Lake Wales says, “The newly renovated Park Avenue and Market Plaza are at the core of the ACE district.” | Photo via City of Lake Wales
Have you ever wished you could browse the downtown farmers market with a Vasco61 mint julep in hand? Or, how about grabbing mimosas at Cob & Pen to sip while antique shopping in Dixieland? That’s the idea behind a social district, and Lake Wales will be the first city in Polk County to bring it to life.
Lake Wales announced that its downtown Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) District will start up this fall. Visitors will be able to buy beer, wine, and cocktails from participating restaurants + bars and enjoy them at other spots within the ACE district. The goal? To drive nightlife, foot traffic, and economic growth within the downtown area.
Should Lakeland be the next city to implement a permanent social district? If so, where would you put it? Put yourself in the city manager’s chair and send in your thoughts below.
Asked
Asked
Should Lakeland establish a social district?
A. Yes, let’s follow Lake Wales’ lead. B. No, we’re better off without it. C. I don’t mind either way.
Polk County Legislative Delegation Public Meeting | 1-5 p.m. | Polk County Government Administration Building, Bartow | Free | Residents will address state representatives before the next legislative session.
Tour & Taste | 4-7 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Learn about hosting a wedding at BSP and mingle with local event vendors over light bites + drinks from the bar.
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Bowen Yard BINGO | 6 p.m. | Bowen Yard, Winter Haven | Free+ | Grab food from one of six restaurants and compete for five in a row.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Adult Ballet Class | Times vary | Ultimate Dance Center | $20+ | Take a single class, train for a month, or sign up for a full semester starting this week.
Friday, Aug. 15
Paint and Sip | 5-7:30 p.m. | Sunmed Your CBD Store Lakeland | Free | RSVP to create a work of art while trying free samples of Sunmed’s CBD wellness products.
Saturday, Aug. 16
BarkEasy | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Union Hall | $50+ | Raise money for Polk County Bully Project while dressed in your 1920s finest.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Jon Corneal’s 79th Birthday Show | 4 p.m. | Gram Parsons Derry Down, Winter Haven | $20 | Celebrate the legendary music career of this local artist with a show full of special guests + birthday cake.
This unforgettable weekend, happening Nov. 14-16, is full of education, exploration, and transformation. Don’t miss out on a chance to experience:
2,500 attendees
70+ speakers
100+ exhibitors
Attendees will dive into cutting-edge topics like metabolic empowerment, biohacking, mental resilience, sleep optimization, fitness, fasting, longevity, performance, and tools for thriving in today’s world.
$68 million. That’s the total cost of 33 capital improvement projects county staff recommend for Polk’s next budget. Among these are an agricultural center, emergency management equipment, and road + park improvements. The county commission’s next budget hearing is Monday, Sept. 8. (The Ledger)
Coming Soon
This November, we’re booked. Barnes & Noble will open its first Lakeland store in the Merchants Walk plaza, in the former Party City location. Psst — you don’t have to wait to build your fall reading list with these locally owned bookshops.
Plan Ahead
Bonnet Springs Park will host its Bienvenido a BSP! Hispanic Heritage Celebration again on Friday, Sept. 26 + Saturday, Sept. 27. New this year: $10 preferred parking will be offered inside the park. Grass lots outside the park gates and Citrus Connection shuttles will still be free.
Open
MINISO is now bringing maximum fun to the Lakeland Square Mall. The store opened last week, offering everything from Tamagotchi lip gloss and Barbie perfume to Disney keychains. Get a peek inside + find it in the mall near H&M.
Quoted
“Leadership Lakeland Class XLII brings together a sharp group of doers, thinkers, and community builders,” Class Chair Will Link said about this year’s crop of 28 members. The group will learn how to become better local leaders over the next nine months — see who made the cut.
Arts
Tickets are now on sale for the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra’s 60th season, starting on Thursday, Sept. 11. With Mark Thielen retiring after 24 years at the conductor’s stand, LSO will feature guest conductors before starting an interim conductor search in the spring. (The Ledger)
You don’t have to go through the hiring process alone. Through our Job Board, you can now get your job listing in front of thousands of our readers to find your dream hire. See for yourself, it’s free.
City
Seasonal
🌧️ Stock up before a storm
Forecasters have predicted an above-normal 2025 season, meaning around eight hurricanes. | Photo via Pexels
Hurricane season has been relatively quiet so far — but we’re coming up on peak season. It’s important to have a plan in place with enough food, water, cash, and supplies to last at least three days.
So, what should go in your hurricane kit? Each kit depends on you and your family’s personal needs, but we recommend starting with these select disaster preparedness items that are now permanently tax-free:
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.
Two things are back this week: me and school buses. Remember to take extra caution while driving this year, and keep those school bus stop arm cameras + future school zone speeding cameras in mind. This diagram always helps me remember when to stop on busy roads.
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