There’s all kinds of activities for the family to enjoy in Lakeland this Easter. | Photo via Grace City Church
With Easter coming up on Sunday, April 20, we’re rounding up a few ways to celebrate — from brunches and services to family-friendly activities and Easter Bunny photo ops.
Eala’s, Fresco’s exclusive speakeasy, will hold a reservation-only Easter brunch on Sunday, April 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition to traditional breakfast items, there will be a carving station and a selection of desserts. Tickets are $65 for adults and $25 for children.
Bok Tower Gardens will host its 99th annual sunrise service on Easter Sunday at 7 a.m., featuring music by carillonneurs, cellists, pianists, and bagpipers. Following the service, the Blue Palmetto Cafe will serve a brunch buffet.
Meet the Easter Bunny at Family Fun Center on Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy a fun photo op and take part in a free scavenger egg hunt for your chance to win a Family Fun Pack.
First Friday: Foodie Fest | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free+ | Sample small bites from your favorite Polk County eateries as you shop the Makers Market.
“Something Rotten!” | Friday, April 4-Sunday, April 13 | Times vary | Lakeland Community Theatre | $28+ | Local performers will welcome you to the Renaissance in this comedic show that tells the tale of the world’s first musical.
Saturday, April 5
Introduction to Florida Urban Agriculture | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, Bartow | Free | Get your green thumbs ready to learn about urban agriculture techniques like vertical farming, hydroponics, composting, and integrated pest management.
Sip & Sprout Plant Festival | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Metals & Nature, Plant City | Free+ | Shop and stroll through this garden paradise with iced coffee or Keel & Curley wine in hand.
Trailblazers in Aviation Luncheon | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Prop 75 at SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus | $30 | The Ninety-Nines Women Pilots Association will host aerobatic champion Dr. Cecilia Aragon as the speaker for this inspiring luncheon.
The Middle | 6 p.m.-1 a.m. | Uno Dos Tres Studio | $20+ | Dancers from all over Florida will come together to show off their kizomba + bachata moves, starting with instruction from teachers.
Sunday, April 6
Morning Yin and Mindfulness | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Yoga Haven, Winter Haven | $18+ | Relax into gentle poses and guide your breath to stay present with meditation practices.
Making a Difference with Mosaics | 4 p.m. | COhatch | $20 | Raise funds for Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine while stretching your creativity with pros from Picassoz.
If you’ve been yearning for the Chinese food formerly found in the Lake Miriam Publix, you’re going to love this announcement. The Lake Miriam Chinese Kitchen has opened its own standalone restaurant in the plaza. We’ll take two orders of lo mein and bourbon chicken, please.
Coming Soon
It looks like West Coast coffee chain Dutch Bros is bringing a second location to Polk County. The drive-thru-forward shop has listed a Winter Haven location on its website in the former Boston Market space. An opening date is TBA, but job applications are open.
Edu
Blast off. Central Florida Aerospace Academy has been selected as Florida’s only school to participate in the Future Engineers’ NASA TechRise Challenge this summer. Students will compete against 59 other teams to create a data collection + analysis experiment that will be sent into the stratosphere on a weather balloon. (WFTS)
Gallery
SUN ‘n FUN will host its final nighttime airshow of the year tomorrow, with performers like the TITAN Aerobatic Team, Nathan Hammond, and the Great Lakes Drone Company set to take to the skies from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Get a sneak peek of what to expect. (The Ledger)
Arts
Public transportation is about to get a little more colorful. As part of Citrus Connection’s annual Art in Transit campaign, the artwork of Lakeland artists David Collins + Aaron Corbitt will be displayed on The Squeeze shuttles through the summer. The adorned shuttles will join the fleet next week.
Outdoors
The Mulberry Park Trail Head and Trails Expansion at Se7en Wetlands will be open for hiking starting Thursday, April 10. Explore the revamped trails, entrances, and boardwalks on your own, or sign up for the park’s next guided hike on Friday, April 18.
Kids
If you know a youngster already working on their Grammy acceptance speech, this camp is for them. Sound House Studios is hosting two week-long intensives this June focused on teaching kids ages 14-18 the essentials of becoming recording artists. Tuition for each session is $250.
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Number
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The Buy
The Buy
A pair of 5” lined track shorts from lululemon. Designed for running, the shorts have a built-in liner for extra coverage and wick away sweat fast. Psst — these Soothfeel athletic shorts are a great workout option, too.
Yesterday, Connor and I got the chance to get up close + personal with the F/A18 Super Hornet jets flown by the US Navy Blue Angels. If you’re hoping to see the team perform, they’ll be flying over every afternoon through Sunday, starting today. Pro tip: Download the SUN ‘n FUN app to track specific airshow times.
