Is five months too early to set up our chairs for the Lakeland Christmas Parade? | Photo by LALtoday
With excessive heat warnings becoming the norm + more rain in the forecast than snow, these Christmas in July events are just the thing to make spirits bright.
Deck the halls... with the decor you’ll create at Picassoz. The art studio brought out its holiday pieces for walk-ins to paint today.
Check your list twice... and start shopping before the holiday rush. Tri-County Human Services hosts its Christmas in July market with 30+ vendors (and Santa Claus) at the Lake Mirror Auditorium tomorrow, July 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Keel Farms kicks off the seasonal shopping tomorrow night from 5 to 9 p.m. — bring a toy donation for No More Umbrellas to get one free drink.
Have a cup of cheer... with a LKLD SantaCon meetup tomorrow from 2 to 6 p.m. at Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub. Then, plan ahead for Linksters’ Christmas-themed Customer Appreciation Party on Wednesday, July 30 at 5 p.m.
Film Friday | 2-4 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library | Free | Only a supervillain would miss this free screening of “Despicable Me 4.”
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.
Disney’s “High School Musical” | Friday, July 25-Sunday, July 27 | Times vary | Harrison School for the Arts | $22 | Getcha head in the game for this musical performance by With Love Productions.
Saturday, July 26
Back to School Bash | 9 a.m. | Polk County Sheriff’s Office | Free | Grab free backpacks + stock up on school supplies, courtesy of PCSO.
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.
Lakeland Vintage Market | 12-5 p.m. | Munn Park | Price of purchase | It’s the first edition of this market featuring vintage finds, handmade jewelry, custom clothing, and local art.
Sunday, July 27
Jazz + Brunch | 12-2 p.m. | Venue 1890, Winter Haven | $50 | Reserve a spot to indulge in brunch by Our Noire Kitchen and live jazz music.
Sunday Crafternoon | 1-3 p.m. | Rose Dynasty Center | Free | Work on your own arts + crafts projects alongside others, or use the provided supplies to start something new.
“Catch Me If You Can” | 2 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre | $26+ | Catch LCT’s final performance of this high-flying musical comedy “live in living color.”
Monday, July 28
Necklace Making Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $45 | Sip Keel & Curley wine while crafting a unique piece of jewelry — bead there or be square.
The historic building at 701 N. Florida Ave., built as a furniture store in 1925, was slated for demolition until local developer Gregory Fancelli set his sights on it. He plans to purchase and renovate it, and floated an idea for food retail — maybe even a Trader Joe’s. (The Ledger)
Traffic
Driving US Highway 27 near I-4 could get easier, due to a slew of road projects funded at the county, state, and federal levels. Projects include a widening of Deen Still Road, interstate flyovers, and road connections near Amazon facilities in Davenport. (The Ledger)
Cause
Fabric Warehouse is a well-known spot for quilting supplies or sewing lessons, but it’s also a hub for the Ladies of the Lakes Quilt Guild. Bring your sewing machine on the second Saturday of each month to join in on classes or projects to benefit local charities. (LkldNow)
Edu
Florida Poly and the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine will soon launch a program where you can earn a bachelor’s degree in two years before earning a four-year osteopathic medicine degree. The fast-track program will be limited to 20 high-achieving students per year.
Number
1,200+. That’s how many participants have gone through Peace River Center’s Club Success, which just celebrated 20 years. “Club members” in the mental illness recovery program work alongside Peace River Center staff to strengthen workplace skills and transition into employment.
Plan Ahead
If you’re planning a wedding or work in events, check out Bonnet Springs Park’s upcoming Tour & Taste events. Each Tuesday afternoon in August, the park will host a free experience in the Events Center where you can see a wedding set-up + meet vendors over light refreshments.
Eat
Weekend mornings don’t hit the same without a sweet treat. Good thing Meraki Bakehouse is popping up tomorrow, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Pour Bear + Concord Coffee. Place a pre-order to guarantee your fave treats are waiting — the Holy Cannoli croissants are our go-to.
Giveaway
Have you entered our Storm Season Giveaway in partnership with Lakeland Electric? There are still four days left to grab your chance to win a generator and get prepared for storm season. Fill out this 30-second form to enter.*
Fact or Fiction
The color of your car impacts your car insurance rate. Fact or fiction? Luckily for Nicki Minaj, this is fiction. Still, rates can change for other reasons, so experts advise shopping around regularly. See if you could save with this quick questionnaire.*
Read
Tangle is a rare political newsletter that doesn’t take sides — it lays them out. Every day, it delivers balanced reporting on major political stories, minus the bias. Subscribe for free.*
Category
Eat
🍔 Which Polk city does burgers the best?
We also asked for your favorite burger joints, and S&L Restaurant was the talk of the town. | Photo by LALtoday
No competition here. When we asked you this last week, Lakeland came out on top with a whopping 75% of the votes. Now it’s time to put it to the real test by voting for your Polk County Burger Week all-stars.
There are only three days left to try as many special menu items as possible at 50+ eateries across the county. Cast your vote by Sunday, July 27 in categories like best buns, cheesiest burger, and best service/experience.
Amazon’s deals are still rolling, and we’re here for it. Shop more picks while the sales last:
📱 Shop 15% off a MagSafe portable charger that’s sleek, slim, and comes in light pink and lavender.
🍚 If you cook rice, oatmeal, or quinoa almost daily, Cosori’s 4.8-star rated grains cooker is 10% off for a limited time.
💺 Upgrade your home office chair for a high-back leather version while it’s 38% off.
📹 Snag 44% off a like-new Ring stick-up camera that can be installed inside or out.
📚 Get a like-new version of Kindle’s latest model, the Paperwhite, for 26% off.
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.
It’s a weekend of “lasts” downtown. Don’t miss the final Lakeland Farmers Curb Market tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. before its August hiatus. While you’re there, head to Ax-Caliber for its last day of operation. It’s open from 12 to 11 p.m.
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