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

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFÉ By Fannie Flagg The classic novel about two women: Evelyn and Mrs. Threadgoode, who is telling her life story. Her tale includes two more women, the irrepressibly daredevilish tomboy Idgie and her friend Ruth who back in the thirties ran a little place in Whistle Stop, Alabama, where along with coffee, it had the occasional murder. DELICIOUS! By Ruth Reichl Working as a public relations hotline consultant for a once-prestigious cu

If you had to choose, which would you pick: teaching an entire class of T. Rexes how to paint (reminder about the big heads and little arms) or participate in a figure drawing class of Lady Gaga in her meat suit, but you’re blindfolded, so you have to rely on touch and smell? For Sara Jones, Director of SPACE Art Collective, there is no choice. “T-Rex art class. Easy. Literally the same as teaching art to Kindergarteners, which I do on the regular.” Maybe one day T. Rex art c

The Black and White Photography class at Polk State College is far more than its name suggests. This foundational film course is a gateway to mastering the art and science of photography, offering students hands-on experience with 35-mm cameras, film processing and darkroom techniques that are unique in Polk County. Under the guidance of Professor Sarah Brewington, students like Candace Knoebel, Michael Comings, and Ean Pennypacker are discovering the timeless craft of film p