Things to do in Lakeland this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18

This weekend in Lakeland, the Lake Mirror Classic car show takes over downtown from Friday evening to Sunday, with Saturday’s Concours and car show the main event, and three high school football games kick off Friday night.

Last checked Oct. 15, 2026. Every listing is from the organizer’s own page: the Lake Mirror Classic, Bonnet Springs Park, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s farmers market page, the Polk Theatre’s box office the RP Funding Center, the schools’ MaxPreps schedules and the Silver Moon Drive-In. Check before you go; times can change.

Friday, Oct. 16

• Lake Mirror Classic: Hot Rod Rendezvous, 5 to 9 p.m., around Lake Mirror downtown. Free for spectators. The evening hot rod show that opens the 27th Classic. Lake Mirror Classic; our Lake Mirror Classic page has the full schedule and parking.
• Adventure Days, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., near the GiveWell Community Foundation Nature Center at Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Free. A guided tree climb led by Pathfinder Outdoor Education. Bonnet Springs Park’s listing.
• High school football, Friday night. Lake Region at Kathleen, 7:30 p.m., Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way (schedule). American Heritage at Lakeland Christian, 7:30 p.m., Lakeland Christian School, 1111 Forest Park St. (schedule); the Vikings were 7-0 as of Oct. 9. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal at Santa Fe Catholic, 7 p.m., 3110 U.S. 92 East (schedule). Our Friday night football page has every Lakeland team.

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Lake Mirror Classic: Concours d’Elegance and Downtown Classic Car Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Lake Mirror Promenade and downtown streets. Free for spectators. The organizers say more than 450 classics, exotics, muscle cars, hot rods and trucks fill the streets. The 2026 grand marshal is racing driver and team owner Bobby Rahal. Lake Mirror Classic.
• Mind, Body, Movement: STEP Into Fall Aerobics, 8 to 9 a.m., Allen & Company Family Lawn, Bonnet Springs Park. A Halloween-themed step aerobics class led by Erika Barr of House of Step Tampa, open to all ages and fitness levels; no equipment needed. Bonnet Springs Park’s listing.
• Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., North Kentucky Avenue between Lemon and Oak streets. Free to browse. Produce, plants, baked goods and crafts, with an average of 120 vendors on a Saturday. LDDA’s market page.
• Cultural Connections, 10 a.m. to noon, GiveWell Community Foundation Nature Center, Bonnet Springs Park. Indigenous storytelling with natural materials and instruments, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Bonnet Springs Park’s listing.
• Classroom Drop-In, 1 to 3 p.m., same place. Children make their own stories on the same theme. Bonnet Springs Park’s listing.
• Fall Festival at the Welcome Center, 9 a.m. to noon, Visit Central Florida’s Welcome Center, 101 Adventure Court, Davenport. Free. Trick-or-treating at vendor booths, face painting, crafts and seasonal food; costumes welcome. Visit Central Florida; more on our fall festivals page.

Sunday, Oct. 18

• Lake Mirror Classic: Sunday Road Tour, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., leaving downtown. A clue-following drive on Central Florida back roads; registration is required to take part. Lake Mirror Classic.

• Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, 4 p.m., and Psycho, 6 p.m., Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave. Classic films on the big screen downtown. Polk Theatre box office.

• Rumble on the River Cheer and Dance Competition, from 5:30 a.m., RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St. Youth and junior cheer and dance teams compete for judges. RP Funding Center.

All weekend

• Golden Ridge Groves Fall Fest, Saturday and Sunday, 2129 Alturas Road, Bartow. An 8-acre corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch and game zone at a family farm; single-day tickets online, children 2 and under free. Golden Ridge Groves tickets.

• Scrapbook Florida, Friday to Sunday, RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St. A weekend crop for scrapbookers and crafters, with workspaces and some vendor booths; the center says registration is still open. RP Funding Center.

• Silver Moon Drive-In, double features nightly on two screens, 4100 New Tampa Highway. For Oct. 16 to 22 the drive-in lists Street Fighter at 7:30 p.m. and Heart of the Beast at 9:45 p.m. on Screen One, and Resident Evil at 7:30 p.m. and Insidious: Out of the Further at 9:30 p.m. on Screen Two. Sound is through your car’s FM radio. Silver Moon showtimes.

Regular weekend fixtures

• Downtown Farmers Curb Market: every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., September through May. See Lakeland farmers markets.
• Parking downtown: city-owned lots, garages and street spaces are free all day on weekends, the LDDA says. See our downtown Lakeland guide for the garages.

Halloween is two weeks away: the Fall Night Market is Saturday, Oct. 24, and the Polk Theatre’s Rocky Horror nights are Oct. 30 and 31. See Halloween events, things to do this month and arts and exhibitions this month. Driving in? Check road construction and closures first.

Send us your event

Holding something in Lakeland? Email hello@lakelandnewstoday.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo, and we will add it to the weekend page.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Lakeland this weekend?

The 27th Lake Mirror Classic runs Friday to Sunday downtown, with the Concours d’Elegance and the Downtown Classic Car Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Saturday farmers market is on Kentucky Avenue, Bonnet Springs Park has family programs, three high school football games kick off Friday night, and the Polk Theatre shows classic films Sunday.

What is free in Lakeland this weekend?

The Lake Mirror Classic is free for spectators, the organizers say. Bonnet Springs Park’s guided tree climb on Friday and its Saturday nature programs are free, and the Downtown Farmers Curb Market is free to browse.

Where do I park for the Lake Mirror Classic?

The organizers say downtown parking garages and public parking will be open for spectators. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority says city-owned lots, garages and street spaces are free all day on weekends.