When visiting PALS, don’t forget to pose for a photo with the alligator mural. | Photo by LALtoday
Forrest Gump told us life was like a box of chocolates, but you never know what you’re gonna get from the Lakeland dessert scene either. Ready for a sugar rush? Check out these newly opened bakers + makers for your next sweet treat.
PALS Candy Shop
Find chocolates and jelly beans, plus sour, hard + gummy candies in bulk here, as well as slushies and Lotus Energy drinks.
🧁 What we’d order: As many gummy worms as we can possibly manage + a Jolly Rancher slushie. Pro tip: Reserve a spot for the shop’s Lollipop Bouquet Building class to take your gifting to a sweet new level.
Crave Cookies
Scratch-made cookies and dirty sodas are the name of the game at this bakery, where new flavors rotate in each Friday.
🧁 What we’d order: A peanut butter cup cookie + Southern Sunrise soda, featuring Sprite, strawberry, watermelon, and peach.
All of Bright Ice’s products are made by hand each week in Pinellas Park, then delivered to shops around Tampa Bay.
Bright Ice Scoop Shop
This Dixieland shop has 19 signature flavors, including three vegan options, that can be served in a cup, on a waffle cone, blended in a milkshake, or on an ice cream + cookie sandwich.
🧁 What we’d order: A scoop of Oat of This World, made with oatmeal cream pies + maple syrup.
Mel’s Desserts and Delights
Cookies, cake pops, and cupcakes — oh my. Find freshly baked goods at this cottage bakery-turned-storefront.
🧁 What we’d order: A classic cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing. Pro tip: Keep an eye out on Facebook for BOGO specials.
Parlor Doughnuts
Visit this downtown spot for layered doughnuts made daily, plus a selection of coffees and teas.
🧁 What we’d order: The Swan — a Lakeland exclusive with vanilla, maple, and cinnamon — paired with a Mayan Mocha latte.
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.
Graphic Novel Talk: “Redcoat” | 6-7 p.m. | Revival | Free+ | Grab a handcrafted cocktail from the bar, then sit down for a chat about this graphic novel that takes place during the American Revolution.
Line Dancing in the Backyard | 7-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free | These boots were made for dancing — two-step over to this winery for lessons under the stars.
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.
18th Annual Swan Derby | 5:30-9 p.m. | Lake Mirror | Free+ | Don your derby best to support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine with swan boat racing, live music, food trucks, and more.
Ridge Country Band | 7 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Put on your boots and boogie on over to this live performance featuring smash burgers from Tower 10.
Saturday, April 26
One Year Anniversary Celebration | 7 a.m.-4 p.m. | Pour Bear Coffee | Free+ | This coffee shop is celebrating a year of business with deals on drinks like Honey Bear + Brown Bear Lattes and in-store giveaways.
Judd Jog 5K | 8 a.m. | Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Winter Haven | $40 | Run this paved course to help raise funds for United Way of Central Florida, then stick around for a meet and greet with PCSO’s K-9 unit.
Game Night at the Museum | 7 p.m. | Florida Children’s Museum | $75 | Adults are taking over the museum for one night only with classic + casino games, bites and bevs, and a silent auction.
Sunday, April 27
Yoga in the Outfield | 10 a.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $50 | Find your flow (and maybe a fly ball) with a yoga class on the field, followed by brunch in the ’34 Club and a seat at the Flying Tigers game.
The physicians at Lakeland Regional Health Grasslands Campus provide expert pediatric care with a personal touch. | Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health
From well-child visits and immunizations to managing common childhood illnesses, Dr. Pistoria is dedicated to keeping your little ones healthy. With a patient-centered approach, she ensures personalized care in a welcoming environment.
To set up an appointment, call (863) 284-5000 or schedule online.
The first day of the Lakeland Book Crawl, and we’re ready to get down to bookish business. In addition to discounts, stop by Inklings Book Shoppe today and Saturday, April 26 for book signing events with authors Thad Diaz and Jackie Sonnenberg. Swipe to the end for the full schedule.
Coming Soon
Vegans + vegetarians, this one’s for you. Palm Harbor’s The Green Table Restaurant is bringing its plant-based, scratch-made fare to Lakeland. While we await the announcement of an opening date + location, you’ll find us salivating over the menu. We’ll take two Cuban combos, please.
