ginathepetnanny
You’ve submitted your favorites, now it’s time for us to reveal the finalists for the LALtoday historical marker contest. Check out the nominations below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite by Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Cob & Pen
After being saved from demolition in 2014, “The Tudor House” was relocated to South Florida Avenue and reopened as one of Lakeland’s favorite eateries.
Rochelle School of the Arts
This school began in 1926 as Washington Park High School — Lakeland’s first high school for Black students — and eventually reopened as the first performing arts school in Florida.
Silver Moon Drive-In
A night at the movies here transports cinephiles back to 1948 when the theater first opened, but with updated projectors and the latest film releases.
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce’s current building was first the Lakeland Public Library — it still has a dumbwaiter that librarians once used to move books between floors.
Asked
Asked
Which location should be crowned the winner?
A. Cob & Pen B. Silver Moon Drive-In C. Rochelle School of the Arts D. Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
Need stocking stuffers for everyone on your list? We’ve got you covered.
🎁 For the skincare aficionado: Laneige’s No. 1 bestselling lip mask in the candy cane flavor.
🎁 For those who eat, sleep, and breath organization: A mini label maker with creative functions and templates.
🎁 For the jewelry-obsessed: A stackable 18K gold plated necklace that you can customize with their initial.
🎁 For those who love to hit the trails: A classic knit beanie to keep their noggin warm while hiking.
🎁 For someone who’s always on the go: A magnetic portable charger that can charge up to four devices at once.
Shout out to our readers who made history by submitting their picks for places worthy of historical markers. A few submissions were so good, it turns out they’ve already been recognized with markers: the first Publix store opened in Winter Haven in 1930, and Lake Gibson Village, which was formerly The Carpenter’s Home.
