We can’t wait for weekends to visit the Downtown Farmers Curb Market. | Photo by @ashley_kent77
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events in + around Lakeland we recommend heading to in February.
Spirit of the Buffalo Pow Wow and Native American Festival | Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 16 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | International Market World, Auburndale | $4+ | Spend two weekends discovering crafts, intertribal dance competitions, historic displays, and 60+ exhibitors.
Fleetwood Mach Tribute Show | Friday, Feb. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $25+ | Your “Dreams” will come true as Fleetwood Mac look-alikes play the band’s greatest hits.
Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 1:05 p.m. | Joker Marchant Stadium | $17+ | The Tigers return to Lakeland in the first game of the 2025 spring training season.
Caribbean Carnival | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 5-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free+ | You’re on island time at this festival with a pop-up market of Black and Caribbean-owned businesses, plus more food vendors + performers.
Clay Class: Swan Coil Pot | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe | $40 | Put your skills to the test and show off your Lakeland pride by sculpting one of our beloved birds.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
Study Hall Hours | 2-6 p.m. | Pressed Books & Coffee | Free+ | Students can head to this independent bookstore and coffee shop for $4 beverages with a student ID.
Wednesday, Jan. 29
Whiskers & Words | 5:30 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge | Free | Stop by this cat cafe after hours for a discussion of “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon.
Thursday, Jan. 30
Mary Gauthier | 6 p.m. | Gram Parsons Derry Down, Winter Haven | $30 | Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this singer’s debut album in an intimate concert.
Friday, Jan. 31
Movie on the Lawn: “Sing” | 6-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing — head to the lawn for a night of crafts + animal interactions, followed by an outdoor showing of “Sing.”
$785 million. That’s the total amount in the City of Lakeland’s Pooled Investments Fund. This includes money the city makes from various investments, like money market funds and bonds, which is then diverted to the city’s general fund. Last fiscal year, the fund earned a record $35.7 million. (LkldNow)
Environment
Officials at the Southwest Florida Water Management District will consider a budget amendment to fund hurricane cleanup this week. If approved, $4.34 million from its reserves would go toward debris removal in places like Polk County’s Peace Creek Canal. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Edu
Applications open today for PCPS’ Early Childhood learning programs like Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) and Head Start. Wondering where to begin? Take a look at our schools guide to learn about Polk’s VPK options.
Mansion Monday
A 7,499-sqft home near Scott Lake just hit the market, and if you’re a homebody, it may be calling your name. With a private theater, outdoor kitchen, and gym, you might never leave the house again. See inside and check out that luxurious bathroom fitted with porcelain tile.
Watch
Lakeland native Lauren Miller Rogen and her husband, actor Seth Rogen, teamed up to produce the new film “Taking Care.” The documentary focuses on Miller Rogen’s journey of caring for her mother Adele, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s now available to stream. (The Ledger)
Drink
Don’t walk, crawl to Winter Haven’s Coffee Crawl, taking place Saturday, Feb. 22 through Saturday, March 1. Head to shops like Haven Coffee Roasters, ECHO Coffee House, and Dog Dayz Cafe and ask for the “Coffee Crawl special” to enjoy drink deals all week long.
Read
In the book club, we all fam. Pressed will restart its book club on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., and sign-ups are now open. What’s different? There will be one book + meet-up per month, starting with “Good Dirt” by Charmaine Wilkerson.
Home
Leaks don’t just ruin your day — they can damage your home. Get a free quote from Remodel Your Home to connect with roofing pros who specialize in leak-proof solutions.*
Category
Drink
🍹 Tapping into the trends
Sip something new this year, like Vasco61’s The Julep Evolution. | Photo by LALtoday
What’s bubbling up in the beverage scene this year? Here’s where to get a local taste of the six drink trends Better Homes & Gardens expects to see in 2025.
Soda surge
Prepare for the rise of dirty sodas loaded with cream, syrup, and fruit. Mobile soda stand Fizzy Fix recently opened in Lakeland, delivering the sweet concoctions right to your doorstep.
Miso isn’t just for soup
Expect to see this flavor popping up everywhere from coffee to cocktails, like in Revival’s Miso-Maple Old Fashioned made with toasted almond + vanilla bitters.
Aren’t you glad we said banana?
If so, try out this ap-peel-ing flavor in a coffee. We love the Banana Bread Latte at Andrew’s Coffee, but there are bunches of options on the shop’s fully customizable menu.
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift doesn’t exi… Enter: Squishmallows. From ages three to 103, we’re pretty sure these ultra-soft, best-selling stuffed animals will make any age smile. We’re loving these five love day-inspired Squishmallows:
The Winter Haven Coffee Crawl sounds like a delicious reason for a day trip, so check out our guide on what to do + see in the Chain of Lakes City. It includes a stop at Haven Coffee Roasters, where you’ll find a world championship-winning cup.
Answered
Answered
Are you a snowbird or a year-round Lakelander?
Over 20% of respondents told us they winter in Lakeland. We also asked where home is, and most said Canada — namely Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Maybe we’ll start throwing “eh” into the newsletter.
No matter where you’re from, don’t miss the Snowbird Extravaganza starting tomorrow at the RP Funding Center.
}})