Edu
It’s officially college graduation season here in Lakeland, and this Saturday, SEU will confer degrees to two of its youngest graduates yet. Kaitlyn Ostergaard will earn her bachelor’s degree at just 16 years old + her brother Joshua Ostergaard will receive his master’s degree at 18 years old.
Open
Shake it like a Polaroid picture over to Lakeland Film Lab — a new film processing spot located on West Main Street, just up the road from Rogue Coffee. Stop by the storefront to drop off or mail in your film, and the team will process + scan it into digital files.
Community
This Saturday, April 26 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day — a biannual event that encourages community members to safely dispose of unwanted, unneeded, and expired prescription medications. Visit Lakeland Police Department, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., or place them in the station’s lobby dropbox year-round to do your part.
Shop
Calling all vintage enthusiasts — Decades Reclaimed Vintage Depot will host its annual Big Parking Lot Garage Sale this Saturday, April 26, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get a sneak peek of what you can expect from the depot’s 35+ vendors.
Festival
The AGB is still seeking volunteers to assist in multiple areas during Mayfaire by-the-Lake weekend, Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11. Sign up for a slot to help out with festival operations, merchandise sales, watching over artist booths, collecting surveys, and more.
Kids
The young + young at heart can explore the world of aviation with free admission to the Florida Air Museum during Kids Museum Day on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to its usual exhibits, the museum will also have hands-on activities, membership deals, and a bounce house.
Holiday
Celebrate the mother figures in your life with a free Mother’s Day Market at Dog Dayz Cafe in Winter Haven on Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Reserve your spot to experience tea tastings, fitness and sound bath classes, and a vendor market, plus areas for kids and pets.
Arts
“Meanwhile, in Florida” — it’s not just a story transition, it’s the title of Mulberry Cultural Center’s upcoming visual art exhibit. Local artists are invited to submit their boldest, brightest, and quirkiest works in all mediums that put our state’s eccentricities on full display. Submissions are due Wednesday, May 7.
Number
1,160+. That’s how many places Southeastern University Students have visited worldwide since 2014 thanks to SEU Missions. From the Himalayas to hurricane recovery right here in Florida, apply now to discover your next adventure.*
The Word
Unlimited. As in, the limit does not exist when it comes to how many job listings you can post on the LALtoday Job Board. Get started today + watch the applications roll in. Psst — upgrade your job posting and it will be featured right here in the newsletter.
Read
Looking for an informative, faith-based newsletter? The Pour Over delivers current events with a Christian perspective, perfect for staying informed. Subscribe to the newsletter to join the community.*
Number
$5,000. That’s how much your dog’s ACL surgery could cost if you don’t have pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that could be reimbursed.*
Category
History
🚂 Don’t go off the rails
Lakeland resident M. Theodore Anderson + at the Lakeland rail yard circa 1890. | Photograph via Florida Memory
You may have heard about Lakeland’s original rival town, Acton, and the mysterious fire that claimed its rail depot, but did you know that shortly after that, Lakeland became a railroad hotspot in Central Florida?
By the 1890s — just five years after the town’s incorporation — the Lakeland Subdivision saw around 25 trains passing through its newly built depot per day. While other towns popped up and faded, Lakeland’s active rail yards kept it on the map.
By 1893, Lakeland’s Munn Park area + surrounding rail yards had become a well-known, integral area for Florida’s shipping industry. Did you know? Between 1910 and 1950, the Winston and Bone Valley Railroad was responsible for ~50% of the phosphate shipped in Florida.
While our railroad culture has dwindled over the years, the railroad industry will always be a core component of Lakeland’s history. Pro tip: Explore it further in Bonnet Springs Park’s History Gallery, located upstairs in the Welcome Center.
The Buy
A smart bird feeder that auto-captures and identifies 10,000+ bird species. It features an HD camera with a wide angle lens and full color night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to receive real-time messages when a bird is detected, and a sturdy, waterproof fabrication for long-term use.
Graduation season in Lakeland always makes me feel sentimental, as it prompts me to reflect on my own graduation from SEU back in 2018. If only this version of Amelia knew what was to come. Have your own graduation memories you want to share? Toss your caps + send them our way.
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