Find a complete listing of October and November events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
Lunch & Learn Lecture Series
Date: Tuesday, October 15
Venue: Polk County History Center, Bartow
- The museum invites guests to bring lunch and listen to a guest speaker on the third Tuesday every month.
- The October speaker and topic is: Dr. Paul Dosal on Cuba on Florida Connection.
Bloodhound Bash
Date: Thursday, October 17
Venue: Downtown Auburndale
- The City of Auburndale and Auburndale High School present the 2013 Bloodhound Bash, an event known as “The world’s largest pep rally”.
- The Bash will feature a parade and entertainment by The Imperial Sound of Auburndale High School, and high school clubs will be onsite vending food, drinks, and merchandise.
Paintball Sports Promotions World Cup
Date: Thursday, October 17 – Sunday, October 20
Venue: Fantasy of Flight, Polk City
- Over 250 teams and countless dealers from around the world will be traveling to Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida for the 2013 World Cup of Paintball, the largest paintball event in the United States.
Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival and Auction
Date: Friday, October 18 – Sunday, October 20
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
- The display of more than 600 show vehicles on and surrounding the restored 1920’s, art deco-inspired Lake Mirror promenade in downtown Lakeland, Florida provides one of the most scenic venues in the country.
Buckingham Terror
Date: Friday, October 18 – Thursday, October 31
Venue: Buckingham Avenue, Lakeland
- Tread with care as you encounter menacing scarecrows, ravenous livestock and the remaining Waterson family members at this Haunted House on Buckingham Avenue in Lakeland.
Boktoberfest
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Enjoy live entertainment, German food, craft beers, tree climbing and children’s activities and a plant sale.
Classify Your Collection Day
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Mulberry Phosphate Museum
- Guests can bring their personal fossil, mineral, and arrowhead collections to be classified and evaluated by a panel of experts, including celebrated paleontologist, Frank Garcia.
- There will also so be games, music, and face painting available as well as “Fork in the Road” food truck.
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Lake Silver, Winter Haven
- The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team (reestablished in 2012 by former theme park employees) performs a free show every third Saturday of every month.
Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Loyce E. Harpe Park, Mulberry
- Join Polk County Parks & Recreation to celebrate Halloween with a haunted hayride, carnival games, live entertainment, arts & crafts, contests (costume and pie eating), a kids zone with kiddie train and inflatable bounce houses, Rescue Road (vehicles and demos from Polk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Management), a trick or treat village, and more.
Pints for Paws Lakeland Beer Fest
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- Enjoy 99 different brands of beer as The Lakeland Center, Bernie Little Distributors and The Humane Society of Polk County present Pints for Paws at The Lakeland Beer Festival.
- Your event ticket includes three hours of unlimited beer samples presented by Bernie Little Distributors, a delicious soft pretzel, a souvenir pilsner sample cup and great live music.
Polk State College’s Annual FallFest
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Polk State College, Winter Haven
- Thousands trek to the campus each third Saturday in October to enjoy the event that features a craft show, the Kids Zone, music, police and EMS demonstrations, the Pumpkin Patch, food, the Haunted House, and more.
Van Fleet Trail Cycling Challenge
Date: Saturday, October 19
Venue: Polk City
- The Van Fleet Trail Cycling Challenge is an opportunity for cyclists to get out and learn more about the premier cycling trails of Central Florida.
- These include the General James A. Van Fleet Trail, the Polk City extension of the Van Fleet Trail, the TECO/Auburndale trail, and the newest trail, the Florida Polytechnic University Extension.
Polk County Bridal Exhibit & Marketplace
Date: Sunday, October 20
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- Polk County’s biggest bridal show will feature vendors, prizes, seminars, tastings, a fashion show, and more.
Masterworks Series
Date: Tuesday, October 22
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- The Imperial Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra, is comprised of 80 volunteer musicians who have made it their mission to entertain, educate and inspire audiences through enlightening performances of symphonic music.
- The orchestra presents a number of concerts each year, primarily at The Lakeland Center, but also at other venues throughout the area.
RECURRING EVENTS:
BeFly Bike Ghost Tours – Weekends through October 27 (Lakeland)
Brick-or-Treat – Weekends through October 27 ( LEGOLAND® Florida, Winter Haven)
CornFusion Corn Maze & Zombie Paintball – Weekends through October 27 (The Smith Family Ranch, Lakeland)
Sculptor Kelly Boehmer at The Loft Art Gallery – Through October 31 (The Loft Art Gallery, Lakeland)
Have Lens Will Travel: Photographs by Tom Mack – Through November 23 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Paintings of the Space Age – Through December 7 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
reGeneration2: Tomorrow’s Photographers Today – Through December 7 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Haines City Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly
Winter Haven Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Bartow Farmers Market – Saturdays weekly
Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market – Saturdays weekly
Good Health Fresh Goods & Crafts Market – First, second, third Saturdays monthly
Lake Wales Farmers Market – Second and fourth Saturdays monthly
Highland City Community Market – Third Saturday monthly
Mulberry Farmers Market – Third Saturday monthly
Saturday Night Rodeo – Saturdays weekly (Westgate River Ranch Resort, River Ranch)
Children’s Programming: Magical Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Thrilling Thursday and Fun Friday – Monday through Friday weekly (Explorations V Children’s Museum, Lakeland)