Two paws up | There’s nothing like springtime with your pup in Swan City. As the weather starts to warm up, head to one of these eateries where you can bring your fur baby along for the fun.
The Mayfairest of them all | The Mayfaire by-the-Lake fine arts festival will take place around Lake Morton in May — and this year’s featured artist is bringing Lakeland’s beloved birds to the forefront.
Tech yeah | Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area’s high-tech GDP grew nearly 63% from 2018 to 2023. Did you know about these tech advancements being used and developed here in Swan City?
Asked
Asked
Where’s your go-to remote work spot in Lakeland?
A. A coffee shop B. A park C. A co-working space D. Somewhere else
National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony | 10-11 a.m. | Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park | Free | Honor those who served in the Vietnam War with the City of Lakeland, Polk County Veterans Council, and keynote speaker Mary Jane Wilkin.
Wine & Cider Festival | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Upgrade your event entry to taste four wines and ciders, sample bites from the Sisimoto food truck, and make a donation to Plant City Kiwanis.
“Waitress” | Saturday, March 29-Sunday, April 6 | Times vary | Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven | $36 | This musical, featuring a score by Sara Bareilles, is making its Polk County premiere with local actors at the helm.
Sunday, March 30
Dances of the Diaspora | 4-8 p.m. | The Well | Free | Guitarist Robert Phillips will perform a suite of works by US composers inspired by their countries of origin.
Tuesday, April 1
SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo | Tuesday, April 1-Sunday, April 6 | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus | $50+ | It’s the 51st year of this annual expo featuring air shows, interactive activities for the whole family, and the latest + greatest aviation tech.
Friday, April 4
Pitties and Kitties Spay and Neuter Day | 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | SPCA Florida Veterinary Clinic | $55+ | Income-qualified Lakelanders can bring their pets for reduced-cost spay + neuter services — appointments required.
Want to learn something new... from the comfort of your own bed? Try visiting the Museum of All Things, a new virtual museum generated from Wikipedia with exhibits on millions of topics. When the scrolling gets old and you need some real-world interaction, head to Lakeland’s IRL museums.
Plan Ahead
It’s finally spring, meaning our calendars are packed with events like Parkesdale’s Bloom & Berry Bazaar. Find more fun near you this season with our ultimate guide to the top happenings around Lakeland. We’ll see you there.
Number
$23.30. That’s the average cost of a large cheese pizza in Orlando based on a national pizza study conducted by Clever. Luckily, Lakeland has many pizzerias that are worth the dough without the drive, and our options go way beyond just cheese.
Travel
Don’t forget: The deadline to obtain a REAL ID is coming up on Wednesday, May 7. You’ll need the REAL ID (or a different federally approved identification, such as a passport) if you plan to fly domestically or enter secure federal or military facilities. Here’s how and where to get one locally.
City Guide
City Guide
☕ Saturday sips, anyone?
The omelets, breakfast sandwiches, and baked goods at Rogue will keep you full all day. | Photo by LALtoday
With both Black & Brew and Concord Coffee celebrating key anniversaries this month, we’ve got brews on the brain.
Peruse our guide to find the local coffee shop or cafe that works for you — from the cafes where you can get work done to the ones with the best bites in town.
Mitchell’s Coffee House | Founded in 1998, Mitchell’s was the first coffee shop to open in Lakeland. It’s been leading the way with its ever-changing coffee menu since then, and we love dropping in for an I Dream of Jeannie latte.
Rogue Coffee | Don’t sleep on the full breakfast menu or the baked goods made fresh daily in this Downtown West shop. Plus,you can find the viral Dubai chocolate here — if it hasn’t sold out yet.
Jona-Bells | Get tropical with a Brazilian acai bowl loaded with your favorite ingredients, or opt for light fare like a smoked salmon flatbread.
This gorgeous plush throw blanket that’s marked down by 73% for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. We love its ultra-soft faux fur texture and three-dimensional rhombic cable knit design.
It’s a sweet weekend here in Swan City. Bright Ice Scoop Shop opened its doors at 1 p.m. yesterday, and Parlor Doughnuts opens today at 8 a.m. Did you stop by either of the new spots? Send us your pics + reviews — we might just share a few of our faves in our upcoming newsletters.
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