The exhibit is always free to enter, and you can browse as long as you’d like. | Photo by LALtoday
Squeeze in a visit the Lakeland Public Library’s main branch to see what’s fresh inside the Lakeland History & Culture Center. Its second exhibit, “From the Groves: Lakeland’s Citrus Story,” is now on view daily.
The 1,400-sqft center first opened in 2022 with a look at Lakeland’s early years. Now, you can go learn how the citrus industry shaped local agriculture + enterprise as our town became the “World Citrus Center.”
Get insight into every step of citrus production and how it’s affected Lakeland life.
Photo by LALtoday
It’s free to pop in and browse the interactive exhibits that make it fun for visitors of all ages. You can tap on touchscreens to learn about vintage citrus labels or current research, flip through a decades-old tourism booklet, and even listen in on a citrus grower’s story.
Vote for your favorite way to get some vitamin C — we’re partial to tangerines.
Photo by LALtoday
You can also make your own mark on the exhibit. Right behind the intro sign, write a memory that involves Florida citrus and vote for your favorite type of citrus — we went for tangerines, sorry grapefruit lovers.
Ladies Night in the Loft | 5:30-8 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe | $21 | Reserve a spot in the art loft and paint or mosaic the night away with friends.
Jim Lauderdale and the Game Changers | 6:30 p.m. | Gram Parsons Derry Down, Winter Haven | $40 | Spend an evening with this Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter known for his tributes to Gram Parsons.
Cemetery Tour | 9-10 a.m. | Evergreen & Palm Historic Cemetery, Bartow | Free | Learn the legacies of Polk County’s Black pioneers in this guided tour.
Volunteer Open House | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Head to the Roundhouse Coffee Shop to learn about all of BSP’s volunteer opportunities and how to get involved.
Spring Esports Open House & Try Out | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Lakeland XP League | Free | Gamers + parents can learn about youth esports with facility tours and spring season tryouts.
20th Annual VISTEBall | 6-9:30 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN | $75 | Dress in golf casual for a night enjoying games + food on the “links” while raising money for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly.
Sunday, Feb. 2
Sunday Brunch | 12-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Enjoy bottomless mimosas and swan-grias while taking in live music from Dust2Dust and bites from Tito’s Latin Cuisine.
Purr & Popcorn: Movie Night Series | 6 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge | $15 | Bring a blanket and grab free popcorn + a beverage for a showing of “Hidden Figures” in the cat room.
Barbecue pitmasters will cook up four meats for the competition: pork, chicken, beef, and brisket. | Photo via Pexels
Things are heating upin Davenport, and for once, we’re not talking about the weather.
The second leg of the Florida Triple Crown of BBQ kicks off with Grills Gone Wild on Friday, Feb. 7 + Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Tom Fellows Community Center.
Here are the delicious details:
Sample BBQ from dozens of pitmasters from across the region
Admission is free
Enjoy live entertainment + shop from local vendors
Bonus: Savor your BBQ with a side of timeless rides at the Tom Fellows Classic Car Show.
City commissioners may approve a memorandum of understanding with FDOT to move the South Florida Avenue reconstruction project forward. The memo outlines that the city would fund the project’s design + manage construction, with FDOT reimbursing construction costs. It’s up for discussion on Monday, Feb. 3 at 9 a.m.
Travel
See the sights of Italy in this summer’s Taste the Experience tour led by Chef Mick Pugliese of Il Forno Italian Restaurant. From June 25 to July 5, Pugliese will guide you to pizza making classes, city tours, and the best restaurants in town.
Festival
Bloom, baby. Bonnet Springs Park will host Bloom, its first flower festival, on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. Prepare to celebrate all things nature and horticulture with flower installations and demonstrations. Pro tip: Food + market vendor applications are now open.
Biz
Learn everything you need to know about growing your small biz in the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce’s New Business 101 series. Taking place each Thursday in February, this online workshop will cover topics from business planning to local resources.
Feel Good
After facing more than a year of damage and leaks, New Beulah Missionary Baptist Church is getting a new roof thanks to a donation from K.L. Smith Roofing. Company co-owner James Middleton helped patch the roof before Hurricane Milton, but yesterday he began installing a new $30,000+ roof for free. (LkldNow)
Sports
It’s gameday at Simpson Park Community Center, where the Polk County Royals basketball team will take on the Bisons of St. Petersburg. Attend the game tonight at 6 p.m. to see if the Royals will follow up their 2024 UBA National Championship win — tickets are $12.
Legacy
Habitat for Humanity East Polk is honoring former President Jimmy Carter with a memorial door symbolizing his decades of work with the organization. Head to the Polk County Administration Building in Bartow to add your message to the tribute by Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Award
Ana Kalman, SVP and Chief Information/Application Officer of Lakeland Regional Health, won in the healthcare category at the Florida Orbie Awards, which recognize statewide leaders in technology. The award follows LRH’s recent 10th recognition as a “Most Wired” health system.
Family
Bring the kids to the YMCA Par 3 course for the YMCA Family Fun Day Golf Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8. Adults + kids ages 5-17 will compete together scramble-style starting at 9 a.m. Work on your swings together before the tournament at these local courses.
Health
Ready to feel better about your weight-loss goals? Through Hims & Hers, you’ll get the cheapest 12-month GLP-1 plan†, plus expert care and personalized support. From custom medications to snack ideas in the app, it’s all designed just for you. Start your free assessment.*
Shop
Save time (and your hands) with these kitchen hacks: this jar opener is great for arthritic joints, while this chicken shredder does the hard shredding work for you.*
†Please note: Comparison based on 12-month plan prices for compounded semaglutide from 12 leading competitors as of December 2024.
Category
History
This is dedicated to the Bok I love
The tower is as much of an icon today as it was here in 1953. | Photo by Florida Memory
Bok Tower in Lake Wales is undoubtedly one of Central Florida’s most recognizable icons, but have you ever wondered about how it came to be?
Born in the Netherlands in 1863, Edward W. Bok immigrated to Brooklyn, NY at age six. Spending winters in Lake Wales, Bok fell in love with Florida’s natural beauty and decided to build a sanctuary for birds + wildlife called the “Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower.”
The sanctuary officially opened on Feb. 1, 1929 with President Calvin Coolidge present. It was renamed to Bok Tower Gardens in 1986 to honor Bok’s philanthropic contributions to the world.
Be part of Bok Tower Gardens’ 96-year-long history by joining two Dedication Day events on Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. “Cross the moat” to get an exclusive, up-close view of the tower’s ornate Great Brass Door — access is included with admission.
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Did your ears perk up at that South Florida Avenue update in the News Notes? We’ll be keeping an eye on Monday’s city commission meeting to bring you updates, but you can also join in person or watch online.
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