What’s up with West Pipkin Road? | We’re breaking down the who, what, when, and why behind this major road construction project in southwest Lakeland.
Orange you glad | Find out what’s inside this high-tech facility, which is bringing Lakeland’s years of experience with citrus to the forefront of the flavor + fragrance industry.
You can have ALDIs and more | Get your quarters ready. ALDI opened its third Lakeland location in the Imperial Christina Plaza. See where its next one will be.
Asked
Asked
How many homes currently sit directly on the shores of Lake Hollingsworth?
Just Between Friends Lakeland Children’s Consignment Sale | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | RP Funding Center | Price of purchase | Shop gently used kids’ clothing, toys, and gear during regular shopping hours, or snag a ticket for special presale access.
Blueberry Festival | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 27 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Don’t be blue — this festival offers blueberry U-pick, shortcake eating contests, and plenty of family-friendly fun.
11th Annual 863 Art Fest | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Central Park, Winter Haven | Free+ | Shop the works of 150+ local makers while taking in live music and munching on food truck bites.
Meet the Easter Bunny! | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 20 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Dinosaur World, Plant City | $20+ | Hop to this theme park and find the Bunny among the dinos — photos are included with admission.
Architectural Tour | 11 a.m. | Polk County History Center, Bartow | Free | Curator of Collections Bartholomew Delcamp will portray architect E.C. Hosford on this immersive tour.
Taco Fest | 1-8 p.m. | Lakeland Square Mall | Free+ | Mouth-watering tacos await at this outdoor festival of flavor.
Sunday, April 20
Easter Sunrise Service | 7-8 a.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales | Free+ | This 99th annual sunrise service will feature music by carillonneurs, cellists, pianists, and a bagpiper — stick around afterward for brunch at the Blue Palmetto Cafe.
Shoreline Sunday with John Frinzi | 2 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Sit back, relax, and close out the brewery’s 7th anniversary weekend with music that’ll put you on island time.
Thursday, April 24
Lakeland Book Crawl | Thursday, April 24-Saturday, April 26 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Locations vary | Free+ | Stop by one of Lakeland’s seven independent bookstores for daily specials, pop-ups, and events, culminating in a finale social on Saturday at Crash Bookshop.
Who needs eggs when you can dye marshmallows? Jet-Puffed is selling $2 dye kits — which include a 24-oz bag of extra-large marshmallows — for a creative and more cost-effective take on the egg-dyeing tradition. Pair that with Family Fun Center’s egg scavenger hunt, and you won’t even miss ‘em. (CNN)
Holiday
Publix, Target, and Sam’s Club. Those are three major retailers that will be closed tomorrow for Easter. Plan your weekend shopping accordingly, and if your schedule isn’t full on Sunday, there may still be time to make Easter plans in Lakeland. (USA TODAY)
Sports
Mascots are having a moment. According to a Digiday report, more and more companies are using mascots to stand out. That’s not news to us — Southpaw always has a place in our hearts.
Ranked
Florida tied for No. 19 on Seniorly’s 2025 list of the best states for older workers, which looked at factors like age-related discrimination, income, and remote work. We’ll be here with our guide to activities for retired locals when you’re ready to hang up your hat.
City Guide
City Guide
Lakeland’s most iconic landmarks
Find the Tax Collector’s building illuminated every night in the Midtown district. | Photo via @twothirdsrochambeau
We’ve all been there: Someone’s trying to give you directions with a jumble of cardinal directions. Isn’t it easier to just point out a landmark?
That’s exactly what we’re doing. Not only are these local icons easy to remember, but they’ll also get you where you need to go in a jiffy — just tap the button below for a map.
Tax Collector for Polk County
Address: 916 N. Massachusetts Ave.
Nearby: Haus 820, Quinteassence
The building was once home to a 1950s-era Publix store, and it keeps its signature green hue today in neon form. It’s currently undergoing a restoration project to keep the space in tip-top shape.
Southside Cleaners Sign
Address: 901 S. Florida Ave.
Nearby: 360 Unlimited, Low Country Vintage
No drive through Dixieland is complete without a glance at the latest Southside Cleaners quote. The sunny starburst sign has been around since 1962 and is curated with different phrases on the marquee throughout the week.
Easter weekend is shaping up to be a busy one in Lakeland, and I’ll be all over town — even out of town to celebrate with family in Orlando. If you’re interested in news + events about “The City Beautiful,” you can now subscribe to ORLtoday’s newsletter (coming this summer) or follow along on Instagram.
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