GULF COAST MAKERCON April 18, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Yuengling Draft Haus. Browse innovative product booths, see workshops by industry experts in aerospace, AI, arts, and more. Watch Combat with over 30 fighting robots, shop the maker market, and kids can visit the Deconstruction Zone to dismantle electronics and learn about them. General admission is free. gulfcoastmakercon.com TBBHF MUSIC FEST April 25 & 26 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Fes

FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL April 10 - 19 at the Enzian Theater. This Oscar-qualifying festival will premiere the best in current, independent, and international cinema. This is one of only a handful of Oscar-qualifying Festivals in the U.S. in all three shorts categories: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject. Ten days and over 180 films. Purchase tickets at floridafilmfestival.com . SCIENCE & WINE April 25, 7 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center

ADULT SKATE NIGHT April 9, 8:30 – 11 p.m. at Skate World Lakeland. Grab your friends and roll into a night just for the adults! On the second Thursday of every month, people ages 16 and over are welcome to skate to their favorite music under the disco ball. Admission is $10, skate rental is $5. FB @skatelakeland SUN ‘N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO April 14 – 19 at SUN ‘n FUN. Drive or fly in for a mix of world-class airshow performers including the USAF Thunderbirds, military demo team

ADULT SKATE NIGHT April 9, 8:30 – 11 p.m. at Skate World Lakeland. Grab your friends and roll into a night just for the adults! On the second Thursday of every month, people ages 16 and over are welcome to skate to their favorite music under the disco ball. Admission is $10, skate rental is $5. FB @skatelakeland PSC JAZZ NIGHT CONCERT April 16, 7 p.m. Join the Polk State Music Department for a night of jazz at the Polk State Winter Haven Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are $10 for

WINEFEST: WINEDERLAND March 6 & 7 at Tampa Theatre. This Alice in Wonderland-themed fundraiser encourages guests to explore the historic 1926 landmark while sampling boutique wines from around the world and enjoying bites from Tampa’s top independent restaurants, bid on silent auction items, and dress as your favorite character. tampatheatre.org MARCH MADNESS March 20 – 22 at the Benchmark International Arena. The University of South Florida hosts the First and Second Rounds

ART’S THE SPARK March 7, 10:30 a.m. - noon at the Orlando Museum of Art. Through interactive tours for those living with memory impairment or any other neurological impairment (such as early stage Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease) and their healthy caregivers. This is an expressive outlet and an opportunity for adult discussions. omart.org HAMLET March 21, 11 a.m. at the Enzian Theater. National Theatre Live is the National Theatre’s project to broadcast the best o

ROOTSTOCK SPRING SALE March 7, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens. Rootstock Plant Sale is a garden lover’s dream! Shop from the state’s top plant vendors, take a hayride through the Pine Ridge Reserve, and enjoy live music on The Terrace. Celebrate spring with a walk through the gardens during peak bloom! boktowergardens.org SPRING GARDEN PARTY March 21, 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. at BowenYard. This is a full day of fun beginning with a free yoga class at 10 a.m., vendor market

LSO COOKIE CONCERT March 1, 1- 3 p.m. at Branscomb Auditorium in Lakeland. Designed for 5th-grade students, this 45-minute performance by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra celebrates the wonder of the natural world. Instrument petting zoo and musical storytime from 1-2 p.m., concert from 2-3 p.m. Free, no ticket required. lkldsymphony.org BLOOMIN’ ARTS FESTIVAL March 7 & 8, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Downtown Bartow. Featuring over 100 talented artists and craftspeople showcasing thei

BLACK LOVE CLASSICS SERIES Celebrate the intersection of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month with stories of romance as told by Black filmmakers and diverse casts at the Tampa Theatre at 3 p.m. Feb. 1: “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018); Feb. 8: “The Photograph” (2020); Feb. 15: “Boomerang” (1992); Feb. 22: “Carmen Jones” (1954). tampatheatre.org NHL STADIUM SERIES Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Lightning face off against the Boston Bruins in a

ORLANDO MAGIC Home games are played at the Kia Center. The Magic will play five times in February. Feb. 5, 7 p.m. vs Nets; Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. vs Jazz; Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. vs Bucks; Feb. 11 at 7p.m. vs Bucks; Feb. 26 at 7:30p.m. vs Rockets. Purchase tickets at nba.com/magic . TIARA’S HAT PARADE Feb. 7 – 22 at Orlando Family Stage. Based on the book by author Kelly Starling Lyons, “Tiara’s Hat Parade” is a celebration of creativity, community, and the bond between a mother and d

JOE PUG Feb. 1, 7 p.m. at the Derry Down. A singer-songwriter known for his lyrical acumen and plaintive harmonica style, he has toured with Steve Earle, Levon Helm, The Killers, Justin Townes Earle, Sturgill Simpson, and many others. He has appeared at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival. gpderrydown.com LAKE WALES MARDI GRAS Feb. 13, 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., join the Glow Run at 6 p.m. The fun continues on Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. with live music, food and

JOE PUG Feb. 1, 7 p.m. at the Derry Down. A singer-songwriter known for his lyrical acumen and plaintive harmonica style. He has toured with Steve Earle, Levon Helm, The Killers, Justin Townes Earle, Sturgill Simpson, and many others. He has appeared at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival. gpderrydown.com VALENTINE NIGHT MARKET Feb. 14, 5 – 9 p.m. in Downtown Lakeland. Great for date night, girls night, or family night out. Downtown retail shops will be open

