Find a complete listing for May and June events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
This Week’s Events
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch & Learn at Bok Tower Gardens · Lake Wales -The museum invites guests to bring lunch and listen to a guest speaker on the third Tuesday every month. – May 13 Lunch & Learn: Container Gardening Basics Container gardening adds impact to your landscape and keeps extra work to a minimum. -Bring your lunch or purchase one from the Blue Palmetto Cafe. Session takes place in the Magnolia Room inside the Visitor Center. Cost: Included with general Gardens admission.
THURSDAY, MAY 14 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, MAY 14 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Spring Choral Concert · Lakeland -“Turning Hatred into Love” is the theme of the Harrison School for the Arts Chorus concert to be held on Thursday, May 14th at 7:30 p.m. in the main theatre. This concert will feature music related to the Holocaust. -These melodies come from different concentration camps and have been translated from Polish and Hebrew into English. The Harrison Theatre Department will perform dramatic readings before each movement is performed by the Harrison Singers.
FRIDAY, MAY 15 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Music on the Promenade · Lakeland – This performance will feature two winners from Harrison’s concerto competition. Violinist Dixie Ortiz will be performing the first movement of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole and Michael Jean will be performing the first movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. – A special piece that was commissioned to celebrate Harrison School for the Arts’ 25th anniversary will also be featured during the concert. -They will also be playing a salute to the Armed Forces that will include patriotic standards such as America the Beautiful and Stars and Stripes Forever. -FREE Event FRIDAY, MAY 15 –
SUNDAY, MAY 17 Lakeland Flying Tigers · Lakeland – Lakeland Flying Tigers is celebrating their 50th season of baseball. Join them for $1 nights, All You Can Eat nights, fireworks and more! -Kids may play catch on the field prior to the game, and run the bases following the game (weather permitting). – Lakeland vs Dunedin
SATURDAY, MAY 16 2nd Annual Racing to the Rescue 5K · at Holloway Park -Hope Equine Rescue presents their 2nd Annual Racing to the Rescue 5K. -Hope Equine Rescue is a 501©(3) non-profit organization, founded by Dani Horton and the Horton family when they took in their first rescue that they named Hope. Hope Equine Rescue survives solely on donations from the community and funds raised via events held throughout the year. -All proceeds from Racing to the Rescue will go directly to the care of rescued horses. RACE DAY TIMES: Registration: 9 a.m. All registrants will receive race T-shirt Race Start: 10 a.m. -Awards given for 1st through 3rd place males and females by age bracket.
SATURDAY, MAY 16 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM National Endangered Species Day · Lake Wales -Join Rare Plant Curator Glen Bupp on a walk through the Pine Ridge Preserve and National Collection Beds, home to over 30 species of endangered Florida plants. Learn about our rare sandhill ecosystem and take photos in an area of the Gardens typically closed off to visitors. -Tours meet at the Visitor Center beginning at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cost: Included with general Gardens admission.
SATURDAY, MAY 16 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM Tribal Extreme Mud Run · Mulberry -Gear up for drudging through the mud, racing through gnarly terrain, and completing the most challenging obstacles in a 10K and 5K. Fastest time for the 5K should be about 45 minutes with the longest time for the 10K being about 4 hours. This is a chip-timed event. -Starting at 8:30 a.m., waves of athletes will begin every 15 minutes. You will choose your start time. Spectators Friends and family are welcome to cheer you on and participate in the day-long festival for free. However, you may also select preferred spectator viewing areas for $20 online or $25 onsite. Registration and Parking $65.00 – $85.00. Onsite parking is available for $10.00. Register online at tribalextreme.com/register.
SATURDAY, MAY 16 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Mother/Daughter Picnic · Lakeland -The Mother/Daughter Picnic is a free community event for moms to enjoy an afternoon with their daughter. This event will feature princess story time, princess crafts, lunch (first come, first served), and games. -Cost: Free
SATURDAY, MAY 16 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Armed Forces Day at Bok Tower Gardens · Lake Wales -Special half-hour carillon concerts at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. will honor the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have given their lives to preserve our freedom. Carillon concerts feature patriotic musical selections. -Cost: Concerts included with general admission.Free admission will be offered to all branches of the military, active, retired and disabled veterans with valid ID.
SATURDAY, MAY 16 3:45 PM – 5:30 PM Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show · Winter Haven -The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team (reestablished in 2012 by former theme park employees) is back and has a new home on Lake Silver in Winter Haven, FL. Shows take place the 3rd Saturday of every month on Lake Silver. -Admission is free. Monthly Water Ski Show Pre show is at 3:45 p.m. Regular show is at 4:30 p.m. Concessions with snacks, drinks, t-shirts and hats will be available for sale. -Please bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Cost: FREE
SATURDAY, MAY 16 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Florida Marine Raiders X-League Football · Lakeland – The Raiders will play five home games at The Lakeland Center on from April – June. Kick-off for all home games will be 7:00 p.m. -The mission of the Ultimate Indoor Football League is to provide fast paced, fan-friendly professional football at affordable prices.
TUESDAY, MAY 19 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. – May 19 – “A New Florida Dream or Sunset,” presented by Dr. Gary Mormino
TUESDAY, MAY 19 Polk County Auburn Club Annual Meeting · Lakeland -The Polk County Auburn Club is hosting its annual meeting on May 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lakeland. Special guest will be Rhett Lashlee, offensive coordinator for the Auburn University football program. The event features a buffet dinner, cash bar, and silent auction, with proceeds benefitting the Polk County Auburn Club Scholarship fund. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. -To make reservations, mail a check payable to Polk County Auburn Club, PO Box 1088, Kathleen, FL 33849. The reservation deadline is May 13. Cost: Tickets are $50 per person.
Recurring Events
Special Events at the Grove House – Wednesdays and Saturdays through May 2015 (Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House, Lake Wales) African American Art Since 1950: Perspectives from the David C. Driskell Center – Through June 27 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland) Lakeland Flying Tigers - Through June 25 (Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland) Main Street Bartow Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly Haines City Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly Dixieland Twilight 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 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