Find a complete listing of September and October events taking place in Polk County at VisitCentralFlorida.org.
AFI Annual Community Recognition Dinner & Silent Auction
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Venue: The Lakeland Center
- On Tuesday, September 16th, Alliance For Independence will celebrate 60 years of serving adults with developmental disabilities in Polk County with a dinner and silent auction.
Lunch & Learn Lecture Series
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Venue: Polk County History Center, Bartow
- The Polk County History Center invites guests to bring lunch and listen to a guest speaker on the third Tuesday monthly.
- The next scheduled speaker is Lloyd Harris on Spessard Holland on the 24th Amendment.
Culture and Cocktails
Date: Wednesday, September 17
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Bok Tower Gardens will serve magical cocktails and light fare to set the stage for Rick Kilby, author of “Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de León and Florida’s Magical Waters,” who will share the secrets of old Florida in his new historical exhibit and book.
Future Retro: Drawings from the Great Age of the American Automobile
Date: Friday, September 19
Venue: Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland
- Join the reception for this exhibition showcasing the beauty and ingenuity of American automotive design during the decades following World War II, a landmark period in car styling, through more than 100 drawings from the collection of Frederick A. Sharf.
Music on the Promenade
Date: Friday, September 19
Venue: Lake Mirror, Lakeland
- There will be a free concert at the Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror from featuring live music from the energetic Jill’s Cashbox.
Princess Whatsername
Date: Friday, September 19 – Sunday, September 28
Venue: Lake Wales Little Theater
- In this wonderful story of a princess embarking on a journey to discover her identity, you will find several familiar fairy tale characters – Hansel and Gretel, Rumplestiltskin, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and many more.
Architectural Tour
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Polk County History Center, Bartow
- Explore the courthouse and learn more about Neo-Classical architecture with our new architectural tour.
Brass Heart Band
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Polk Theatre, Lakeland
- Dawn Gilmore Productions presents: Brass Heart Band’s Blues Brothers & Friends Tribute featuring the hottest horns in Florida.
- The Brass Heart Band will feature music from Blues Brothers, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner.
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Lake Silver, Winter Haven
- The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team (reestablished in 2012 by former theme park employees) performs free shows every third Saturday monthly on Lake Silver in Winter Haven.
Florida Wildflower Day
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Bok Tower Gardens is declaring September 20 Wildflower Day where guests will be able to enjoy a variety of films, meet noted wildflower and conservation authors, and participate in special garden tours.
Food Truck Wars
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Central Park, Winter Haven
- Food Truck Wars will feature over 40 gourmet food trucks from across the state competing for five prestigious prizes awarded by celebrity judges.
- Bring your family and friends to this terrific ‘foodie’ event, and find out what all the ‘Food Truck Wars’ hype is about.
Live at the Gardens Concert Series
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- The Annual Summer Music Series takes place inside the Bok Tower Gardens Visitor Center.
- The next scheduled performance is: Ashley Liberty, violin & Daniel Strange, piano.
Tour de Tow Cycling Event
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Bartow
- Bartow’s on-road cycling event will feature a 16 mile Family Fun Ride and a 36 and 63 mile route across the Peace River basin through expansive citrus groves, around beautiful Lake Buffum, and along gently rolling hills and backwoods roads surrounding Bartow.
Classic Film Sundays
Date: Sunday, September 21
Venue: Polk Theatre, Lakeland
- Throughout September, Polk Theatre will show films celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
- The Towering Inferno will be shown on September 21.
Fall Film Series
Date: Sunday, September 21
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Join Bok Tower Gardens, in Lake Wales, for a special presentation of educational documentaries by PBS on Sundays at 3:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center Theater.
Lakeland Roller Derby
Date: Sunday, September 21
Venue: SUN ‘n FUN, Lakeland
- Lakeland’s first all-women’s flat track derby league has a new home at SUN ‘n FUN in Hangar E.
- On September 21, the Lakeland Derby Dames will compete against the Tampa Bay Bruise Crew.
Historic Lake Mirror Tour
Date: Tuesday, September 23
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
- Join this walking tour the fourth Tuesday monthly to learn about the history of Downtown Lakeland.
RECURRING EVENTS:
The Loft Art Gallery: Aaron Adams – Through September 30 (The Loft Art Gallery, Lakeland)
Passport to Exotic Adventure – Through October 30 (Polk State Lake Wales Arts Center)
Future Retro: Drawings from the Great Age of the American Automobile – Through December 6 (Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland)
Haines City Farmers Market – Wednesdays weekly
Polk Outpost 27 Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Winter Haven Farmers Market – Thursdays weekly
Downtown Lakeland Farmers Curb Market – Saturdays weekly
1st and 3rd Saturday Market in South Lakeland – First and third Saturdays monthly
Lake Wales Farmers Market – Second and fourth Saturdays monthly
3rd Saturday Market Bartow – Third Saturday monthly
Highland City Community Market – Third Saturday monthly
Mulberry Farmers Market – Third Saturday monthly
4th Saturday Market Winter Haven – Fourth Saturday monthly
Saturday Night Rodeo – Saturdays weekly (Westgate River Ranch Resort, River Ranch)
Children’s Programming: – Monday through Friday weekly (Explorations V Children’s Museum, Lakeland)
For this week’s sporting events, check out “What’s Happening in Central Florida Sports” on CatchCentralFlorida.com.