FREE SUNSET YOGA Jan. 7, 6 – 7 p.m. on the St. Pete Pier. Class will be grounding but fun, with lots of modifications offered to accommodate everybody. Catch some bay breezes as the sun sets over Family Park. This class is by The Body Electric Yoga Company. Donations will be accepted, and proceeds will benefit a different local group each month. Bring water & yoga mat. stpetepier.org THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Jan. 14 – Feb. 8 at the Straz Center. A stranger arrives in town only t

ORLANDO VALKYRIES Jan. 9, 7 p.m. at Addition Arena. The Orlando Valkyries are a Major League Volleyball (MLV) team and the reigning league champions. Known for their fierce play, standout talent, and electric fan atmosphere, the Valkyries continue to raise the bar for professional women’s volleyball. They will play the Grand Rapids Rise. provolleyball.com/ teams/orlando-valkyries SCIENCE ON TAP Jan. 24, 1 – 4 p.m. at Loch Haven Park. This fundraiser for the Orlando Science C

MLK WEEK: WREATH LAYING Jan. 15, 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Park in Winter Haven. Honor the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the City of Winter Haven’s annual Wreath Laying Ceremony. This solemn and inspiring gathering brings together city leaders, community members, churches, and local organizations to pay tribute to Dr. King’s vision of peace, justice, and equality for all. mywinterhaven.com MARY GAUTHIER Jan. 30, 6 p.m. at Gram Parsons Derry Down

CAMP BSP Jan. 16- 17. This is Bonnet Springs Park’s first overnight camping program! This program is intended for families with school-age children. Activities include knot-tying and casting, community bonfire, fire safety, guided night insect viewing, and early bird fishing. This program requires advanced registration. bonnetspringspark.com FLORIDA’S CITRUS FESTIVAL Jan. 31, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. in Downtown Winter Haven’s Central Park. Live music and entertainment, citrus food

ORNAMENT MAKING Dec. 4, 6 p.m. at The Dali. In this hands-on workshop, you will create your own surreal ornaments featuring imagery inspired by the latest special exhibition, “Alberto Giacometti & Salvador Dalí.” Register in advance. thedali.org HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE Dec. 20. The parade kicks off at 6:15 p.m. near the Lighthouse off Davis Islands, cruising past Sparkman Wharf, Harbour Island, and the Tampa Convention Center. From there, large boats will end, while smaller boat

ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL Select nights in December at the Central Florida Zoo. Wander the three-quarter-mile pathway filled with all-new, handcrafted lantern scenes, each glowing with thousands of LED lights. Ocean-inspired landscapes meet mythical creatures. Enjoy seasonal food available for purchase. Reserve tickets in advance. centralfloridazoo.org STORM LARGE Dec. 16 & 17 at Judson’s Live. Best known and beloved as the current lead vocalist for Pink Martini, Storm Large br

HOLIDAYS ON CENTRAL Dec. 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m at Central Park in Winter Haven. This event includes a FREE 90-minute show by Dwight Icenhower as Elvis, over 100 vendors to shop, giveaways, food trucks, live entertainment, interactive activities, and photos with Santa Claus! More info on FB @HavenLKLD DISNEY’S DARE TO DREAM JR. Dec. 12 – 14 at Lakeland Community Theatre. Drawing from a century of beloved Disney films, Dare to Dream JR. features songs appearing for the first time

LIVE & LOUD Dec. 5, 6 p.m. at the Ritz. Polk County’s monthly pulse of raw talent and underground energy. More than just a showcase, it’s a safe, inclusive space where rising artists and creatives from the local scene own the stage. Discover new bands every First Friday. Find more info at centralfloridatix.com . WINTER FAIRY FEST Dec. 13 & 14, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens. Family-friendly fun all day! Aerial fairy dancing, ballet performances, fairy & Nutcracker meet

SPOOKY NIGHT BLOW Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at the Morean Glass Studio. Watch artists create something amazing during this glass-blowing event. Backlit by nothing more than a fiery hot kiln and molten glass, Night Blow mixes glassblowing with synchronized music choreographed by the evening’s DJ. Limited space, reserve in advance. moreanartscenter.org CHARCUTERIE WORKSHOP Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. at Keel & Curley Winery. Follow along as you learn the tricks & techniques to create a beautiful

ORLANDO JAPAN FESTIVAL Nov. 9, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Celebrating Japanese culture! Enjoy a full day of authentic food, traditional performances, and hands-on cultural experiences for all ages. From music and dance to martial arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone. More info at facebook.com/orlandojapanfestival . TURKEY TROT 5K Nov. 27, 7 a.m. at Lake Eola. Runners, joggers, and walkers, many dressed in full costumes or Thanksgiving-themed hats

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Nov. 1 at Union Hall in Lakeland. Dance, eat, drink, and honor traditions at the first Dia de Los Muertos Night Market & After Party! Night Market is family-friendly from 6 - 9 p.m., and the After Party is 21+ only from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. FB @latinasprofesionalesinaction JOHN MCEUEN Nov. 21 at Gram Parsons Derry Down. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s John McEuen plays live with co-founder Les Thompson and special guest Muriel Anderson. In 1971, John initiated t

ART CRAWL Nov. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Swan Brewing in Lakeland. This free festival celebrates the arts with over 60 local artists selling their work and competing for prizes alongside live performances, art demonstrations, live art making, and more. Family-friendly. artcrawlfl.com JOHN MCEUEN Nov. 21 at Gram Parsons Derry Down. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s John McEuen plays live with co-founder Les Thompson and special guest Muriel Anderson. In 1971, John initiated the landmark “W