Get ready for a variety of upcoming events in Central Florida this fall and winter! Over the next few months, sports from soccer, softball, and baseball to paintball, running and shooting will take place throughout Polk County. We’ve highlighted some of these events to ensure that you won’t miss them, so take the time, and mark your calendars with the upcoming dates. For more details and a list of all sporting events, please visit CentralFloridaSports.com.
SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
ISA World Series
Dates: Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22
Venue: Auburndale Softball Complex; DiamondPlex, Winter Haven; Southwest Complex, Lakeland; Westside Park, Lakeland
Details: The Independent Softball Association will host their C, D, & E World Series in Polk County over the three-day weekend. More than 80 qualifying adult softball teams from all across the United States are expected to travel to Polk County for ISA’s biggest adult tournament of the year.
US IPSC Nationals
Dates: Tuesday, October 8 – Sunday, October 13
Venue: Universal Shooting Academy, Frostproof
Details: The 2013 United States International Practical Shooting Confederation Nationals is a National Championship that offers participants the opportunity to demonstrate their action pistol practical shooting ability. The top shooters will then advance to the United States Team to compete in the 2014 IPSC World Shoot.
PSP World Cup
Dates: Thursday, October 17 – Sunday, October 20
Venue: Fantasy of Flight, Polk City
Details: Paintball Sports Promotions will host their largest event of the year, the World Cup, over four days in Polk County for the fifth consecutive year. The event is the largest of its kind on the PSP event circuit. More than 5,000 paintball enthusiasts from across the world will travel to Fantasy of Flight over the four-day event, which will consist of team-tournament play to determine World Cup Champions in each division, along with a manufacturers’ tradeshow where paintball players can pick up all of the latest equipment and apparel in the paintball industry.
Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival and Auction
Dates: Friday, October 18 – Sunday, October 20
Venue: Lake Mirror Park, Lakeland & Downtown Lakeland
Details: The Lake Mirror Classic is considered one of the “must do” collector car shows in the southeastern United States. 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. The event is known for its beautiful lakefront setting and friendly atmosphere. In addition to attracting over 35,000 spectators, the Lake Mirror Classic draws top car collectors from the southeast and serves as a support event to the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Lake Mirror Classic has helped raise $250,000 for various local non-profit groups since its inception in 1999.
Fall Futbol Festival
Dates: Friday, October 25 – Sunday, October 27
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park, Auburndale
Details: Polk County Sports Marketing will host the inaugural Fall Futbol Festival presented by Publix this October 25-27 at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park. The Fall Futbol Festival presented by Publix is a recreational tournament open to all teams as indicated on the Application to Host approval form, comprised of properly registered youth players from all Federation Organizations (USYSA, US Club, AYSO, SAY, etc.) in all age groups listed in the Tournament Rules, provided such teams are in good standing with its youth association.
WABA Fall JUCO Showcase
Dates: Friday, October 25 – Sunday, October 27
Venue: Tigertown, Lakeland
Details: The World Amateur Baseball Association will host their annual Fall JUCO Showcase at Tigertown, home of the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Spring Training home of the Detroit Tigers. The Showcase is one of the top showcases in Florida each year, with top high school and junior college players from around the state traveling to Polk County to showcase their talents in front of hundreds of college coaches and Major League Baseball scouts. More than 30 of the top showcase baseball teams are expected to participate in this year’s event.
Tough Mudder
Dates: Saturday, November 2 – Sunday, November 3
Venue: Westgate River Ranch, River Ranch
Details: Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, 700,000 inspiring participants worldwide to date, and more than $5 million raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world. But Tough Mudder is more than an event, it’s a way of thinking. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, you’ll unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time, and discover a camaraderie with your fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days.
Red Ribbon Half Marathon & Run
Dates: Saturday, November 9
Venue: Lake Mirror Complex, Lakeland
Details: InnerAct Alliance is proud to present the 2013 Red Ribbon Half Marathon & Run, the largest youth-oriented running event in Polk County. This year’s event is at The Lake Mirror Complex in downtown Lakeland and will include Lakeland’s FIRST EVER Half Marathon, the Open Division 1k, the 3rd-5th Grade 1k, and the K-2nd Grade 1/2k.
Lakeland 5K Color Vibe
Dates: Saturday, December 7
Venue: SUN ‘n FUN, Lakeland
Details: Get ready Lakeland for the most colorful fun-filled day of your life! You’ll have more color on you than your happy levels can handle! So get your friends and family stretched out for this amazing color blast event where you’ll get blasted with color while you run the Color Vibe 5K. Join us for the Color Vibe 5K run in Lakeland and get ready to be tagged with color!
NSA Florida Fall State Championships
Dates: Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 8
Venue: Auburndale Softball Complex; DiamondPlex, Winter Haven; Christina Park, Lakeland
Details: Florida National Softball Assocation will once again host their Youth Fall State Championships in Polk County over two days in December. This event is annually one of the largest youth fastpitch tournaments in the state of Florida. More than 90 youth fastpitch softball teams (ages 8-18) are expected to travel to Polk County for Florida NSA’s season ending championship tournament.