Soaking Up the Local Culture

This Week:
September 17–23

Fall Film Series at Bok Tower Gardens
Dates: Monday, September 17
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens–Lake Wales
-Join Bok Tower Gardens for a special presentation of educational documentaries by PBS on Mondays & Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Visitor Center Theater.
-The September 17 film is: Reptiles: Turtles & Tortoises.

Dedication of the Polk County History Center
Dates: Tuesday, September 18
Venue: Polk County History Center–Bartow
-Polk County History Center is celebrating its recent rebranding and the long-awaited unveiling of its exterior signage.
-The history center is also dedicating the Polk Proud mural created in honor of Polk’s Sesquicentennial celebration.

September Lunch & Learn
Dates: Tuesday, September 18
Venue: Polk County History Center–Bartow
-The September Lunch & Learn will feature Dr. Mike Denham presenting “Florida Sheriffs.”
-Bring your lunch and enjoy the lecture.

Annie
Dates: Thursday, September 20–Sunday, September 23
Venue: Theatre Winter Haven
-ANNIE, everyone’s favorite orphan, is back on stage at Theatre Winter Haven after a decade.
-A whole new generation of families can experience one of the world’s most best-loved musicals about never giving up.

Fall Film Series at Bok Tower Gardens
Dates: Thursday, September 20
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens–Lake Wales
-Join Bok Tower Gardens for a special presentation of educational documentaries by PBS on Mondays & Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Visitor Center Theater.
-The September 20 film is: Bugs! Ants: Little Creatures Who Run the World.

Introduction to Butterflies
Dates: Thursday, September 20
Venue: Circle B Bar Reserve–Lakeland
-Listen to Kim Joiner, member of the Lake Region Audubon, give a presentation on the Introduction to Butterflies.
-Stick around after the presentation for more.
-Workshop sign-ups begin on the first working day of each month.

It’s a Bug Life
Dates: Thursday, September 20
Venue: Circle B Bar Reserve–Lakeland
-Come listen and learn about insects and their lifestyles.
-Explore the importance of insects in our ecosystems, their way of life and how to recognize some of the most common species.
-Workshop sign-ups begin on the first working day of each month.

Main Street Bartow’s Friday Fest
Dates: Friday, September 21
Venue: Downtown Bartow
-Main Street Bartow’s Friday Fest is a free downtown Bartow block party featuring live music, vendor booths, children’s fun activities, great food, beer and other drinks.
-Also included is the Friday Fest Cruise-in Car Show with dash plaque awards for the first entrants.

Music on the Promenade
Dates: Friday, September 21
Venue: Lake Mirror Complex­–Lakeland
-This event is FREE to the public and families are encouraged to attend so bring a blanket and enjoy the lake setting with music under the stars.
-There will be food and drink vendors on site.
-This month’s performance will be Azwon, a roots-oriented reggae band.

Butterflies and Insect Hike
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Circle B Bar Reserve–Lakeland
-Explore the realm of insects that reside at Circle B Bar Reserve, from butterflies to weevils, with a very informative guide.
-Workshop sign-ups begin on the first working day of each month.

Family Day and Open House
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: SPCA Florida–Lakeland
-A celebration of the opening of the expanded and renovated McClurg Animal Medical Center.
-This is a dog-friendly event featuring tours of the center, a live surgery broadcast and state-of-the-art veterinary equipment demonstration along with fun family activities, door prizes, food and more.
-Children can bring their stuffed animals that need repair, and the veterinarians will perform teddy bear surgery.

Hispanic Heritage Festival
Date: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Eloise Resource Center
-Polk County Parks & Recreation presents the Hispanic Heritage Festival, a free annual event that honors history, family and tradition.
-Join in the celebration of culture through music, art and food at Eloise Resource Center.

Live At the Gardens: Summer Music Series
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens–Lake Wales
-The 11th annual Live at the Gardens Summer Music Series returns once again to our Visitor Center with monthly concerts May – September.
-Concert tickets include all-day admission to the Gardens and an optional dinner will be served at the Blue Palmetto Café before each performance.
-September’s performance is Juniper – Celtic & Appalachian Folk.

