Tracy McGrady, Gram Parsons, Faith Evans, and Amar’e Stoudemire have shone in sports and song. | Photos by Keith Allison, Reprise Records, and Timothy M. Moore via Wikimedia Commons
These celebrities are putting Polk County on the map — or should we say, the globe?
This online tool shows the “most notable” person born in a city based on rankings of 2.29 million influential people, according to Wikipedia + Wikidata info. Let’s dig into Polk’s top stars.
Faith Evans
This singer was born in Lakeland in 1973 and went on to sell 20 million records with her signature R&B style. Evans sang on the 1997 chart-topper “I’ll Be Missing You,” a tribute to her late husband, The Notorious B.I.G., and it won the Grammy for “Best Rap Performance.”
Tracy McGrady
“T-Mac” got his start in Bartow in 1979 before becoming a first-round NBA draft pick in 1997. He was named an NBA All-Star seven times on basketball teams like the Houston Rockets + Toronto Raptors. He opened a short-lived restaurant, HomeCourt, in Lakeland in 2021.
Cancer Support Group: A Journey of Wellness | 5-6:30 p.m. | Hollis Cancer Center | Free | Learn exercises to stay moving, then join a support group with others on a similar health journey.
Molly’s Musicians Showcase | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub | Free+ | Take the stage or support local musicians at this open mic night in downtown Lakeland.
Wednesday, July 23
Lakeland Learn & Grow: Trivia Night | 6-7 p.m. | Kelly Recreation Complex | Free | Branch out to show off your plant knowledge and leaf with prizes.
Teachers Zumba Night | 7-8 p.m. | Just Dance Courtyard Studio | $5 | Calling all educators to the dance floor — shake it up before the school year begins in this dance fitness class.
Thursday, July 24
AGB Thursdays | 4-8 p.m. | The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | Free | The museum is staying up late with open galleries and free programming.
Friday, July 25
Golden Hour Wine Tasting | 6-8 p.m. | Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale | $45 | Cue the Kacey Musgraves — taste a curated selection of wines and enjoy a complimentary pour of your favorite.
Saturday, July 26
Lakeland Anime Fest | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | RP Funding Center | $20+ | Anime, manga, and pop culture buffs will find something that speaks to their fandom here.
The Hurricane Guide also includes key tips for safe generator usage. | Photo provided by Lakeland Electric
Hurricane season is here, but so is Lakeland Electric’s 2025 Hurricane Guide. Even as seasoned Floridians, we can always do better to keep our home safe.
Here are a few easy steps you can take:
Build an emergency kit
Restock your emergency kit now (before the panic buying) with essentials like bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and batteries.
Follow Lakeland Electric on the app, social media, or at lakelandelectric.com for power restoration updates (including an interactive map) and other important info.
Secure outdoor furniture
Less debris means quicker cleanup time — and less chance of damage.
While electric crews are trained year-round in emergency response, what we each do at home can make a real difference in our community’s preparedness + recovery efforts.
Attention, shoppers — according to The Ledger, the Lake Miriam Publix is expected to reopen on Thursday, Nov. 13. The “prototype” store has been closed since last summer for a complete rebuild. When it reopens, it will have more fresh food stations, a Pours coffee bar, and mezzanine seating.
Transit
You can squeeze in more time to enjoy late-night dining + entertainment thanks to The Squeeze’s new extended hours. Starting Friday, Aug. 22, Citrus Connection will keep its free downtown transit service running until 2 a.m. on weekends. (The Ledger)
Ranked
Here comes the boom. Lakeland ranked No. 8 on LendingTree’s list of “America’s Biggest Boomtowns.” According to the study, Lakeland saw an 8.6% population increase from 2021 to 2023, as well as a 15.1% workforce increase.
Health
The results of Polk Vision’s 2025 Polk County Health Assessment are in, combining feedback from residents + statistical data. Polk Vision will use the data gathered to tackle priority health topics — the top three are access to health services, behavioral health, and chronic disease.
Arts
Florida’s Department of State has changed its grant funding application process, and only four Polk institutions will receive their full requests. Bok Tower Gardens + the Florida Children’s Museum will each receive $150,000, Theatre Winter Haven will get $119,500, and Lakeland Community Theatre earned $90,000. (The Ledger)
Biz
Brew Hub is getting newly dubbed. The biz announced that it will soon be known as Great Southern Beverages, and it will also roll out a fresh look at its tasting room and beverage packaging facility on South Frontage Road. Stop by Wednesday-Sunday for live music + food trucks.
Lakelander
Italy got a taste of Lakeland when Dr. Martha Placeres, Chair of Florida Southern College’s Music Department, was invited to perform with Andrea Bocelli last month. The world-renowned tenor performed two concerts in the ancient city of Pompeii with Placeres on strings in the orchestra — listen in.
“Ain’t no way Lakeland mall is getting a MINISO?” said the account behind this stunned TikTok post — but it’s true. A MINISO store is now in the works at the Lakeland Square Mall.
The Chinese brand is known for its budget-friendly household items + collabs with brands like Disney and Sanrio, so it could be the new spot for retail therapy without breaking the bank. An opening date is TBA, but the store is now hiring.
Meet the anywhere, anytime outfit — your go-to look to finish out the summer. Grab the complete outfit below for under $150:
👖 These loose + lightweight wide-leg pants keep you cool and chic.
👚 Pair them with this ribbed knit tank for a sleeveless look that’s still stylish.
🩴 Cushionaire’s No. 1 best-selling cork footbed sandals are comfy and walkable.
💎 These No. 1 best-selling hypoallergenic huggie earrings feature cute gem studs.
👝 Top it all off with a chic woven clutch that works for summer days or nights.
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.
Have you ever run into someone famous in Polk County? Several call Lakeland home, but we’ve yet to cross paths. Tell me about your celebrity sightings so I can count myself one less degree of separation away from the stars.
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