Let’s get ready to soar Sora | Get to know Sora, a Florida-based restaurant concept that will be taking over the former WACO Kitchen space in Lakeland International Airport.
Our top bevs + bites | It’s been a banner year for the foodies here in Swan City. See what food and drink made our list of top 10 favorites this year.
“A Lakeland Christmas Miracle” | See our top three picks for a Lakeland-inspired Hallmark movie plot based on ChatGPT + our readers’ imaginations.
Events
Events
Saturday, Dec. 21
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show | 4 p.m. | Lake Silver, Winter Haven | Free | Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy a performance by this team that’s keeping water skiing alive in Winter Haven.
Yuletide: A Winter Solstice Celebration | 5-7 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales | $20+ | Walk a luminary-lit path to the Oval Lawn for live music by The Byrne Brothers and a moonlight recital by carillonneur Geert D’hollander.
Swan City Improv | 8 p.m. | Union Hall | $10 | This 18+ holiday-themed comedy show is sure to bring the laughs — stay after for karaoke.
Sunday, Dec. 22
Sunday Brunch | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Brew Hub | Price of purchase | Dig in to live music, brunch dishes, and drink deals.
Goat Yoga on the Farm | 4-5 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm | $20+ | We’re not kidding around — connect with nature and meet friendly goats during golden hour as you work your way through a guided yoga practice.
Monday, Dec. 23
It’s a Festivus Miracle | 12 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Come to this celebration prepared to air your grievances while sipping on holiday-flavored pints.
Thursday, Dec. 26
Kwanzaa Celebration | 5 p.m. | St. Mark United Methodist Church | Free | Join this community celebration featuring dancing, poetry reading, a candlelit ceremony, and keynote speaker Dr. Kristopher Childs.
Pop quiz: Which iconic American destination is the landing place for the most recently announced nonstop flight service from Lakeland (LAL) through Avelo Airlines? Hint: Its nickname is Music City. See if you guessed correctly.*
Tech
If new phones are on your family’s Christmas list, you can switch to the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan and receive up to four free Samsung Galaxy A35 5G phones. Enjoy unlimited talk, text, data, and hotspot with 12x faster speeds, all backed by “America’s Favorite Network.” Make the switch.*
City Guide
City Guide
This one’s for the kids (and parents, too)
Mini golf, arcade games, and more await. | Photo via Family Fun Center
It’s officially the start of winter break here in Lakeland — and moms and dads can hardly wait for school to start again. In the meantime, save this guide to kid-friendly activities around Swan City to keep the kiddos entertained until the new year.
Silver Moon Drive-In Don your jammies and cozy up in the car for a double showing of “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Moana 2" or “Sonic: The Hedgehog 3" and “Transformers One.”
Art Centric Studio Young artists can build + paint their own nativities in this mini camp on Monday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Snapology Sign your kiddo up for a single-day or week-long Winter Holiday Activities camp where they’ll get in the holiday spirit while exploring the principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and the Arts (STEAM).
Today marks the first day of Yule, also known as the winter solstice + shortest day of the year. No matter what traditions you celebrate, we’ve got the guide to how you can celebrate them in Lakeland. Happy holidays, Lakeland.
Answered
Answered
What year did the Junior League of Greater Lakeland take over the Lakeland Christmas Parade?
The answer was 1981, guessed by ~38% of respondents. However, while the parade as we know it has been going on since 1981, the Lakeland History & Culture Center has records that show Lakeland held Christmas parades dating back to at least 1947. We always knew we were born to sleigh.
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