Free things to do in Lakeland: Bonnet Springs Park, the always-free art museum, Lake Morton's swans, First Friday, the curb market and free yearly events.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Free means no admission charge; food, parking and extras may cost money. Sources: Bonnet Springs Park, the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, the City of Lakeland’s parks and library pages, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s calendar and Polk County’s Fort Fraser Trail page.
A lot of Lakeland costs nothing. Bonnet Springs Park charges no admission, the art museum by Lake Morton says its admission is always free, and the downtown lakes, trails, dog parks and monthly street events are open to anyone. Here is what is free, from each place’s own page.
Quick guide
- Every day: Bonnet Springs Park, lake paths, dog parks, the Fort Fraser Trail
- Tuesday to Sunday: Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art
- Saturdays: Downtown Farmers Curb Market
- First Friday of the month: First Friday street market downtown
Parks and outdoors
- Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd.: 168 acres with trails, gardens, a butterfly house, a canopy walk, a treehouse and playgrounds. No admission fee except some special events; open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The park also runs free programs, from Cars & Coffee on the first Saturday of the month to nature classes for children; see its calendar.
- Lake Mirror and Lake Morton: walk the Frances Langford Promenade past Hollis Garden and see the swans at Lake Morton.
- Lake Hollingsworth: a lakeside loop of about 2.8 miles.
- Fort Fraser Trail: 7.75 paved miles from Lakeland toward Bartow, with a spur to Circle B Bar Reserve.
- Dog parks: four city dog parks, open dawn to dusk; see our dog-friendly guide.
- Barnett Family Park splash pad, 730 E. Orange St., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Wednesdays.
- Common Ground, 1000 E. Edgewood Drive, an inclusive playground.
Museums, art and libraries
- Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St.: admission is always free, the museum says. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free parking.
- Downtown Public Art Trail: a city map of public art from Lake Mirror to Lake Beulah that finds the nearest piece by GPS.
- Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Drive, and its branches: story times, classes and events, many with no registration.
Free events
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| First Friday | First Friday of each month, about 6 to 9 p.m. (none in January) | Kentucky Avenue |
| Farmers Curb Market | Saturdays, 8 a.m.; closed in August | North Kentucky Avenue |
| Munn Park Concert Series | Opens Jan. 29, 2027 | Munn Park |
| Snowfest | Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m.; bring canned food | Lake Mirror |
| Lakeland Christmas Parade | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, 7 p.m. | Downtown |
| Light Up BSP | Dec. 18 to 31, 2026, 6 to 8:30 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park |
| Mayfaire by-the-Lake | Mother’s Day weekend (May 9 and 10 in 2026) | Lake Morton |
| Red, White & Kaboom | July 3; bring a canned food item | Lake Mirror |
Details are on our seasonal pages: Halloween, holiday lights, Christmas parade, Mother’s Day and Fourth of July fireworks.
Free for kids
Library story times, Bonnet Springs Park’s weekend nature programs and Lakeside Village’s Little Sprouts mornings are free; see our kids’ activities guide.
What this means for you
- Downtown street and garage parking is free after 5 p.m. weekdays and all weekend, so evening and weekend visits cost nothing to park.
- Bring a card to Bonnet Springs Park; its cafes and shop are cashless.
- Know a free event we missed? Send it through our contact page.
Related: things to do this weekend, parks and trails and downtown Lakeland.
Frequently asked questions
What is free to do in Lakeland?
Bonnet Springs Park, the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, the lake paths around Lake Mirror, Lake Morton and Lake Hollingsworth, the city dog parks, the Barnett Family Park splash pad and downtown’s First Friday are all free.
Is the art museum in Lakeland free?
Yes. The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., formerly the Polk Museum of Art, says admission is always free. It is closed Mondays.
Is Bonnet Springs Park free?
Yes. The park charges no admission except for some special events. The Florida Children’s Museum inside the park is separate and charges admission.
What free events does Lakeland hold every year?
Among them: Snowfest at Lake Mirror in December (bring a canned food donation), the Christmas parade, Light Up BSP, Red, White & Kaboom fireworks on July 3 and Mayfaire by-the-Lake in May.
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