TGIF: Spend a perfect weekend in Swan City

Night life, live performances, happy hours, and more — You can’t go wrong with a Lakeland weekend.

A swan swimming across Lake Morton at sunset

Our perfect weekend always includes a stop by Lake Mirror.

Photo via @cathyannstokes

Table of Contents

TGIF, Lakeland. Don’t get us wrong — we love the occasional lazy weekend — but if you’re looking for a weekend to remember, check out these go-to recommendations that go beyond our community events calendar:

Friday

Two cocktails are shown on a table, one pink and one yellow.

Spicy or sweet, Maritime’s got a drink for every palette.

Photo by LALtoday

Listen live

  • Swan Brewing boasts live music, local beer, and rotating food trucks.
  • Venture just beyond the city limits for live music at Bowen Yard. Pro tip: Grab a beverage from the full bar at Maritime to sip on while you listen.

Cheers

  • Stop by one of Lakeland’s bars, breweries, or restaurants for happy hour deals.
  • Tea, kombucha, kava, and more — enjoy a zero-proof bev at one of these establishments serving mocktails.

Saturday

A wide shot of the Crenshaw Canopy Walk at Bonnet Springs Park.

Take a moment for gratitude among the treetops on the Crenshaw Canopy Walk.

Photo by LALtoday

Saturday staples

Get outside

Sunday

Four white plates sit on a brown wooden table. Two contain two slices of French toast while the other two contain scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage links.

When it comes to a great brunch deal, you can’t beat the “French Toast Special” at Cozy Oaks.

Photo by @thelaltoday

Calling all foodies

  • Order up your favorite plate at one of Lakeland’s best brunch spots.
  • Beat the heat or lean into cooler weather with a scoop from one of these Swan City ice cream shops.
  • No “Sunday scaries” for you — burn the late-night oil at one of these local eateries open after dark.

Blood pumpin

More from LALtoday
Get a rare look inside some of Lakeland’s most historic homes on this walking tour of the Lake Morton neighborhood.
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.
Show off your Swan City smarts in a new game where you’ll guess the location of different swans in Lakeland. Be the quickest to guess correctly for a newsletter feature.
If you’re feeling eager to clean out those closets, garages, and storage sheds, consider donating your gently used items to these community organizations making a difference in our city.
This new shop offers popular book releases, antique home goods, and the cutest shop dog who’s ready to cuddle up and read with you.
Take a bite out of the local citrus industry’s history with a self-guided tour of labels found around Polk County.
This year’s March Madness NCAA Tournament will feature experienced players from Lakeland and Winter Haven. Here’s when to catch their games.
We’re climbing out of the dugout and onto the diamond as we uncover the history of this iconic sports complex.
There are now two places downtown to shop for East of These’s clothing, accessories, shoes, and gifts.
Is this your dream home? If so, make your offers before the upcoming deadline.