Nature Photography–Close-Up on Insects
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Circle B Bar Reserve–Lakeland
-Join the Lake Region Audubon to learn how to take up-close photographs of the insects of Circle B Bar Reserve.
-This is a photography class on how to shoot insects in the wild using alternative macro techniques.
-Workshop sign-ups begin on the first working day of each month.

Polk Museum of Art: Creative Studies
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Polk Museum of Art–Lakeland
-Polk Museum of Art’s next Creative Studies workshop, “Good Vibrations,” will focus on a discussion on how to communicate with your body and discover how changing eating habits can transform your life.
-The workshop will be presented by Dr. Katherine Teisinger, a licensed doctor of Oriental medicine and acupuncture physician.
-The Center for Creative Studies is a group of adults who get together to share an evening of intellectual stimulation while enjoying wine and light hors d’oeuvres.

Story Time & Craft–Where Butterflies Grow?
Dates: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Circle B Bar Reserve­–Lakeland
-This event is for children ages 3 to 8 who are accompanied by a guardian.
-Meet inside Polk’s Nature Discovery Center for a story about butterflies, and then head outside for a fun entertaining craft to learn more about butterflies.
-Workshop sign-ups begin on the first working day of each month.

Twinderella
Dates: Friday, September 21–Sunday, September 23
Venue: Lake Wales Little Theatre
-Hear the story of Cinderella’s long-lost twin brother, Bob.
-Twinderella is a hilarious send-up of ‘Cinderella’ that will delight actors and audiences with humor for all ages.
-This children’s production was written by Charlie Lovett.

Recurring Events:

Saturday Night Rodeo –Every Saturday night (Westgate River Ranch Resort-Lake Wales)

Polk Museum of Art: Invisible Elephant –Through October 13 (Polk Museum of Art-Lakeland)

>Motivations, The Members Exhibition–Through October 14(Ridge Art Association-Winter Haven)

Safari Wilderness Ranch Fall Festival–Through October 28 (Safari Wilderness Ranch-Lakeland)

David Maxim at Polk Museum of Art–Through December 1 (Polk Museum of Art-Lakeland)

Explorations V Children’s Museum programming: Magical Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Thrilling Thursday and Fun Friday – weekly Monday through Friday (Explorations V-Lakeland)

Upcoming Events:

Brick-or-Treat – October- Saturdays & Sundays (LEGOLAND® Florida-Winter Haven)

Haunted Hanger Walking Tour–October 1-31 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Central Florida NatureFest – October 4-7 (locations across Polk County)

Cornfusion Corn Maze – October 6- November 11 (Lakeland)

Legends & Legacies- Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival – October 12-13 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Red, White & The Blues 2012– October 12 (Polk Museum of Art-Lakeland)

Go LEGOLAND – It’s Your Birthday – October 15 (LEGOLAND® Florida-Winter Haven)

Boktoberfest – October 20 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Paintball Sports Promotions World Cup – October 25-28 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

BOO! Bash – October 26 (Explorations V-Lakeland)

Naturally Creepy Trick or Treating–October 26 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Polk Outpost 27 Fall Festival – October 27 (Polk Outpost 27-Davenport)

In Vibrant Color: Vintage Celebrity Portraits from the Harry Warnecke Studio –October 27-January 12 (Polk Museum of Art-Lakeland)

Wings ‘n Things – November 2 (Sun ‘n Fun Florida Air Museum-Lakeland)

Water, Wings & Wild Things – November 3 (Circle B-Bar Reserve-Lakeland)

Red, White & Blue Veteran’s Salute – November 9 (Sun ‘n Fun Florida Air Museum-Lakeland)

Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate–November 23-January 6 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Winter Wonderettes– November 29-December 15 (Theatre Winter Haven)

2012 Florida International Games & State Championships – December 1-9 (locations throughout Polk)

Christmas Bricktacular–December 1-30 (LEGOLAND® Florida-Winter Haven)

NSA Florida Youth Fall State Tournament–December 8-9 (locations throughout Polk)

Countdown to Kids’ New Year’s Eve–December 26-30 (LEGOLAND® Florida-Winter Haven)