Bring your good boys + girls along with you to these places — they deserve it. | Photo by LALtoday
Because Lakeland is a pet’s paradise. We’ve fetched 28 of the top spots around Lakeland where you can pamper your furry friends or support local businesses while shopping for essentials.
Pet groomers
Lakeland Pet Salon
Make an appointment for your dog or cat to get a bath, blow-out, haircut, or nail trim — you can even add on fur feathers.
Supply stores
Benson’s Canine Cookies
This shop offers freshly made treats for dogs and cats, plus nutritional counseling for older pets, puppies + kittens, and pets who are pregnant.
Doggy daycare + boarding
Hollywoof Pet Resort
Dogs can get star treatment at this business. Drop them off for doggy daycare or board them overnight. Grooming is also available.
Dog training
Das Hund House
Old dogs can learn new tricks — and even get a new look. Pups can get trained during daycare or through group + private classes, and Das Hund House also offers drop-off grooming services.
Adventure Day | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | School might be out, but kids can still get their learn on by getting up close and personal with bald eagles + other birds of prey at the Nature Center.
Rose & Thorne | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free+ | Watch this local band take the brewery’s stage for the first time while chowing down on Brother Burgers.
Clay Class: Swan Ring Dish | 5:30-8 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe | $40 | Show off your Lakeland pride by creating a swan-tastic trinket tray.
Swing Dance Workshop | 6:45 p.m. | Union Hall | $15 | Whether you’re starting from scratch or leveling up your skills, swing your way into this dance workshop for a night of fun.
Tuesday, May 27
Embroidery & Cross Stitch Class | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Fabric Warehouse | $20 | Learn the basics of these needle crafts in a guided, hands-on class.
Surprise Storytime | 10 a.m. | Enchanted Fairytale Hollow | $5+ | A surprise character will pop in to read a story, followed by a special meet + greet and photo op.
Wednesday, May 28
Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Tampa Tarpons | 6:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $26+ | Treat yourself to a ticket to the ’34 Club for an all-you-can-eat feast as the Flying Tigers reel in the Tarpons.
Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles | 6:30 p.m. | Lake Mirror Auditorium | $35+ | Candles will be “Here, There, and Everywhere” at this multi-sensory musical experience featuring string renditions of the Beatles’ hits.
Saturday, May 31
Guided Hike | 9 a.m. | Se7en Wetlands | Free | Join in on this 3-mile trek where you’ll learn to identify the animal tracks you spot along the way.
Be an early-stage investor in this proven founder’s new venture
Presented by Pacaso
Pacaso’s platform offers easy purchase, ownership, and enjoyment of luxury vacation homes. | Photo by Pacaso
The wealthiest companies target the biggest markets — like Nvidia, skyrocketing ~200% higher in 2024 on the $214 billion AI market’s tailwind. That’s why investors like Pacaso.
Created by the founder behind a $120 million exit, Pacaso’s platform offers easy purchase, ownership, and enjoyment of luxury vacation homes. And their target market is worth $1.3 trillion.
If you’re heading back to Lakeland today from vacation, AAA recommends hitting the road home before 2 p.m. to avoid heavy traffic. The company predicted that 2.6 million Floridians would travel over the weekend, 95,000 more than last year. Good thing those I-4 congestion relief lanes recently opened. (WFLA)
Coming Soon
Sports fans, this one’s for you. Signage for an Academy Sports + Outdoors has popped up outside of the former Lakeland Antique Mall space. An opening timeline for the store — which will be the chain’s first in Polk County — is TBA, but applications are being accepted.
Community
The school year will wrap up this week in Polk County, but kids can still receive free breakfasts, lunches, and snacks all summer long through the state’s Summer BreakSpot program. Find your closest distribution center — there are 20+ in Lakeland alone. (LkldNow)
History
If these walls could talk. Uncover the story behind your home — from previous owners to what once occupied the land — in an interactive workshop on Friday, May 29, 5:30 p.m., at Lakeland Public Library’s Main branch. The workshop is free, but registration is required.
Number
996. That’s how many books one Lawton Chiles Middle School student collected for Little Bus Books’ No Covers program after hearing it was in dire need of more materials. Eighth grader Quinn collected the books through a community drive + her donations will be primarily distributed to Neighborhood Ministries summer campers.
Mansion Monday
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning property with your closest friends or family, this north Lakeland compound could make that dream a reality. Boasting three, 3-bedroom homes across 60+ acres of land, a family dinner or wine night with your besties could be just an ATV ride away.
Health
Lakeland Regional Health’s Freestanding Emergency Department‡ is now open in south Lakeland (at the corner of 540A and South Florida Avenue). This new location offers 24/7 care for all ages, including emergency radiology, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and full on-site lab services. Learn more.*
Finance
$2.80 per share is almost gone. Top firms like SoftBank have already invested in Pacaso, the startup disrupting a $1.3 trillion real estate market. Now, after 41% YoY gross profit growth, they recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker $PCSO. Until Thursday, May 29, you can invest for just $2.80/share.†‡‡*
Try This
Skip the calls — with our self-service ad portal, you’re just a few clicks away from showing off to the whole city. Advertising made so easy, it’s practically your new side hustle.
Happy Memorial Day, Lakeland. Today we are honoring the service of those no longer with us. If you plan be out and about, remember that city and county offices, plus libraries and banks are closed — but you can stop in to Veterans Memorial Park for a quiet moment of reflection.
‡This emergency department is a part of Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and is not an urgent care center. Please note that services provided here are billed at hospital emergency department rates, which may differ from those of an urgent care facility.
‡This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
}})
