We might be biased, but to us there is no city quite as beautiful as Lakeland. | Photo by Sean Pavone
Today is Earth Day, an annual event that focuses on supporting environmental protection. Here’s how you can embrace and celebrate the power of the planet in Lakeland this week + beyond.
Must-do events
Earth Day Concert | Tuesday, April 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Branscomb Memorial Auditorium | $5+ | Experience nature through music during this performance by the Florida Southern College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.
City Nature Challenge | Friday, April 25 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Se7en Wetlands, Mulberry | Free | Survey areas for plants and animals with the iNaturalist app, then end the day by watching the sunset over the wetlands.
Great American Clean-Up | Saturday, April 26 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | City of Bartow | Free | Join forces with Keep Polk County Beautiful to clean up the Bartow community — pre-register to get a free lunch, t-shirt, and Bok Tower Gardens ticket.
In case you missed it, Lakeland’s Bonnet Springs Park was just voted Best City Park in the US by USA Today.
Photo by LALtoday
Timeless activities
When we want to get in touch with nature, nothing invigorates our senses more than taking a stroll through one of Lakeland’s parks, lacing up our boots for a hike, or stopping to smell the flowers in a gorgeous garden.
Editor’s pick: Can’t step away from that work to-do list? Work al fresco at one of these Lakeland locales.
April is also recognized as National Volunteer Month, meaning there’s no better time to put your passions to work for good. Find an environment- or outdoors-focused opportunity in our comprehensive guide.
Editor’s pick: Can’t make Keep Polk County Beautiful’s Bartow clean-up on Saturday, April 26? Save the date for Keep Lakeland Beautiful‘s May cleanup instead, happening Saturday, May 17.
Events
Events
Tuesday, April 22
Tribute Tuesday: The Rolling Stones | Times vary | The Historic Ritz Theatre, Winter Haven | $35 | “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” — but you will want to be in the audience for one of these performances.
Brew Crew, Music Bingo & Smokin’ Chanchos | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Take a lap with the Lakeland Runners Club, then stick around for beer, bites, and music bingo.
Beyond the Sentence: From Prison to Professor | 6:30-8 p.m. | D’Ann Brown Welcome Center at Southeastern University | Free | Professor Nathan Stephens will share his life story, followed by a panel discussion.
Family-Friendly Paint and Sip | 7-10 p.m. | Botanical Brewing Taproom | Free+ | Purchase a kava or elixir drink, then put your creativity to the test in a guided painting lesson.
Wednesday, April 23
“The Rise of the Highwaymen” Tours | 1-2 p.m. | The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | Free | A museum docent will teach you about the lives of Harold Newton and Alfred Hair as you view their work in a new exhibition.
Charcuterie Workshop | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $40 | We see beautiful boards in your future after learning tips that will wow at your next gathering.
Thursday, April 24
Empower & Evolve: Women in Business Workshop | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | SpringHill Suites | $99 | Learn how to have “fierce conversations” in thought-provoking interactive sessions.
2025 State of the County | 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Polk State College Center for Public Safety, Winter Haven | Free | Gain insight into the trends and developments impacting local government, education, and health.
Friday, April 25
Empowering You: Mind Matters — A Healthy Aging Summit | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland | Free | Older adults, caregivers + their families can stop in for interactive breakout sessions, complimentary lunch, and prizes.
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.
Multiple Polk Parkway lanes will close this week as crews transition portions of the roadway to electronic toll collection. Most notably, all eastbound + westbound lanes between Exits 17 and 14 will close from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. tomorrow, April 23 and Thursday, April 24. See the full closure schedule. (The Ledger)
Stat
We’re going down — in a good way. Polk County rent prices decreased 2.9% in March compared to last year, according to Apartment List. With an average listing price of $1,226, the price is also ~11% below the national average, and one + two-bedroom listings are even lower. (The Ledger)
Number
$78 million. That’s how much more Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC) invested in community impact than it would have paid in taxes from 2020 to 2022, according to The Lown Institute. LRMC topped the list of all Florida hospitals, using its surplus to provide discounted health care + address food insecurity. (WUSF)
Health
Speaking of Lakeland Regional, the health system has launched a new program allowing eligible patients to receive hospital-grade clinical care from their homes. LRH at Home patients can connect daily with their care teams and receive treatments such as IV antibiotics and oxygen therapy — all without actually visiting the hospital. (Central Florida Health News)
Ranked
Winter Haven ranked No. 105 on WalletHub’s list of Best Small Cities to Start a Business in 2025. The Chain of Lakes City earned its spot based on its overall business environment, access to resources, and business costs compared to ~1,300 other small cities nationwide.
Announced
Lakeland’s Sound House Studios is signing new, breakout talent ready to take the next step in their music careers. Did you know? Owner Jonathan Gautier won a Grammy Award in 2024 for his work on Taylor Swift’s album “Midnights.”
Shop
Book bargains await at the Lakeland Book Crawl, kicking off this Thursday, April 24 — but did you know you can also get deals from other small businesses? This year, several local bizzes will offer participants additional discounts when showing a Book Crawl receipt. See the full list. (LkldNow)
Try This
Ready, set, teach. The City of Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation + Cultural Arts department is seeking teachers and facilitators to bring new programs and classes to its recreation facilities. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Think we should teach a Lakelander 101 class?
Lakelander
History has its eyes on Lakelander + Victory Christian Academy alum Jazi Riley, who has been selected for the 2025-2026 New York City Urban Fellows program. After graduating from Manhattan University this spring, Riley will spend her nine-month fellowship working to address gaps in New York’s policies surrounding sex trafficking. (The Ledger)
Feel Good
Every kiss begins with KayFred’s Market. Meet the future Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, a couple who recently got engaged in the Southern comfort restaurant’s Lakeland location off Harden Boulevard. Did you get proposed to in a famous Lakeland spot? Let us know.
$10,000. If you owe that much in debt, this organization can reach out to credit card companies and potentially reduce what you owe. See how it works.*
Category
Coming Soon
🔮 Gaze into Lakeland’s future
We’ve got our eye on Lakeland developments. | Photo by LALtoday
Every time we look around, it seems like something new is popping up in Lakeland. Take a look into our crystal ball for a vision of these upcoming developments coming soon to the Swan City area.
Publix Super Market at Lake Miriam Square, 4730 S. Florida Ave. | Opening summer 2025 | Full store remodel including a 4,200-sqft increase, mezzanine seating, and new liquor store + pharmacy
BayCare freestanding emergency department, 5501 S. Florida Ave. | Opening late 2026 | A 12,000-sqft facility focused on pediatrics with 12 emergency care beds, diagnostic imaging, and lab services
Bob Adams Family Community YMCA, 3620 Cleveland Heights Blvd. | Opening 2027 | New facilities featuring exercise equipment, indoor turf fields, an elevated track, updated children’s spaces, and more
Pickleball Academy, 5201 Gateway Blvd. | Opening TBA | Indoor pickleball space featuring six courts, vending machines, and 30 parking spaces
Andrew’s Coffee’s closure may have left a latte-sized hole in our hearts, but the South Florida Avenue coffee scene is already brewing up something new. We got the scoop that Tallahassee-based Lucky Goat Coffee will be opening up a location in Merchant’s Walk Plaza sometime in the late summer or early fall. Stay tuned for more info, coming soon.
Answered
Answered
How many homes currently sit directly on the shores of Lake Hollingsworth?
The correct answer was 7, guessed by ~47% of respondents. While The Row on Lake Hollingsworth won’t sit directly on the lake’s shores, learn more about the other amenities that homeowners can expect.
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