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 23nd 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 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 a volunteer guide on a hike through the Marsh and learn about the birds of Circle B Bar Reserve. This is a great time of year to bird, so don’t 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.
– Internationally rated as one of the most popular and successful Irish Step Dance shows on tour, critics, audiences, and millions of fans around the world, have hailed the live stage show as a must see!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Learn at Bok Tower Gardens • Lake Wales
– The Life of Birds with Reinier Munguia, Lake Region Audubon Society.
– Birds are colorful, graceful and intelligent, yet most of us know very little about them. From their physiological adaptations to their complex language, start to understand these winged wonders so you can better appreciate and protect them.
– Bring your lunch or purchase one from the Blue Palmetto Cafe.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lodwick School of Aeronautics in World War II • Lakeland
– Presentation by Lon Cooper who served as a primary flight instructor at Lodwick School of Aeronautics in Lakeland through the Civilian Pilot Training Program from 1943-1945.
– The Lodwick School graduated 6,000 pilots, many of them trained by Mr. Cooper.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
America • Lakeland
– The year 2014 marks the 44th Anniversary of perennial classic-rock favorite, America. Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960’s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse with No Name.”
– Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, including “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair,” thrilling audiences with their timeless sound.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Music on the Promenade • Lakeland
– The night is a music tribute to Ken Williams from Center Door Productions who was a well-known member of the local music community before he passed due to health complications this past summer.
– The Womps will start the show. This four-piece band is comprised of Berklee Boston College of Music students.
– Second to take the stage will be the Dan Signor Project. This group of talented musicians will bring a unique blend of soulful vocals, rocking piano, jazzy sax and funky drums to their live performance.
– Closing out the show will be Soult2Earth. Hailing from Winter Haven, Soul2Earth has been together for almost 15 years. This very diverse eight-piece band is sure to please as they combine passionate playing techniques with soulful vocals delivering energy and excitement to the stage.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Senior Visual Arts Exhibit at PMoA • Lakeland
– Harrison School for the Arts’ Senior Visual Arts Exhibit will be at Polk Museum of Art beginning on Friday, February 20th. Opening reception will begin at 6:00 p.m.
– PMoA graciously hosts this event annually which displays the seniors’ work for an extended period of time in which the exhibit is open to the public during regular museum hours.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Main Street Bartow Friday Fest • Bartow
– Main Street Bartow’s Friday Fest is a downtown Bartow block party featuring live music, vendor booths, children’s fun activities, great food, beer and other drinks.
– Also included is the Friday Fest Cruise-in Car Show with dash plaque awards for the first entrants.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
LEGO® Club Weekend • Winter Haven
– LEGO® Club Weekend featuring LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland are going to be out-of-this-world with fun activities! Join other Star Wars fans for character meet and greet opportunities with LEGO Darth Vader, Star Wars building activities, costume contests and giveaways, plus take an interactive guided LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Tour.
– Whether you’re young or just young-in-spirit, come dressed in your favorite super hero costume to have a chance to win cool prizes.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
The Color Vibe 5K • Lakeland
– 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.
– Color Vibe 5K will be held at SUN ‘n FUN.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market • Bartow
– Bartow’s monthly Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market will be held along the 300 block of East Main Street on Saturday, February 21.
– The Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market is held the third Saturday of each month.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Lake Kissimmee State Park Special Events • Lake Wales
– Ranger Guided Kayak Tour Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m.
– Take a 90-minute paddle down Zipper Canal that flows through the central part of Lake Kissimmee State Park to Lake Rosalie. This ranger-led tour will give you an appreciation for the flora and fauna found in this area of the state.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tram Nature Tour at Circle B Bar Reserve • Lakeland
– Take a personalized tour of the Banana Creek Marsh with a volunteer guide who will point out plants, birds and history of the property.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Saturday Gardening Series at Bok Tower Gardens • Lake Wales
– Florida-Friendly Plants for Your Yard with Anne Yasalonis.
– Spend an hour with a Polk County Extension Agent and discover the best plants to use in your garden – the smart way to grow!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
SyFy Saturday • Bartow
– The 2nd Annual SyFy Saturday is a family street festival featuring science fiction make-up artists, music and entertainment by Professor Sean Khan, and special exhibits.
– In keeping with the 2015 Time Travel theme, there will be two life-sized replicas of Doctor Who’s time machine, the TARDIS, a life-sized replica of the H. G. Wells time machine, and the Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Architectural Tour at Polk County History Center • Bartow
– Explore the courthouse and learn more about Neo-Classical architecture with an architectural tour. The Old Polk County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1989
– Architectural tours are held on the third Saturday of each.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show • Winter Haven
– Shows take place the 3rd Saturday of every month on Lake Silver. Pre show is at 3:45 p.m. Regular show is at 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Tram Nature Tour at Circle B Bar Reserve • Lakeland
– Take a personalized tour of the Banana Creek Marsh with a volunteer guide who will point out plants, birds and history of the property.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Music at Pinewood: Rising Artist Series • Lake Wales
– Faculty and hand-picked scholars from Harrison School for the Arts perform a variety of classical programs with piano, strings, woodwinds, guitar and vocals.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Historic Lake Mirror Tours • Lakeland
– The story starts during the horse and buggy days when people hitched their horses up at Munn Park to visit downtown. Learn how the Loggia came about and even how to say Loggia.
– Scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm (January, February, March, November, & December), 7:30pm (April & October), or 8:30pm (May, June, July, August and September).
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Project • Lakeland
– Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” is considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards.
– Back by popular demand and performing selections from his hit PBS special, Michael will take a page from Ol’ Blue Eyes with a masterful concert dedicated to Sinatra and his legendary musical career.
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)
RussMatt Central Florida Collegiate Baseball Invitational – Through March 31
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 Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center – Thursdays weekly
Winter Haven Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market – Saturdays weekly
1st Saturday Market in South Lakeland – First Saturday monthly
Lake Wales Farmers Market – Second and fourth Saturdays monthly
Highland City Community Market – Third Saturday monthly
Mulberry Farmers Market – Third Saturday monthly
2nd and 4th Saturday Market Winter Haven – Second and Fourth 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)
Source: SunnyCentralFlorida.com