Events
‘This Is Us’ Actress Lyric Ross Greeting Lakeland Fans
Lyric Ross, who plays the role of “Deja” on NBC’s “This Is Us” will be in Lakeland Saturday at 10 a.m. for a meet-and-greet event at One More Child, a division of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. More
Saturday’s Summerpalooza Includes Shoe Giveaways
Giveaways at this year’s Summerpalooza event (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the RP Funding Center; sponsor: New Beginnings High School) will include free shoes provided by the Blended Family Foundation, established by Tony and Lisa Kirk to honor the memory of their son Kalen.
LEARN MORE: Summerpalooza | Blended Family Foundation | Ledger preview
Video Replay: Red, White & Kaboom
View the full celebration below or skip ahead to the fireworks (or watch this farther-away view..)
Red, White & Kaboom: Here’s What’s Happening
WHAT: Red, White & Kaboom, a community festival with fireworks held yearly since 2004.
WHEN: Tonight, 6 to 9:15. Fireworks at 9.
WHERE: Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror. (See detail map below)
ADMISSION: Free. Everyone is encouraged to bring a canned good for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly. More
Festival Atmosphere: Maddox Jam Showcases Local Artists
Lakeland has been adding spaces to showcase local musical talent, but one that some may think is new has been around for awhile. Maddox Ranch, 2505 W. Bella Vista St., has hosted music festivals for more than 10 years, but it hasn’t featured Polk County talent until this February, when it began hosting the monthly Maddox Local Jam. More
Crowds Brave the Heat for Polk Pride
As her brother danced by the stage, Callie Weeks, 7, watched the drag revue under the shade of a tree with her parents while enjoying her rainbow stick candy. It was her first time at Polk Pride.
While The Downtown Farmers Curb Market was in full swing and with an Amtrak train rolling by as a backdrop, Pride in the Park capped off Polk Pride 2019’s week of events Saturday at Munn Park and featured a drag show, food trucks and live music. More
Weeklong Polk Pride Kicks Off Today
Polk Pride 2019, a week of events (schedule) celebrating the local LGBT+ community, kicks off tonight with a launch party at Lakeland Pulse and continues through next Saturday, ending with a daytime festival at Munn Park followed by Pride After Dark at LkldLive.
Bicycle Events Emphasize Safety, Commuting
Two bicycling events this week focus on safe driving/biking and two-wheel commuting:
- The annual Ride of Silence, held to remember cyclists hurt or killed on public roadways, starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church and includes two slow laps around Lake Hollingsworth.
- Friday is National Bike to Work Day. At a recent meeting, City Commissioner Scott Franklin challenged his colleagues to cycle to the city’s agenda study session Friday morning. (We hope they don’t all try to use the tiny bike rack by the main entrance to City Hall.)
Here’s our video from last year’s Ride of Silence. One big change since then: The bicycle stop sign at Lake Hollingsworth Drive and Ingraham Avenue has been replaced by a concrete-separated bike lane where cyclists need stop only when pedestrians are crossing.
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Taking Kids to Mayfaire? Check This Guide
LakelandMom’s guide to this weekend’s Mayfaire by-the-Lake presents good tips for any visitor, but is particularly geared toward people attending with children.