With a week full of events, there’s something for everyone. | Photo via Polk Pride FL
“InTENtionally Proud” — that’s the theme of this year’s Polk Pride events in honor of the organization’s 10th anniversary, happening June 7-14. Honor the LGBTQ+ community by joining these events around Swan City throughout Pride Month. Kick-Off Party
The festivities begin this Saturday, June 7 at this brunch at Union Hall featuring drinks and drag performances from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Pride in Faith
Local faith leaders and guest speakers will come together at Beacon Hill Fellowship to share their perspectives + experiences. This free event takes place on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m.
Pride in the Park
Polk Pride’s biggest event of the year takes place in Munn Park on Saturday, June 14. Drop in from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet dozens of vendors and enjoy plenty of entertainment. This event is family-friendly and open to all.
Your Central Florida Lawn | 12-1 p.m. | Lake Crago Recreational Center | Free | Join the City of Lakeland and UF/IFAS Extension Polk County to learn turf-tastic techniques for keeping your lawn healthy this summer.
Chicago Divas | Times vary | Historic Ritz Theatre, Winter Haven | $35 | If you leave me now, you’ll miss out on this all-female tribute to the band Chicago.
Wednesday, June 4
Summer Kids Crochet Club | 12-1 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library | Free | Kids ages 9-17 can get hooked on crocheting with weekly crafting sessions.
The Big Run | 5:30 p.m. | Fleet Feet | Free+ | Celebrate Global Running Day with a fun run around Lakeside Village, followed by an after-party with music, drinks, snacks, and raffles.
Thursday, June 5
Blowdry Bar Grand Opening | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Establish 37 Blowdry Bar | Free+ | Be blown away with custom beverages, mini manis, and custom hats at this new hairstyling spot.
The Reserve Book Club | 6:15-7:30 p.m. | Kelly Branch Library | Free | You’re in for a thriller — this month’s pick is “All the Colors of the Dark” by Chris Whitaker.
Friday, June 6
“People and Places of Polk County” Photography Show | 5-8 p.m. | Destroyer Media, Winter Haven | Free | See which local photos were selected for the June issues of Haven and LKLD Magazines, plus meet the photographers behind them.
Lindsay Garritson | 7-9 p.m. | Harrison School for the Arts | Free | The Swan City Piano Festival continues with this internationally renowned pianist who has graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center.
Saturday, June 7
Family Fun Day | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Early Learning Coalition of Polk County | Free | Families can travel to a land far, far away in this storybook-themed celebration featuring face painting, character meet and greets, balloon art, and more.
Spin and Sip Saturday | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Z’s Teas | Price of purchase | Bring your favorite vinyl records to listen to while enjoying all-you-can-drink tea.
City commissioners unanimously voted yesterday to accept a $125,000 grant from the American Public Power Association. The grant funding — which will be matched by Lakeland Electric — will be used to study the viability of existing land sites for new power technologies, including nuclear power. (The Ledger)
Number
$72.1 billion. That’s the estimated taxable value for all of Polk County’s properties combined, according to Polk County Property Appraiser Neil Combee. The value is an 8.8% increase compared to last year, with new construction of multi-family and single-family homes alone contributing $2.8 billion in taxable value.
Traffic
Slow your roll. Yesterday, the Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved the installation of speed detection cameras around several Lakeland elementary, middle, and high schools. Once installed, drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph during designated hours will be fined $100.
Opening
Inklings Book Shoppe has set a tentative opening date for its new location in Dixieland, formerly the home of Cheatwood Chiropractic. Owners Finley and Carmen Walker aim to open the shop on Tuesday, July 1, pending final approval from the Lakeland City Commission at the Monday, June 16 meeting. (LkldNow)
Coming Soon
Here’s some sweet news. First spotted by Lakeland Retro, a new dessert destination is coming soon to the former Scream’n Tuna space downtown. Lakeland Treats & Trinkets plans to offer treats such as ice cream, coffee, and croissanwiches. An opening date is TBA.
Lakelander
There’s a new CEO in town. Meet TJ Wright, the 28-year-old Lakelander appointed to steer the YMCA of West Central Florida. In addition to Lakeland Family YMCA’s multi-million dollar renovation, Wright said he hopes to add new programming, classes, and club sports to the Y in the future. (LkldNow)
Cause
Speaking of the YMCA, Lakeland Regional Health is partnering with the organization to “stuff the bus” and collect school supplies for Polk County students + teachers. See where the big yellow bus will be parked throughout the month. Spoiler alert: it’ll be at Lakeland Regional Medical Center today, 12-7 p.m.
Stat
More than 20%. That’s the percentage of Lakeland’s population that is made up of older adults. Nonprofit collaborative Lakeland Senior Hub is leveraging this data to raise $100,000 for a dedicated senior center in Lakeland after the city pledged a matching donation last year. Donate here. (Bay News 9)
Transit
Wheels up — Citrus Connection’s Summer of Safety program is back in action. Thanks to a sponsorship from New Beginnings High School, students ages 12-18 can ride Citrus Connection’s buses for free with a valid ID through Friday, Aug. 8.
Active
With Orangetheory announcing the closure of its Lakeland location at the end of the month, CycleDELIC is stepping in to help. Former Orangetheory members can comment on this post from the spin studio to receive two rides for just $8.
Seasonal
Hurricane season officially began on Sunday, June 1 — and so did National Garden Week. Check out these tips from the City of Lakeland to effectively prepare your outdoor areas for the season to prevent damage, preserve water, and protect your flora.
If you didn’t win our euphoria2025 Giveaway, don’t worry. While many euphoria2025 events are already sold out, there are still plenty of opportunities to indulge in the festivities. See the full lineup.*
Number
3. That’s how many minutes it takes to learn AI skills with Superhuman AI, a newsletter filled with AI how-tos, tools, and news. Subscribe for free.*
Post of the Day
June is officially here, meaning summer drinks are back at many of Lakeland’s local coffee shops, including the Cereal Milk Shaken Espresso. This returning seasonal concoction at Black & Brew features house-made cereal oat milk, espresso, and simple syrup + is topped off with cereal marshmallows. What’s your go-to summer drink?
Keep your pet healthy, happy, and pampered with these top-rated products:
🐾 Vet-approved probiotic chews that support your furry friend’s gut and immune health.
💧 This no spill water bowl that’s splash-proof, non-slip, and easy to clean.
🦷 Tartar and plaque-removing dental cleaning powder that can be mixed into your pet’s kibble.
💅 An efficient and precise nail grinder with a handy LED light and three speed levels.
🐱 A rechargeable automatic feeder with customizable feeding schedules + portion sizes.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
While I’ve got Lakeland’s coffee shops on the brain, I’ve been loving the “I mean I could, but why would I want to?” trend, which encourages people to share something they simply cannot stop doing. And for me, it’s spending money at Lakeland’s local coffee shops — hands down. Get our guide to Swan City’s coffee scene.
}})
