What's On in Lakeland

Fourth of July Lakeland Fourth of July fireworks 2026: Red, White & Kaboom Lakeland's free Red, White & Kaboom fills Lake Mirror on July 3 with music, food trucks and a 15-minute fireworks show at 9 p.m. 2027 details are not out yet. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Halloween Trick-or-treat hours in Lakeland 2026 Lakeland set no official trick-or-treat hours for Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Sunset is 6:44 p.m., dark by 7:08 p.m. Clocks fall back at 2 a.m. Sunday. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 4 min read Valentine's Day Valentine's Day in Lakeland 2027: events, dinners, date ideas Valentine's Day 2027 in Lakeland falls on a Sunday: a couples' 5K at Lake Hollingsworth, downtown's night market, Hollis Garden and dinners as announced. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Spring break Spring break in Lakeland 2027: school dates, camps, things to do Polk County spring break 2027 is March 15-19. Tigers spring training, Bonnet Springs Park, the children's museum, Circle B and what is open in Lakeland. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Easter Easter in Lakeland 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services Easter 2027 is Sunday, March 28. Lakeland church egg hunts with 2026 dates and ages, Easter Bunny photos, Sunday brunch downtown and what is closed. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Mother's Day Mother's Day in Lakeland 2027: brunch, Mayfaire and gift markets Mother's Day 2027 is May 9. Mayfaire by-the-Lake on Lake Morton, the Mayfaire 5K, Sunday brunch downtown, Hollis Garden and Saturday's curb market. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Memorial Day Memorial Day in Lakeland 2027: ceremonies, closures and trash Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Lakeland's tributes at Veterans Memorial Park and Lakeland Memorial Gardens, a 5K, City Hall closure and trash shift. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Summer camps Summer in Lakeland 2027: camps, pools and splash pads Summer 2027 in Lakeland: city camps and how 2026 registration worked, Gandy and Simpson pools, the Barnett Park splash pad and free programs. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Father's Day Father's Day in Lakeland 2027: car meets, baseball and brunch Father's Day 2027 is June 20. Cars & Coffee at Bonnet Springs Park, Flying Tigers baseball and its Sunday brunch, downtown brunch and the air museum. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 3 min read Labor Day Labor Day in Lakeland 2027: what is open, trash and events Labor Day 2027 is Monday, Sept. 6. City Hall closes, Monday and Tuesday trash moves a day, schools are out, and the curb market's season starts that weekend. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 3 min read Christmas Lakeland Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026 The 45th Lakeland Christmas Parade is 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, starting with fireworks over Lake Mirror. Route, road closures, parking and chair rules. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Football Friday night football 2026: Lakeland schedule Lakeland high school football 2026: schedules and results for seven teams, home games through Oct. 30, and the FHSAA playoffs from Nov. 13. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 6 min read Fall festivals Fall festivals and pumpkin patches near Lakeland 2026 Golden Ridge Groves' corn maze and pumpkin patch near Lakeland runs weekends to Nov. 22, 2026. Harvest Holler opens weekends; October's festivals are past. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 5 min read Halloween Halloween events in Lakeland 2026 Halloween night in Lakeland, Oct. 31, 2026: Rocky Horror at the Polk Theatre for adults, Art in Nature at Bonnet Springs Park and no city trick-or-treat hours. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 6 min read Thanksgiving Thanksgiving in Lakeland 2026: turkey trots, meals, closures, trash Thanksgiving 2026 in Lakeland: VISTE's 2,000-meal delivery, runs around Lake Hollingsworth, City Hall closed Nov. 26-27 and the holiday trash shift. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 5 min read Black Friday Black Friday in Lakeland 2026: mall hours and holiday markets Lakeland Square Mall opens 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 27, and is closed Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday and the Munn Park bazaar are Nov. 28. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 5 min read Christmas Holiday lights and Christmas events in Lakeland 2026 Lakeland's 2026 holiday season: Snowfest at Lake Mirror Dec. 5, Light Up BSP Dec. 18-31, downtown lights, the Jingle Bell Jog and drive-by light displays. Updated Nov. 7, 2026 · 7 min read New Year's Eve New Year's Eve in Lakeland 2026: events, fireworks rules, closures New Year's Eve 2026 in Lakeland: Light Up BSP's last night, family countdowns, downtown dinners, Florida's fireworks rule and Jan. 1 trash changes. Updated Nov. 7, 2026 · 4 min read Brunch Brunch in Lakeland: weekend brunch downtown and beyond Where to get brunch in Lakeland, from restaurants' own pages: Frescos, Nineteen61 and the Terrace Grille downtown, plus cafes and a bakery, with hours. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Dogs Dog-friendly Lakeland: dog parks, trails, patios and leash rules Lakeland's four city dog parks with addresses and hours, where leashed dogs can go, where they cannot (Circle B, Hollis Garden) and the county leash rule. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Kids Kids' activities in Lakeland: playgrounds, splash pad, story times Things to do with kids in Lakeland: Bonnet Springs Park, Common Ground's inclusive playground, the Barnett splash pad, library story times and rainy-day picks. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Trails Lakeland walking and biking trails: loops, distances, trailheads Lakeland's trails with distances and parking: the 7.75-mile Fort Fraser Trail, the Lake Hollingsworth loop, Lake Parker's paths, Circle B and Se7en Wetlands. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Downtown Lakeland A guide to downtown Lakeland: Munn Park, Lake Mirror, events, parking Downtown Lakeland guide: Munn Park, Lake Mirror and Hollis Garden, the Polk Theatre, First Friday, the Saturday curb market and where to park free. