Find a complete listing of September and October events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
National Parks of America Tour-Trip Preview
Date: Tuesday, September 30
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Join Bok Tower Gardens in the Visitor Center’s Magnolia Room on Tuesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. to hear about the exciting opportunity to join other Gardens members on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon and more.
Words and Wine Poetry
Date: Wednesday, October 1
Venue: Paint Along Studios, Lakeland
- Read original poetry, listen to poetry, network with writers and poets at this monthly event.
First Friday
Date: Friday, October 3
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
- Enjoy an evening of family-friendly entertainment, activities, live music, art receptions, a car show, and the opportunity to visit a locally-owned establishment on the first Friday of each month in Lakeland.
Jessica Guevara at The Loft Art Gallery
Date: Friday, October 3
Venue: The Loft Art Gallery, Lakeland
- This October, Jessica Guevara’s vivid cartoons of “calamity and catastrophe” will make their way to The Loft Art Gallery.
- Her artwork makes its debut during downtown Lakeland’s First Friday festivities with a free reception featuring live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Pickin’ in the Park
Date: Friday, October 3
Venue: Central Park, Winter Haven
- Join in a fun time of music in Central Park at this free community sing-along with music by local musicians held in Downtown Winter Haven’s Central Park on the first Friday of each month.
Artisan’s Alley
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
- Every first Saturday of the month, artists can exhibit fine art such as paintings, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media and more.
Cemetery Tour
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Polk County History Center & Oak Hill Cemetery, Bartow
- Join the Polk County History Center on a walking tour of the Historic Oak Hill Cemetery in Bartow where many pioneer families are laid to rest including Civil War veterans Jacob Summerlin and General Evander M. Law.
Grillin’ and Chillin’
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Lions Park, Lake Alfred
- Enjoy local crafts and vendors, kids’ activities, live entertainment and a barbeque competition with cash prizes and trophies.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s Brick-or-Treat
Date: Saturday, October 4 – Sunday, October 5
Venue: LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven
- Brick-or-Treat comes to LEGOLAND® Florida every Saturday and Sunday in October with safe and family-friendly festivities.
IPSC World Shoot 2014
Date: Saturday, October 4 – Sunday, October 19
Venue: Universal Shooting Academy, Frostproof
- IPSC World Shoot XVII is a multi-day match comprising at least 30 separate courses of fire, where the best IPSC shooters representing 88 countries from around the world vie for the title of World Champion.
Polk County Bridal Exhibit & Marketplace
Date: Sunday, October 5
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- The PC Bridal Exhibit is Polk County’s largest bridal show, with over 80 exhibitors, grand prizes, seminars, a bridal fashion show.
Book Club
Date: Tuesday, October 7
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.
RECURRING EVENTS:
The Loft Art Gallery: Aaron Adams – Through September 30 (The Loft Art Gallery, Lakeland)
Celebrate Take a Child Outside Week – Through October 3 (Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales)
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)
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.