Calling all art lovers, this one’s for you! I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with two artists in Polk County who are hoping to make a “splash” on the art scene come November. Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos have a festival in the works running from November 6 through November 14, 2026, that is sure to knock your socks off. Coming from a shared love of each others’ work and a serendipitous meeting through murals at Disney Springs, Gillian and Katerina are the geniu

Blueberry farming is a growing industry in Polk County, and with so many local growers, it’s a no-brainer to highlight their hard work and delicious crops with a festival! Auburndale has wonderful facilities and is located in the heart of Central Florida, perfect for bringing everyone together for a really fun day! Visit Central Florida has teamed up with Destroyer Media to bring you this fun-filled day. Stop by the festival from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Auburndale’s Downtown

It’s that time again, book lovers! Your indie bookstores are hosting the fifth annual Lakeland Book Crawl to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day (April 25, 2026). The Crawl will be a three-day event, running April 23–25, and culminating with a bookish afterparty at Union Hall on Saturday evening. Just like last year, participants can make their stops at all seven participating bookstores between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every day of the crawl. Each store has its own unique vi

We talked with Timothy Collette from Clean Pirate Life to learn about the fifth annual Foot the Chain Music & Waterski Festival happening in February. With a new sober living facility as the end goal, find out about the fun happening along the way to get there. HOW DID FOOT THE CHAIN COME ABOUT AND WHY? TC: Foot the Chain (FTC) started with a group of guys who came to Winter Haven every year after the holiday season, to warm up and barefoot waterski our beautiful chain of lak

Many remember the time during January – as citrus season is fully manifest – Winter Haven would host a grand celebration featuring parades, banquets, nationally broadcast radio and television shows, massive displays of fresh fruit, and carnival shows such as the James E. Strates company with rides (including the double Ferris wheel) overlooking Lake Silver. Crowds converge on the 1949 entrance to the Florida Citrus Exposition — this scene from Third St. at Avenue D, NW. Woode

Bringing back a citrus festival isn’t just about celebrating oranges and grapefruits—it’s about honoring the generations who helped shape it. Citrus built this region. Reviving a citrus festival reconnects us to that shared history and creates new memories for today’s families while supporting local growers and businesses. It’s a little nostalgia, a lot of community pride, and proof that some traditions are simply too sweet to let fade away. We sat down with Event Director Ly

This month, we talk with the founders of Latinas Profesionales In Action, Yesenia Loor and Lupita Alvarez. These two powerhouse women are uniting the community through culture, connection, and celebration as they prepare for the very first Día de los Muertos Night Market and After Party on November 1 at Union Hall. Their vision is not only to honor tradition but also to create a space where local talent, businesses, and families can come together. Tell us about Latinas Profes

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, tell me, which is the fairest festival of them all? The very first Rainbow Roots Festival, of course! Projected to be chock full of performances, history, stories, tasty food, and vendors, this event is sure to fill your brain, belly, and tote bag with all sorts of wonderful treats and treasures. Jason DeShazo, aka the incomparable Momma Ashley Rose, chatted with us about what to expect and how excited all of us Polk County residents should be to

Are you on a quest for great theater? Then look no further than “Love Quest” by Mary Maguire and Steve McGraw coming to Theatre Winter Haven from October 1 through the 26. “Love Quest” explores the reality of online dating: its prejudices, its foibles, the ubiquitous feeling of “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH” as you send your profile out into the ether. From Theatre Winter Haven’s description, “Kate Crawford, 64, is recently divorced after a 30-year marriage. Left by her husband for a

As the healthcare community learns more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how to improve healthcare for autistic individuals, an Autism Spectrum Community Education Series was launched this spring, via a partnership between the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation, the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) School of Behavior Science Analysis, and Rockin’ On The Chain. Three FIT professors are teaching the series. We caught up with one of the busy professors to get a bird’s

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH INATURALIST AND THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Earth Day is a reminder of our deep connection to the natural world. Here in Polk County, we’re surrounded by wild beauty, from the pines of the Green Swamp to the wind-swept ridges of the Lake Wales Ridge. But how often do we pause to notice the tracks in the sand, the flutter of a butterfly, or the call of a bird overhead? This year, go beyond enjoying nature and help conserve it. With just a smartphone and

Reading with Rescues is a fun and engaging community program for K-8th grade students to visit Hope Equine Rescue and read to a horse, donkey, or mule supervised, but unassisted, for approximately 30 minutes. Typically held on the second Friday of each month, the February date has been moved a week earlier due to `Valentine’s Day. Students are welcome to bring their own reading material or borrow from the library of donated books. After reading, students will have a “petting

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Winter Haven, Tree Swallow Gallery is a pop-up art destination dedicated to celebrating the unique spirit and creativity of Central Florida’s local artists. Curated by Amanda McCallister, the gallery focuses on hyper-local talent, showcasing carefully selected fine art that reflects the beauty, history, and culture of the Winter Haven community and its surrounding areas. Tree Swallow Gallery embraces its pop-up nature, offering a dynamic exper

From curating the perfect lineup of vendors to swapping stories about rare finds, Jessi Zilka of Jesse Carl Vinyl gives us a glimpse into what makes this record fair more than just another stop for collectors—it’s a full-on celebration of sound. If you’re ready to step up your vinyl game, this is where it starts. TELL US ABOUT IT There’s a magic to being in one room with so many people who share the hobby of record collecting—it promotes camaraderie and acceptance. We knew La

We caught up with the co-founder of the Orange Blossom Revue Americana Music Festival, Rusty Ingley. With the festival set to bring a blend of folk, bluegrass, and roots music to the local stage, we wanted to learn more about the inspiration behind it, the journey to make it happen, and what makes this celebration of Americana so special. Rusty shares his perspective and offers a closer look at the passion driving the festival, the vision for its future, and why it’s poised t

A familiar holiday tradition is getting a fresh touch this year! While there’s a new face behind the festive magic, the heart and soul of Carols in the Park remain the same. The new team is dedicated to keeping the holiday spirit alive, with all the twinkling lights, handcrafted treasures, and cozy treats you know and love. They’re adding a sprinkle of new surprises while holding tight to the timeless charm that makes the market so special. We sit down with Destroyer Media &

Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance (PACA) is the Local Arts Agency for Polk County. As such, PACA “advocates for all the Cultural Arts Organizations in Polk County and promotes the impact of the Cultural Arts Sector as integral to the quality-of-life in our county.” The organization actively represents Polk County’s arts and cultural interests to agencies, governments, chambers of commerce, and the business community on a national, state, and local level. They allocate funding a

Get your reading glasses and bookmarks ready – it’s time for the 2024 Lakeland Book Crawl! The annual bookish bash will take place April 22-27. The Lakeland Book Crawl is a six-day tour de force of books, books, and more books! The book crawl aims to bring booksellers, book lovers, and the greater Lakeland community together. Stop at each store throughout the week and meet the owners and staff, purchase books from local booksellers, and join along in the fun and unique experi

For the first time since 2014, the Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) will take place in Polk County. The free, two-day dental clinic hosted by the FDA Foundation is slated for May 31 – June 1, 2024, at the RP Funding Center (701 West Lime St., Lakeland). The FDA Foundation, which started in 1980, is the philanthropic arm of the Florida Dental Association. Over the years, they’ve given back to the community in various ways, from dental scholarships to support for clinics and