Find a complete listing February and March events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Book Club at Polk County History Center • Bartow
– The book club meets on the first and second Tuesdays of each month, from 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Bring your lunch.
– February 3 and 10 – “Summer of ‘68,” Tim Wendel
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
ISO Masterworks Series • Lakeland
– 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. Masterworks 3: A Salute to African American Composers
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Learn at Bok Tower Gardens • Lake Wales
– Learn how to plan and prep your garden for our unique Florida climate. Bring your lunch or purchase one from the Blue Palmetto Cafe. Session takes place in the Magnolia Room inside the Visitor Center.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Under the Streetlamp • Lakeland
– With the mantra “Retro never sounded so now!”, the dreamy voices of the four lead singers of Under The Streetlamp are poised to bring the repertoire of The American Radio Songbook of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and 70’s to a whole new audience! Specializing in doo-wop derived hits, along with old-time rock ‘n’ roll, Motown-era soul classics and exquisite harmonies.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Downtown Lakeland Food Truck Rally • Lakeland
– Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally is bringing food trucks to Munn Park on the second Thursday of every month! Come on out to Downtown Lakeland and enjoy a variety of Florida food trucks and their delicious cuisine!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Classic Albums Live • Lakeland
– Classic Albums Live is a must see for music lovers, theatre patrons and fans with an affinity for live performance, musicianship and true classic rock.
February 12: The Eagles – Hotel California
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15
L.B. Brown Festival • Bartow
– The 14th Annual L.B. Brown Festival celebrates the life and achievements of Lawrence B. Brown with jazz, gospel and contemporary music, dancers, storytellers, and more.
– Friday: Youth Leadership Awards “Back in the Day” Demonstrations Senior Citizens Activities
– Saturday: Morning History Lecture and Panel Audience Discussion Music, Dancers, Singers Steppers, Open Mic, Fashion Show
– Sunday: Gospel Program
– All of the activities at this event are free and open to the public.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Immaculee Ilibagiza – Left to Tell • Winter Haven
– New York Times bestselling author of “Left to Tell” and Rwandan genocide survivor will be sharing her story of faith, hope, and forgiveness.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15
St. Sophia Greek Festival • Winter Haven
– Enjoy a taste of Greek culture in Winter Haven at St. Sophia’s Church. The weekend-long festival offers Greek music and dance, cuisine, youth activities, and dance lessons and much more.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pancake Festival • Lakeland
– It’s the Citrus Center Kiwanis 57th Annual Pancake Festival! This year we are “Flipping for Charities”. Sponsored by the Detroit Tigers Foundation of Florida, the event features fun activities and community information for children and families, breakfast including sausage and juice……and of course, PANCAKES!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Lake Region Audubon Hike • Lakeland
– Lake Region Audubon Society offers periodic bird hikes at Circle B Bar Reserve led by the Bird Club. For more information, e-mail birdclub@lakeregionaudubon.org or call Bob Snow at 863-712-3878.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Downtown Bartow Antique Fair • Bartow
– Held the 2nd Saturday of each month, antique vendors set up along the sidewalks in downtown Bartow.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tram Nature Tour at Circle B Bar Reserve • Lakeland
– Requires sign up. Take a personalized tour of the Banana Creek Marsh with a volunteer guide who will point out plants, birds and history of the property. *Nature Tour sign ups begin on the first working day of each month, to sign up please stop by the reception desk or call 863-668-4673 ×205.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Lake Wales Mardi Gras • Lake Wales
– Experience Pageantry. Parades. Exotic Floats. Outrageous Costumes. Masked Crowds. Carnival Royalty. High-stepping. Strutters moving to the rhythms of Dixieland Jazz. Uninhibited Merry-making. MARDI GRAS!
2015 marks our 31st anniversary, so help us celebrate with live music, food, craft vendors, a beer garden, kids’ activities and a parade that will take place at 3:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Valentine’s Dinner: An Evening of Vintage Charm • Lake Wales
– Bok Tower Gardens host “An Evening of Vintage Charm.” Experience the ambiance of an elegant night of southern charm with romantic acoustic guitar music inside the 20-room Pinewood Estate mansion. Full-course dinner, cocktails and romance included!
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
All About Nature Hike • Lakeland
– Take in the scenery on our Circle B trails. Nature makes the calls, so enjoy seeing a copious amount of plant and animal life interact on our property. Bring your cameras and bring your field guides!
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Dancing Pros LIVE • Lakeland
– DANCING PROS LIVE! is hosted by Golden Globe nominee and television star Alan Thicke and is an unforgettable live competition show created by some of the most accomplished DANCING WITH THE STARS pros.
– This show will dazzle with amazing celebrities, a glamorous set, fantastic costumes and of course unbelievable dance moves! Singers from TV’s best singing competitions, The Voice and American Idol, accompany exciting group performances while celebrity star judges Karina Smirnoff & Edyta Sliwinska of DWTS help the audience select the winning pair!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Presidents Day Carillon Concerts at Bok Tower Gardens • Lake Wales
– Concerts begin at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Learn Lecture Series at Polk County History Center • Bartow
– The museum invites guests to bring lunch and listen to a guest speaker on the third Tuesday every month. Lectures will begin at 12:15 and last 30 – 45 minutes.
– February 17 – “The Bartow Polkers and Florida State League Baseball”, presented by Dr. Wes Singletary
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
23nd Annual Antique Engine & Tractor Show • Fort Meade
– The 22nd Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show will feature antique tractors and cars, hit and miss engines, food, a flea market, parades, and the antique village. The Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show is a great event for the entire family.
– The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club promotes interest in restoring, preserving and exhibiting antique internal combustion engines, steam engines, antique tractors and autos and other labor saving devices from the by-gone years.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Guided Bird Hike at Circle B Bar Reserve • Lakeland
– Join our volunteer guide on a hike through the Marsh! Learn about the birds of Circle B Bar Reserve! This will be a great time of year to bird watch at Circle B Bar Reserve, so do not miss out on this hike!!
– Bring binoculars and a camera, because you never know what birds will be stopping in at the Marsh!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Rhythm of the Dance • Lakeland
– Rhythm of the Dance celebrates both the rich history of Ireland as well as the art of Irish dance, from the disciplined tradition of the Celtic Step, to the sensual moves of the Sean Nos dance, rooted solely in the ancient island of Innishbofin near Galway.
– “Rhythm of the Dance” has heralded a new era in Irish entertainment, featuring thirty dancers, a traditional live full Irish band, and the dashing and handsome Young Irish Tenors.
RECURRING EVENTS:
Gabrielle Wu Lee Exhibition – Through March 14 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Her Ethereal Self: Portraits by Kathy Sosa – Through March 14 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Peak Bloom – Through the end of March (Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales)
Special Events at the Grove House – Wednesdays and Saturdays through May 2015 (Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House, Lake Wales)
Haines City Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly
Davenport Farmers Market at Polk Outpost 27 – 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
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.