Support Us Button Widget

Small Business

Vendor tents line a downtown street filled with pedestrians at First Friday.
Events
Stack your calendar with monthly events around Lakeland
These events bring together your favorite vendors on the same day each month in nearby downtown areas and historic districts.
August 28, 2025 03:13 PM
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Shoppers walk through vendor tents at the downtown Lakeland Holiday Night Market
Business
Start seasonal shopping at these Lakeland holiday markets
Find a unique gift by local vendors, artists, and makers at these holiday-themed markets in and around Lakeland.
November 15, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Restaurant patrons speak with a waiter at their table in side The Peach House.
Business
Lakeland restaurateurs show support for ‘The Pepper Project’
Here’s how you can help the family of restaurant owner Jeannie Weaver-Lopez.
November 15, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A wintry background with snowflakes that reads "LALtoday's 2024 Gift Guide."
Culture
LALtoday’s 2024 holiday gift guide: 90+ gifts for everyone on your list
Including gifts for neighbors, foodies, significant others, homebodies, students, and gifts under $20.
November 8, 2024
 · 
Sarah Leonhardt
Pumpkins and plants on sidewalk outside of Scout & Tag storefront
Business
What’s open + closed on Thanksgiving in Lakeland
Find out where you can go on Thanksgiving Day, what’s closed this year, and where to find Thanksgiving dishes ahead of time.
November 7, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
City Editor Amelia and a friend pose with their paintings at Painting with a Twist
Business
Get crafty at these Lakeland creative spots
Flex your artistic muscles or let the experts lead you step by step through crafting classes.
November 5, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Glow in the dark axes and targets at Ax Caliber
Culture
Six ways to spend an hour in Lakeland
Get active, learn something, or treat yourself — here’s how you can make the most of just one hour around Lakeland.
October 29, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Cars line a street in downtown Lakeland, leaves are on the ground.
Culture
How to spend a fall day like the “Gilmore Girls” in Lakeland
Who says you have to go to New England to have an autumn worthy of the “Gilmore Girls”?
October 23, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
A hand holds a starfruit pastry in front of a paper bag with "Bandidas" written on it.
Food
Eat down the street: Edgewood Drive restaurants
Discover one of Lakeland’s hidden gems or try a local favorite restaurant for the first time on the next street in this series.
October 22, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A stormy sky with palm trees blowing in the wind and buildings in the background.
City
Save these numbers + resources for help after Hurricane Milton
From how to get on the debris pick-up list to where you can get clean water, keep these resources in mind for after the storm passes.
October 9, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
Lakeland entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses pitch their big ideas at Catapult's Launch Pitch Night for the chance to win up to $10,000 in funding.
Business
Meet the finalists for Launch Pitch Night at Catapult
These five entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for the chance to secure up to $10,000 in micro-grant funding.
October 3, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
Load More
The Buy

Shop The Buy
Latest News
More from LALtoday
LAL_west_pipkin_road_widening_APR2025
City
Decide what’s next for Polk transportation
Join the Polk Transportation Planning Organization’s Envision 2050 meeting to help plan the future of local transportation.
June 3, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
People attend a Polk Pride event with a rainbow Polk Pride FL banner in the background
Culture
Polk Pride is back: Here’s the 2025 event roundup
Check out the event lineup, from family-friendly events in the park to interfaith celebrations and dance parties.
June 2, 2025
 · 
Staff
Palm trees blowing in hard wind in the foreground, with a dark cloudy sky and the Summit Building in downtown Lakeland in the background.
City
Preparing for hurricane season in Lakeland
Hurricane season officially begins on Sunday, June 1 and will run through Sunday, Nov. 30. We’ve rounded up everything you can do to be hurricane-ready in Lakeland.
May 30, 2025
 · 
Rilee Delgado
Ducks and birds on grass in foreground with Lake Mirror and Lakeland skyline
New to Lakeland
What’s new and coming soon to Lakeland
As Lakeland continues to grow, we’re keeping an eye on upcoming developments and recently opened businesses.
May 30, 2025
 · 
Staff
Screen Shot 2020-05-05 at 4.28.47 PM
Experience
Museums in Lakeland
Whether you’re a history buff, art aficionado, or aviation fan, these nine museums around Lakeland have it all.
May 30, 2025
 · 
Staff
Two hands toast with a glass of margarita and a glass of sangria on an outdoor patio.
Food
Celebration-worthy Lakeland restaurants
From graduations to rehearsal dinners to corporate parties, we’re sharing the top reader recommended spots for celebration-worthy eateries.
May 29, 2025
 · 
Amelia Grooms
Screen Shot 2020-01-28 at 9.02.23 PM
Culture
Polk County’s historic theatres: Smelling bananas, Wayne Brady, and 35 cents
Look back on the first places to catch a movie on the big screen or see a live performance at these historic theatres around Polk County.
May 29, 2025
 · 
Kaylee Holland
A swan glides near lily pads on a lake in Lakeland, Florida, with city buildings and trees visible in the background.
Culture
How well do you remember this month’s top Lakeland news?
Take our interactive quiz to test your local news knowledge, and keep reading LALtoday to up your score.
May 28, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The sun setting over a baseball field.
Sports
“Strike Out Hunger” at a Lakeland Flying Tigers game
The Mosaic Company has partnered with the Flying Tigers to help end hunger this season. Here’s how you can watch the initiative in action.
May 28, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A large dog on a leash sits on a bench near Lake Mirror in Lakeland, FL
Experience
Pamper your pet at these Lakeland spots
We’re paws-itive you’ll find a new park, pet supply store, or groomer to take care of your four-legged friends.
May 23, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson