Find a complete listing of October and November events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
Quilts and Tea Festival Preview
Date: Monday, October 13 – Saturday, October 18
Venue: Polk Outpost 27, Davenport
- Polk Outpost 27 will host a preview of Davenport’s 12th Quilts and Tea Festival and Vintage Marketplace.
Book Club
Date: Tuesday, October 14
Venue: Polk County History Center, Bartow
- This monthly book club meets on the first and second Tuesdays of each month for a book discussion.
- The October 7 book is “Gods and Generals” by Jeff Shaara.
ISO Masterworks Series
Date: Tuesday, October 14
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.
Living at the Lake
Date: Thursday, October 16
Venue: Winter Haven
- Living at the Lakes is a three-class, free program, offered to all Polk County residents to share information on common lake questions.
Puerto Rican/Hispanic Business Convention for the Americas
Date: Thursday, October 16 – Friday, October 17
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Polk County and the City of Lakeland will host the very first Business Convention for The Americas.
Dulcimer Night in Central Park
Date: Friday, October 17
Venue: Central Park, Winter Haven
- The Musical Hammers Band performs in Winter Haven’s Central Park on the third Friday of each month.
Hoofin or the Woofin 5K
Date: Friday, October 17
Venue: Lakeland Yacht and Country Club
- The event will feature a 5K race beginning at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club and continuing around beautiful Lake Hollingsworth.
- Following the race, there will be an awards ceremony, food and drinks and animals available for adoption from the Florida SPCA.
Oktoberfest
Date: Friday, October 17
Venue: Central Park, Winter Haven
- Celebrate Oktoberfest at the annual Main Street Winter Haven event in beautiful Central Park with beer, bratwurst and live music.
Lake Mirror Classic
Date: Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19
Venue: Lake Mirror, Lakeland
- 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.
Architectural Tour
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Polk County History Center, Bartow
- Explore the historic courthouse and learn more about Neo-Classical architecture with this new architectural tour.
Boktoberfest Plant Sale
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Enjoy live entertainment, German food, craft beers, tree climbing, children’s activities and more.
- Free gate admission is included.
- Tom MacCubbin, Florida’s foremost expert on lawn and garden issues, will host educational workshops along with other gardening experts.
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Lake Silver, Winter Haven
- The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team (reestablished in 2012 by former theme park employees) is back with free shows on the third Saturday of each month on Lake Silver in Winter Haven.
Halloween Pet Party and Costume Contest
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Lake Alfred Animal Hospital
- Bring your human and furry friends to enjoy food, music, pet photos, an agility course, awesome raffle items, and the Human Society of Polk County’s Mobile Adoption unit.
- All proceeds will benefit the HSPC.
Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings
Date: Saturday, October 18
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, a kids zone, trick or treat village and more.
Pink Out at the Rock Color Run
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Tenoroc High School, Lakeland
- This is a Breast Cancer Awareness Color Run, so wear a white shirt and get ready to get colored in pink powder.
- A portion of the net proceeds will be combined with other awareness/fundraising events at Tenoroc High School to be sent to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Polk State College Annual FallFest
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Polk State College, Winter Haven
- Trek to the campus 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.
With Every Act of Love Tour
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- With Every Act of Love Tour will feature musical performances by Jason Gray, Unspoken, Lindsay McCaul and Carrollton at The Lakeland Center.
Florida 10 Series
Date: Sunday, October 19
Venue: Lakeland
- The 2014 Florida 10 Series will kick off in Lakeland on Sunday, October 19.
- The planned events will include a 10 mile race distance, 5 mile race distance and 1 mile kid’s fun run.
- Each event will support local community volunteer organizations and charities through runner participation.
Lunch & Learn Lecture Series
Date: Tuesday, October 21
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.
- October’s speaker will be Charlie Carson on Weird Florida.
RECURRING EVENTS:
IPSC World Shoot XVII – Through October 19 (Universal Shooting Academy, Frostproof)
LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s Brick-or-Treat – Weekends through October 26 (LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven)
Hispanic Heritage Month at Polk State College – Through October 30 (Polk State Lake Wales Arts Center)
Passport to Exotic Adventure – Through October 30 (Polk State Lake Wales Arts Center)
Jessica Guevara at The Loft Art Gallery – Through October 31 (The Loft Art Gallery, Lakeland)
Special Events at the Grove House – Wednesdays and Saturday through November 29 (Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House, Lake Wales)
Future Retro: Drawings from the Great Age of the American Automobile – Through December 6 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Haines City Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly
Polk Outpost 27 Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Winter Haven Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market – Saturdays weekly
1st and 3rd Saturday Market in South Lakeland – First and third Saturdays monthly
Lake Wales Farmers Market – Second and fourth Saturdays monthly
3rd Saturday Market Bartow – Third Saturday monthly
Highland City Community Market – Third Saturday monthly
Mulberry Farmers Market – Third Saturday monthly
4th Saturday Market Winter Haven – Fourth Saturday monthly
Saturday Night Rodeo – Saturdays weekly (Westgate River Ranch Resort, River Ranch)
Children’s Programming: – Monday through Friday weekly (Explorations V Children’s Museum, Lakeland)
For this week’s sporting events, check out “What’s Happening in Central Florida Sports” on CatchCentralFlorida.com.