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Polk County Blueberry Fest
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
Haven Magazine
Mar 30


Foot the Chain
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
Haven Magazine
Feb 1


Polk's Citrus History & Grand Celebrations
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
Bob Gernert
Jan 5


Florida's Citrus Festival
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
Haven Magazine
Jan 5


The Roaring Twenties and the Florida Boom...
As Winter Haven entered the1920s the U.S. Census listed the population at 1597 people - a small but motivated populace that had embarked on big projects like connecting the areas lakes by canals. Armed with “can do” optimism, they welcomed the “roaring twenties” with gusto. Winter Haven’s City Hall circa 1923. It was torn down in the late 1960s to make way for a Royal Castle restaurant. Currently Popeye’s location. NEW CITY HALL: In 1920, a bond issue was approved to build a
Bob Gernert
Apr 1, 2025


Orange Blossom Revue
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
Haven Magazine
Oct 28, 2024

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