With the co-owners of Omusubee at the helm of Sora, expect to find some of their top-selling flavors of onigiri on the new eatery’s menu. | Photo by LALtoday
LAL, you are cleared to Sora.
In yesterday’s meeting, the Lakeland City Commission approved a five-year lease agreement for a new biz to take over the former WACO Kitchen space in Lakeland International Airport. Meet Sora, a restaurant concept created by one current and one former member of Catapult, including Downtown Farmers Curb Market staple Omusubee.
With approval in hand, Sora’s lease will begin on Jan. 1. While an opening date has not been announced, Airport Director Kris Hallstrand shared during the meeting that once the restaurant is ready, a grand opening celebration will be held. Plus, since the restaurant is located before security, there will be free, four-hour parking dedicated for patrons.
Silver Star Game Day | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | Free | Older adults can enjoy a morning of fun, fellowship + classic games at this weekly get-together.
LEGO Club | 5-6:30 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library | Free | Build your own creation brick-by-brick, or take on a themed challenge.
Light Up BSP | Tuesday, Dec. 17-Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free+ | Visit early from 5 to 6 p.m. tonight for a sensory-friendly experience, followed by crafts + carolers.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
S’mores & Hot Cocoa Board Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $40 | The Creative Kitchen shares tips on designing the perfect s’mores and cocoa board to dazzle your guests.
Candlelight: Holiday Concerts | Times vary | Lake Mirror Auditorium | $35+ | A string quartet will perform classic holiday carols + tunes from “The Nutcracker” by the glow of candlelight.
Night Market | 6-9 p.m. | Brew Hub | Free+ | Happy hour lasts all night — grab a drink while shopping from local vendors.
Saturday, Dec. 21
Breakfast with Santa & Friends | 8:30-10 a.m. | Family Fun Center | $24.99+ | Enjoy breakfast, unlimited attractions, and a meet + greet with Santa and his friend the Snow Queen.
Lakeland Electric will decrease its fuel charge for customers beginning on Jan. 1. City commissioners voted yesterday to lower the cost of fuel from the current rate of $43.50 per 1,000 kWh to $41.50, allowing the average customer to save money on their monthly bill. The utility provider’s base charge will stay the same.
Lakelander
Lakeland’s Assistant City Manager Rob Hernandez has been appointed Deputy City Manager. Hernandez joined the City of Lakeland early last year and boasts 30 years of city government leadership experience, including previous roles as City Manager for Cape Coral, FL and Savannah, GA.
Travel
According to Avelo’s website, tickets are currently no longer being sold from Lakeland to Hartford, CT past Jan. 6. While it’s unconfirmed if the route is being paused or cancelled, the majority of Avelo’s other routes out of LAL are strong + Nashville flights are still slated to launch this spring. (The Ledger)
Open
Don Criollo Bakery & Restaurant has opened a Lakeland location off of South Combee Road. The Puerto Rican spot that originated in Haines City is now serving up homemade pastries, cakes, breads, breakfast, and more, seven days a week. Guess it’s time for us to eat down the street again.
Seasonal
Speaking of bakeries,preorders are now open for Born & Bread Bakehouse’s 10th Winter Holiday Bake on Monday, Dec. 23. This year’s menu has a mix of new and returning flavors of pastries and savory items + expanded take-and-bake options.
Drink
The best part of waking up is Haines City in your cup. Polk Roasters’ latest blend, “The Haines City Cafecito Roast,” features flavors of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers as an ode to the Polk municipality. Grab a 12-ounce bag online — a portion of proceeds supports local causes. (The Ledger)
Sports
Polk County has been selected as the site of the 2026 Pan-American Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The international competition will feature 12 teams + run from June 26-30, 2025 at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale.
Biz
We’re not blowing smoke. A new cigar shop has opened in the former Velazquez Cigars spot on East Main Street: La Tradicion Cubana Cigars. Father-son duo Luis and Jose Sanchez opened the top-rated family business in 1995 in Miami + recently relocated the biz to Lakeland.
Eat
Metro Diner is now open for dinner five days a week. Stop by one of Lakeland’s newest eateries Wednesday-Sunday to grab classic + unique dishes like the Metro Club or Pulled Pork Stuff ‘n Waffle until 8 p.m.
Community
Gospel Inc. will host a community gathering to honor those who have died while experiencing homelessness. A time of reflection + remembrance will be held at the organization’s Community Pavilion on East Lemon Street at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, which also marks the longest day of the year.
Seasonal
If the holiday season snuck up on you this year, there’s still time to snag unique gifts for loved ones at Lakeside Village. Shop and get into the holiday spirit with sparkling lights, Santa visits, festive treats + more.*
Travel
Going the EV route could save you more than just gas money. Many auto insurance companies now offer up to 10% off EV and hybrid vehicle premiums, rewarding your eco-friendly choice with additional savings. View Money’s Best Car Insurance list to find coverage tailored to your ride (and wallet).*
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Deck the Hallmark
If you’re reading this, Hallmark — we’ve got some ideas for you. | Photo via @robertpeddyphotography
Last week, we asked you to fill in the blanks of our “Mad Libs"-style activity to write up a Lakeland-inspired holiday film.
After receiving dozens of submissions, we’re pleased to announce Wendy S. as the author of our favorite story. Take a look at their masterpiece below.
“A Lakeland Christmas Miracle” by Wendy S.
It’s the week before Christmas in the adventurous city of Lakeland and Joshua, a successful Swan Wrangler, is back in town to visit family after years of living in Lake Placid. When they arrive, they discover that Lakeland’s Town Square Tree Lighting is at risk of being canceled due to a hurricane. Refusing to let this happen, Joshua agrees to help save the Town Square Tree Lighting.
While sipping on a hot cocoa at Andrew’s Coffee, Joshua bumps into Noelle, a quirky Children’s Museum Director with a passion for mural painting. Noelle is just as upset as Joshua about the Town Square Tree Lighting being canceled and agrees to help save it.
In the spirit of holiday movies, last week, the LALtoday team got together with a few of our sister markets — LOUtoday, NOOGAtoday, ATXtoday, NASHtoday, and LEXtoday — for a holiday-themed film fest + team bonding. We all shared clips from our favorite holiday movies, with picks ranging from “Elf” to “White Christmas” to “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” Any guesses on which picks were mine and Connor’s?
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