Out and About: The Lakeland Center Goes to the Dogs this Weekend

The answer is: yes, of course it is a dog show. I couldn’t resist the “clever” headline again for this week’s “Out and About”/things to do this weekend post. The Lakeland Center’s Jenkins Arena and Exhibit Hall will be going to the dogs this weekend as the Lakeland/Winter Haven Kennel Club holds its AKC sanctioned all breed dog show Friday through Sunday (June 6-8). The event will host 1,600 dogs and exhibitors and feature 140 different breeds of dogs. The group competition, which culminates in the Best in Show competition, will be televised on ESPN as Carson Productions will be on location Saturday and Sunday to tape the event for future airings. Air dates have not yet been determined but the show will be televised several times throughout the year on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN and ESPN2).  Hours for the Lakeland/Winter Haven Kennel Club all breed dog show are 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Friday and 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event is free, so come out this weekend to The Lakeland Center and be part of the telecast!

Here is a list of even more to do around Sunny Central Florida this weekend:

Friday

• First Friday - 6pm-9pm – Downtown Lakeland
• Lakeland/Winter Haven All Breed Dog Show – 11am-6pm – The Lakeland Center
• Summer Kickoff Party - 10am – Explorations V Children’s Museum – Downtown Lakeland
• Ballet: Ballet Conservatory Dance Centre’s 25th Anniversary Concert – 7pm – Fine Arts Theatre at Polk Community College, Winter Haven
• Art Reception – 6pm – Arts on the Park – Lakeland
• Comedy Buffet – 8pm – 254 W. Central Ave. – Winter Haven

Saturday

• Auto Racing: Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Model Series – 7:30pm – USA International Speedway
• Lakeland/Winter Haven All Breed Dog Show – 7am-6pm – The Lakeland Center
• Ballet: Ballet Conservatory Dance Centre’s 25th Anniversary Concert – 2pm- Fine Arts Theatre at Polk Community College, Winter Haven
• Theater: “Always…Patsy Cline” – 7:30pm – Chain of Lakes Complex – Winter Haven
• Antique Fair and City-Wide Yard Sale – 8am-3pm – Bartow
• Downtown Farmers Curb Market - 8am-2pm – Peterson Plaza – Downtown Lakeland
• Farmers Market – 8am-2pm – North Blount Park – Bartow

Sunday

• Lakeland/Winter Haven All Breed Dog Show – 7am-6pm – The Lakeland Center
• Theater: “Always…Patsy Cline” – 2:30pm and 7:30pm – Chain of Lakes Complex – Winter Haven