May is bringing huge events, like Mayfaire by-the-Lake on Mother’s Day weekend. | Photo by @ashley_kent77
This just in: Our Plan Ahead has a fresh update, complete with some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place in and around Lakeland in May. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark the article on our website and come back when we add June’s events.
Watermelon Festival | Saturday, May 3 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Florida Children’s Museum | Free+ | Things will get juicy with hands-on, watermelon-themed activities on Bonnet Springs Park’s Family Lawn, plus pay-what-you-can entry to the museum.
The Wedding Show | Sunday, May 4 | 12-4 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | $15+ | Bring your betrothed to meet local wedding vendors, and buy a VIP ticket for entry into a venue rental giveaway.
Immerse kids in music at the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra’s annual Cookie Concert.
LSO Cookie Concert | Sunday, May 4 | 1 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College | Free | Little ones can get an up-close look at instruments and enjoy a concert just for them — don’t miss the free cookies at the end.
10th Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon | Wednesday, May 7 | 11:30 a.m. | Florida Southern College | $125 | Author, speaker, and football great Tim Tebow will share at this fundraiser for The Roberts Academy.
Mayfaire by-the-Lake | Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Lake Morton | Free+ | See why this event has grown into one of Florida’s largest + most celebrated annual outdoor art festivals.
April showers (or lack thereof) will bring May flowers.
Plantae Palooza | Saturday, May 17 | 5-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Price of purchase | Grow your own fun by shopping from plant vendors and enjoying bites + bevs from the farm.
Run for Their Lives 5K | Saturday, May 24 | 7-10 a.m. | Peterson Park | $30+ | Run down Three Parks Trail with your leashed pet to raise money for the animals of SPCA Florida.
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.
Friday Night Live | 6-9 p.m. | Munn Park | Free+ | Bring your lawn chairs + blankets and take in live music in the park while enjoying dinner and drinks to-go from downtown businesses.
City Nature Challenge Bioblitz | 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.
Saturday, April 26
Spring Plant Sale | 8-11:30 a.m. | City of Lakeland Nursery | Price of purchase | Shop plants grown by Polk’s Master Gardener volunteers — all proceeds will go toward local horticulture programming.
Bicycle Rodeo | 9-11 a.m. | Loyce E. Harpe Park, Mulberry | Free | This ain’t our first rodeo — cyclists ages 6-12 can bring their bikes for inspections, repairs, and skills stations.
Spring Fling Sunflower Maze | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Harvest Holler Corn Maze, Polk City | $14+ | Find your way through a maze of flowers, take a hayride, and pet cows from KT’s Mini Moos.
Sunday, April 27
Paradise Market | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale | Price of purchase | You don’t have to be a resort guest to shop this market packed with local small businesses.
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.
Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Bradenton Marauders | 12 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $9+ | Kids can run around the bases after the ninth inning, so take the whole family out to the ballgame.
Our bundles secure your business more advertising space for less. | Graphic by 6AM City
The newest addition to our self-service ad portal — our advertising marketplace with no long-term contracts — is bundles. We’ve put some of our most popular products into two different offerings — each with a savings of 20%. Here’s the rundown:
Branded Content Bundle: Three placements in our newsletter, including a 75-word article and two text ads in the News Notes section.
Heads up, drivers. CSX Transportation will repair its railroad at the crossing of East Main Street and Bartow Road on Thursday, May 1. Starting at 8 a.m., East Main Street will be closed from Bartow Road to Ingraham Avenue for several hours, so keep these detours in mind.
Environment
Find out what’s blooming in Lake Bonnet — and how the City of Lakeland is transforming algae into energy — at an Open House with AECOM. Visit Bonnet Springs Park’s Nature Center on Wednesday, May 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to learn how the infrastructure company is creating renewable fuel here in Lakeland.
Edu
The Polk County School Board unanimously voted to appoint James Greene as its new general counsel on Tuesday. Greene was one of three finalists, but he got the job offer based on his recent experience as general counsel for Pasco County Schools. (The Ledger)
Travel
The MarketplACE at Lakeland International Airport has revealed a fresh new look. Stop by this mini convenience store after going through security to grab drinks, snacks, and souvenirs before your flight — proceeds benefit the Aerospace Center for Excellence.
Show
The voice of “The Little Mermaid” will become part of our world when actress Jodi Benson and her daughter Delaney perform together at Winter Haven’s Ritz Theatre on Saturday, July 5. Grab tickets to hear the duo sing beloved Broadway and Disney tunes.
Sports
Dance, jump, and fly into Lakeland Xpress Athletics’ season 12 cheerleading tryouts. Kids ages 4-18 can register for evaluations, happening May 15, 17, and 19, to join all-star + recreational competition cheer teams. Sign up by Sunday, May 4 for early bird pricing.
Pets
Who will be crowned Polk County’s most paw-fect pet? You decide in HAVEN Magazine’s Great Polk Pet Showdown. Cast your votes now for the cutest furballs, from puppies and kittens to cows and guinea pigs. Our vote goes to Coen the turtle.
Did you know about this free tour of Lakeland’s trees? | Photo by LALtoday
It’s Arbor Day, and we can’t think of a more tree-mendous time to explore the City of Lakeland’s Urban Forest. The 300+ species of trees around Lakeland’s accredited arboretum reduce energy use, increase property values, and improve air quality — providing the city with a net annual benefit of more than $2 million.
Just bring your phone to follow the interactive maps and find the trees. Once you’ve found the tree, you can read fun facts about its species, like its country of origin and how high it grows. Try it this weekend — Hollis Garden is open today + tomorrow, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and is always free to enter.
I saw a few cities share their “most iconic trees” for Earth Day, and it got me thinking, what would Lakeland’s be? The Lover’s Oak on Lake Morton, the Grandfather Oak at Bonnet Springs Park, and the palm trees on Cleveland Heights Boulevard come to mind, but I’m down to branch out. Leaf me your thoughts.
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