This weekend is packed with Friday the 13th and Father’s Day fun. | Photo by @keelfarmsfl
The Lakeland area is jam-packed with events these next few days, from pop-up markets to fundraisers to community celebrations. Here are a few we recommend hitting up:
Friday the 13th Vendor Pop-Up | Friday, June 13 | 5-10 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Price of purchase | Try your luck at this themed vendor market that will also feature wine and cider from the farm.
The Wizard & Mic: A Broadway Musical Karaoke Night | Friday, June 13 | 7 p.m. | Union Hall | $10+ | Don’t throw away your shot to perform your favorite songs from musicals while sipping Broadway-themed cocktails.
Pitties & Pearls | Friday, June 13 | 6-10 p.m. | Adams Estate, Lake Alfred | $100+ | Raise funds for Polk County’s pups with a silent auction, casino games, and a concert by The Sofa Kings.
Father’s Day Rod Run | Saturday, June 14 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Christina Park | Free+ | Register to show off your vehicle or browse around while taking in tunes from a live DJ, along with games, food, and raffles.
Polk Pride: Pride in the Park | Saturday, June 14 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Munn Park | Free+ | Polk Pride’s biggest event of the year will feature 100+ vendors and plenty of entertainment.
2025 Juneteenth Celebration | Saturday, June 14 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Rueben Williams Sports Complex, Winter Haven | Free+ | Join this lively celebration that will include live performances, a vendor market, and a zone just for kids.
Wedding Venue Pop-Up | 5-8 p.m. | Black Swan Venue | Free | Connect with wedding and event experts at this downtown hidden gem.
Father’s Day Superhero Pizza Party | 6-7:30 p.m. | Enchanted Fairytale Hollow | $25+ | Spider-Man and a mystery hero will swing in for a meet + greet while families celebrate together.
“Anything Goes” | Friday, June 13-Sunday, June 22 | Times vary | The Missing Piece Theatre, Mulberry | $16+ | These local actors will be “Easy to Love” as they bring this classic Cole Porter musical to life.
Saturday, June 14
Summer Naturalists | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Get your dig on with hands-on activities exploring fossils + create your very own fossil replica to take home.
Kick Off Summer | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Tennessee Jane | Price of purchase | Start the season with tinsel hair by Pixie’s Enchanted, plus new styles + a surprise hat promo in the boutique.
Yoga and Soundbath | 9:10-10 a.m. | The Juice Box Cafe | $10+ | Experience a gentle flow and soothing sound bath with Meesh in Motion, then stick around for discounted cafe menu items — pre-registration is recommended.
Paws to Read | 10-11 a.m. | Bartow Library | Free | Share a story with some pups + earn a free book to take home.
Sunday, June 15
Paws, Pints & Pops | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge | $20+ | Honor dad with 30 minutes in the cat room, a pint of beer, and a sandwich.
Donuts with Dads | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Little Lake Play | $20 | Families with little Lakelanders can play and enjoy treats together in honor of Father’s Day.
Father’s Day Special | 12-10 p.m. | Family Fun Center | Price of purchase | Father figures get a free round of mini golf with a paying guest, today only.
Add caffeine to your calendar, because Foxtail Coffee has announced its opening date. Baristas will start brewing on Monday, June 30 at the Shops at Lake Wire, right next to Prospect Lake Wire apartments. Visit on the first day for special perks.
Seasonal
See you next year, Light Up BSP. Bonnet Springs Park announced it will take a year off from the popular holiday event, bringing it back in 2026. While we’ll miss our strolls through the lights this winter, we’re already shivering with anticipation for what’s to come when it returns.
Watch
Reececliff Family Diner and Silver Moon Drive-In are stepping into the spotlight. The two Lakeland staples will be featured in “Our Vanishing Americana: Florida” on WEDU Monday, June 23 at 9 p.m. Up for a drive? See the episode tonight at 6 p.m. during a screening at Feeding Tampa Bay. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Development
Here they grow again. Bowen Yard in Winter Haven will expand into four additional buildings by spring of next year. Leasing company Six/Ten LLC is now seeking tenants for the new spaces — which one do you want to see snag a spot?
Community
Talbot House Ministries will open its Center for Women and Children on Thursday, July 31. The new facility at 320 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Winter Haven will be the organization’s first to offer 24/7 emergency shelter for single women and mothers with children under 18.
Travel
Lakeland International Airport is partnering with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which helps visitors with non-visible disabilities, such as autism, diabetes, and narcolepsy, receive extra support when traveling. Pick up complimentary lanyards at the Visitor Information Desk or Airport Administration Offices for support.
Biz
Pastry pop-ups? Say less, we’re in. Meraki Bakehouse will be slinging sweet and savory treats at both Pour Bear Coffee and Concord Coffee tomorrow, June 14 + Sunday, June 15 from opening until 1 p.m. We even hear that the carrot cake is making a special appearance.
Number
300+. That’s how many small businesses, manufacturers, and local companies have posted jobs on the LALtoday Job Board. Try it for yourself. Post unlimited job listings for free + get connected with top local talent.
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Things are blooming in Lakeland — and with blooms, come bees. Between pollinating a third of the food we eat and 80% of the world’s flowering plants, bees are vital to our agriculture and way of life as we know it.
Thanks to its relatively low investment + maintenance requirements, environmental benefits, and potential for honey production, beekeeping is becoming an increasingly popular hobby.
While the City of Lakeland does not have any designated regulations around beekeeping, beekeepers are required to register each of their colonies annually with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The University of Florida Honey Bee Lab offers a wealth of educational information on how to start and maintain bee colonies. You can also join Ridge Beekeepers Association’s monthly meetings to get advice + connect with fellow beekeepers — their next one is this Monday, June 16 at the UF/IFAS Extension in Bartow, 7 p.m.
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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.
Happy Friday the 13th, Lakeland. While I’m not superstitious — just a little ‘stitious — I do find myself watching my back a little more on days like these. I respect the love folks have for the day, but I’ll keep my consumption of horror media limited to reading up on some of Polk County’s haunted landmarks.
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