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Live music Live music and nightlife in Lakeland: venues, taprooms, late spots Where Lakeland goes out at night: the Polk Theatre, RP Funding Center, Swan Brewing's lakefront stage, The Joinery, downtown's First Friday and the drive-in. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Free Free things to do in Lakeland: parks, museum, markets, events 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. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Date night Date night in Lakeland: dinner, shows, late openings Date night in Lakeland: downtown dinner at Nineteen61, Frescos or the Terrace Grille, a Polk Theatre show, the drive-in, Thursday nights at the art museum. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Lake Mirror Classic Lake Mirror Classic car show: dates, schedule and parking The 27th Lake Mirror Classic ran Oct. 16-18, 2026, in downtown Lakeland. The 2027 dates are not yet posted; it is held each October and is free to watch. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 5 min read Snowfest Snowfest at Lake Mirror: date, times and what to bring Lakeland's Snowfest is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m. at Lake Mirror: man-made snow, Santa and train rides. Free with a canned food donation. Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 3 min read SUN 'n FUN SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo: 2027 dates, tickets and parking SUN 'n FUN 2027 is April 6-11 at Lakeland Linder International Airport. Kids 12 and under free, parking $14 online, and what you can bring. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 5 min read Mayfaire by-the-Lake Mayfaire by-the-Lake art festival: dates, parking, kids zone Mayfaire by-the-Lake is Lakeland's free art festival on Lake Morton every Mother's Day weekend. 2026 ran May 9-10; 2027 dates not yet posted. Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · 4 min read Restaurants Where to eat in Lakeland: lists by category Every Lakeland where-to-eat list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast and coffee, burgers, sushi, ice cream, bakeries and patios. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 4 min read Wings Where to get wings in Lakeland: U.S. 98, Florida Avenue and downtown Eleven wing places at 14 locations inside Lakeland city limits, along U.S. Highway 98 North, South Florida Avenue, Edgewood Drive and downtown. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 6 min read Pizza Where to get pizza in Lakeland: downtown, Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 Twelve pizza places at 17 locations inside Lakeland city limits, from downtown and The Joinery to South Florida Avenue, U.S. 98 and Lakeside Village. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 6 min read Mexican food Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Lakeland Twelve Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants at 16 locations inside Lakeland city limits, on South Florida Avenue, U.S. 98, Memorial Boulevard and downtown. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 6 min read Barbecue Where to get barbecue in Lakeland: Florida Avenue, U.S. 98, downtown Six barbecue restaurants inside Lakeland city limits: two on South Florida Avenue, two on U.S. 98 North, one in Lakeside Village and one downtown. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 4 min read Breakfast Breakfast and coffee in Lakeland: downtown, Florida Avenue, U.S. 98 24 breakfast places and coffee shops at 42 locations inside Lakeland city limits: downtown, South Florida Avenue and U.S. Highway 98 North. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 10 min read Burgers Where to get burgers in Lakeland: downtown, Florida Avenue, U.S. 98 Nine burger places at 11 locations inside Lakeland city limits: downtown by Lake Mirror, Lakeside Village, South Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 North. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 5 min read Sushi Sushi and Asian restaurants in Lakeland: Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 37 sushi and Asian restaurants at 41 locations inside Lakeland city limits, most on South Florida Avenue, U.S. 98 North and in Lakeside Village. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 8 min read Ice cream Ice cream and desserts in Lakeland: downtown, Florida Avenue, U.S. 98 12 ice cream, custard and dessert shops at 14 locations inside Lakeland city limits, downtown, on South Florida Avenue and on U.S. Highway 98 North. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 6 min read Bakeries Bakeries in Lakeland: Dixieland, Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 Four bakeries and donut shops at seven locations inside Lakeland city limits, from Born & Bread in Dixieland to Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 North. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 4 min read Patios Patios and outdoor dining in Lakeland: Lake Wire, Lake Morton, downtown Eight Lakeland places at 14 locations whose own sites list a patio or outdoor seating, from Lake Wire and Lake Morton to downtown and U.S. 98 North. Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Veterans Day Lakeland Veterans Day parade 2026: date not yet confirmed Lakeland's 2026 Veterans Day parade: no date from the city or the Veterans Council by Nov. 7. In 2025 it ran the Saturday before Nov. 11, the parade at 11 a.m. Updated Nov. 7, 2026 · 5 min read Nutcracker Nutcracker and holiday shows in Lakeland 2026: dates, venues The Nutcracker is at the Polk Theatre Dec. 20; the Lakeland Symphony plays Carols Dec. 19-20, and Cirque Dreams Holidaze is at the RP Funding Center Nov. 19. Updated Nov. 7, 2026 · 4 min read Arts Arts and exhibitions in Lakeland: November 2026 Lakeland arts this month: LIFE: Six Women Photographers opens at The AGB Nov. 14, Misery runs to Nov. 15, Frozen plays Dec. 11-20 and LSO Carols Dec. 19-20. Updated Nov. 7, 2026 · 7 min read Events The Legacy Table celebration at COhatch Lakeland Oct. 18 The Legacy Table, a formal evening marking one year of Legacy of Healing Global Institute, runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at COhatch Lakeland. Oct. 15, 2026 · 2 min read Things to do Things to do in Lakeland this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18 Lakeland this weekend: the Lake Mirror Classic car show fills downtown, Bonnet Springs Park has a free tree climb and the Polk Theatre shows Psycho Sunday. Oct. 15, 2026 · 5 min read