Lakeland’s swans won’t be the only royalty in town this week — the Miss Florida Scholarship Program is taking over the RP Funding Center.
The contest starts with preliminaries on Wednesday, June 25, leading up to the finals on Friday, June 27. Watch in person to see who will represent the Sunshine State at Miss America, or just keep an eye out for extra crowns around town.
Asked
Asked
How much tourism revenue did Miss Florida bring when it first moved to Lakeland?
A. $785,000 B. $1.25 million C. $1.6 million D. $2.4 million
Summer Storytime | 10-10:30 a.m. | Florida Air Museum | Free | Go on an aviation adventure with a geography-themed story, plus free access to the museum and playground.
Off The Wall SOUL Line Dancing Class | Coleman-Bush Building | $5 | Get off the wall and on the dance floor to learn line dances set to hip hop and pop songs.
Mosaic Night | 6:30 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $65 | Crack up at this art class where you can get crafty with 30+ tile colors.
Tuesday, June 24
Cancer Support Group: A Journey of Wellness | 5-6:30 p.m. | Hollis Cancer Center | Free | Learn exercises to stay moving, healthy, and smiling, then join a support group with others on a similar health journey.
Wednesday, June 25
Morning Mindfulness | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Draw inspiration from the lagoon during two outdoor painting sessions by the Boathouse at 9 and 10 a.m.
Thursday, June 26
Bilingual Conversational Meetup | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library | Free | Practice your English + Spanish with other Lakelanders through casual conversation.
Friday, June 27
Adult Ballet Workshop | Friday, June 27-Friday, July 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Ultimate Dance Center | $20+ | Get your dance skills on pointe in this class covering barre and ballet basics.
Drinks with the Director | 6-8 p.m. | The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | Free | Send in art history questions for outgoing museum director Dr. Alex Rich along with your RSVP.
Mulberry’s former Kingsford Elementary School will be transformed into a McKeel Academy charter school by the fall of 2026. It will be McKeel’s first location outside of Lakeland, with room for 414 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. (The Ledger)
Mansion Monday
With 8 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens (we think), the only thing bigger than this house is its personality. It’s decked out with a private playground and lake house outside, but it’s the character-filled movie theater and indoor pool you have to see to believe.
Seasonal
New season, new sign. It’s officially time for Cancers through Tuesday, July 22. This water sign is known for being loyal, empathetic, and somewhat emotional — if you’re a Cancer, we think Cleveland Heights would be your perfect neighborhood companion.
Sports
No. 14. That’s where the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park was listed on USA Today’s ranking of MLB ballparks, based on Yelp reviews. Not to brag,but Joker Marchant Stadium — the Tigers’ spring training home in Lakeland — has 4.0 stars, right behind Comerica’s 4.2.
Eat
Nature is healing. After skipping last year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest due to a contract dispute, Joey Chestnut will return to the 2025 competition. Check out these barbecue joints where you can get a hot dog locally this summer. (AP)
Stat
3.3%. That’s how much the price of bananas rose in May, according to Consumer Price Index data. The good news is that it’s watermelon season anyway, and you can find plenty at local farmers markets. And it could be worse — remember the $6.24 million banana duct taped to a wall? (Axios)
Lakeland Regional Health is proud to welcome Dr. Larry R. Padgett to the physician group. Now serving the Winter Haven community through the new Padgett Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine — providing expert care to keep you moving. Learn more.*
Number
62. That’s the age when homeowners qualify for a reverse mortgage to turn home equity into cash without monthly payments. See how it works and view Money’s list of best lenders with A+ BBB ratings and competitive pricing.*
Mini golf, arcade games, and more await. | Photo via Family Fun Center
Let us guess — we’re less than a month into summer break, and you’ve already run out of ideas for the kids + grandkids. Keep things fun with these family-friendly entertainment options that all ages can enjoy together.
Family Fun Center
Step inside for arcade games galore after you’ve putt-putted to your heart’s content on the mini-golf course.
Silver Moon Drive-In
Don your jammies and load up the car with cozy comforts before heading to this theater for a double feature — children under 4 get in free. Lakeland Escape Room
See if your family can beat the clock in games such as The Perfect Heist and Time Warp. They’re great for older kids + teens, and sure to challenge adults too.
Sim Boss
This gaming lounge has racing simulators, retro video games, and options for families to play together. Pro tip: There are also drinks available for purchase (including draft beer for grown-ups).
The No. 1 best-selling apparel item on Amazon and your new shoe of the summer: Crocs. If you haven’t tried them, Crocs are having a comeback, beloved for being lightweight, comfortable, and easy to slip on and off. See what the fuss is about.
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.
Last week, I asked you which fast food spots need to come to Lakeland. Reader TJ H. votes for McAlister’s Deli — a sandwich shop I love but haven’t seen in years — and Neva M. recommended Bojangles, which I’ve yet to try. Anyone up for a drive-thru road trip?
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