The yard sale route cuts right through Lake Wales’ newly redesigned downtown area. | Photo via City of Lake Wales
Yard sales as far as the eye can see. This Saturday, Nov. 1, shop the 39-Mile Scenic Highway Yard Sale to find treasures from Haines City to Frostproof.
There are six official stops along the Ridge Scenic Highway, including three in Lake Wales. Between official locations, pull over to shop from the other vendors you see.
The yard sales last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but we recommend making a full day out of it by exploring Lake Wales. Here’s how we would spend the day after shopping ‘til we’ve dropped.
First, perk up with an iced latte from The Ranch Coffeehouse, then book it to Bok Tower Gardens. Pro tip: Finish your yard sale crawl early to catch the second “singing” bell tower performance at 3 p.m.
Nearby, you’ll find a newly redesigned downtown area. It’s filled with quaint places to pop into at your leisure — including thrift + vintage stores if you missed something on your shopping list.
A. A government agent who surveyed the land B. Edward Bok’s country of origin C. The reigning Princess of Wales in 1911 D. A type of pine tree native to the Lake Wales Ridge
Explore cultural identity through poetry at the Florida Lecture Series
Presented by Florida Southern College
The Florida Lecture Series highlights speakers across disciplines including history, sociology, anthropology, literature, and art. | Photo provided by Florida Southern College
Remember the apartment complex planned for the Oak Street parking lot? The City of Lakeland says developer Onicx has not paid for the $1.83 million site yet, nor paid for closing date extensions since December. The city is planning further discussions before deciding whether to cancel the contract. (The Ledger)
Civic
Walk-in voting for Lakeland’s municipal election is available this week at the Polk County Government Center at 930 E. Parker St. Polls are open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Friday before reopening for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Sports
Paddles up. Professional pickleballers will compete in the Carvana PPA Tour’s Veolia Lakeland Open from Tuesday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Beerman Family Tennis Center. Registration is open for amateur players to play on the same courts as pros like Anna Leigh Waters + Tyson McGuffin.
Number
7,000+. That’s how many orders Polk County Toys for Tots has already received before this holiday season. Last year, the chapter donated more than 100,000 toys solely with volunteer help. Sign up to pitch in at the Auburndale warehouse before toy distribution begins Saturday, Nov. 1. (Fox 13 News)
Biz
Winter Haven’s own Kris Dehnert hit a home run when he started his business, Dugout Mugs. Since first creating a drinking mug out of a baseball bat in 2017, his company has made $55 million in sales. The licensed creations would make great holiday gifts for baseball fans. (The Ledger)
Lakelander
Tyler Davis of Saunders Real Estate is representing Lakeland on the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. He was made president of the commercial real estate firm last year and helped it through a rebrand + expansion.
Arts
Artists of all kinds can find a place to create at Plant City’s Red Calliope Gallery. By day, you may find a local painter at work through a window. By night, it’s a cabaret for dancers and singers to strut their stuff. Catch the next show. (WFTS)
Correction
Yesterday, we incorrectly shared that events like the Green Bean Snap and Thanksgiving meal deliveries would be hosted by Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. These are hosted by Volunteers in Service to the Elderly, and sign-ups are open now. There are also many ways to get involved with LVIM year-round.
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Experience
City Guide
🎃 Haul-oween
Our first stop would be 360 Unlimited for a vintage piece. | Screenshot via Google Maps
Still haven’t figured out your Halloween costume? Unless you’re planning on doing the “Time Warp,” these vintage + thrift stores can help you create a last-minute disguise that’s one-of-a-kind.
360 Unlimited
Head to Dixieland for wall-to-wall vintage clothing and accessories to create your look, whether you’re looking to match a character or coming up with your own for the night.
Lakeland Antique Mall
Find costume pieces from every decade in this mall’s many vendor stalls. If you want to go big, consider buying a prop from Halloween Horror Nights to round out your party decor.
Goodwill Lakeland Superstore
Find a huge selection of new costumes and pieces to build your own in the Halloween section right by the entrance.
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.
Did you correctly guess our newsletter sister cities yesterday? Meet Maria, our editor in sister city Charlotte, NC. She’s visiting Lakeland, so we coworked at Pressed yesterday + had lunch at Nineteen61 with former LALtoday editor Rilee. If you fly from LAL to Concord/Charlotte, be sure to check out CLTtoday’s guides.
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