I’m looking forward to Florida Dance Theatre’s Harlequin Ball this Friday, October 10, at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club. The staff and volunteers have been working hard to make this a great benefit event for FDT that includes food, drinks, dancing and a performance by FDT’s professional company. Everything starts at 6:30. Tickets are $75 each and will be available at the door. I’ll be there, probably helping with check-in, so if you see me, tell me you read about it on this blog!

Also on October 10, Cracker Storytellers present Ghostly Tales at the Polk County Historical Museum in Bartow, and Art from the Collection of George Lowe opens at the Melvin Gallery at Florida Southern College.

Bartow Art Guild’s Conucopia Art Show will open at Bartow Public Library on October 13. The show runs through November 14, and reception will be held on November 2 at 3:00pm.

For performances: Tuesday Music Club of Lakeland will present Opera Live on October 14 at 10:30am. Call 701-2813 for details.

The Lake Wales Music Club will meet at 1pm at the Lake Wales Arts Center on October 16.

Polk Community College will present Broadway on Tour, also on October 16, but at 7pm. Tickets are $28 each. Call 800-624-8038 x1.

Rounding off the weekend are three visual art events: On Friday, October 17, Polk Museum of Art will host its second View & Review. Local artists are invited to bring a piece of art to be reviewed by guest critic and PCC painting instructor Vilas Tonape. It’s $15 for artists who wish to be reviewed, and $5 for the audience. Plus, there’s a cash bar!

Saturday, October 18, is PCC’s annual Fallfest. From 9am – 4pm, you can enjoy over 100 arts and crafts booths; a Kids Zone featuring a pumpkin patch and magic by Luis Campaneria; a Haunted House; an Arcade & Pinball Expo; musical performances; EMS & Police K-9 demonstrations; and more. The event is free, so head toward Winter Haven to enjoy the day!

Finally, on Sunday, October 19, Polk Museum of Art and the Center for Creative Studies will present their monthly Creative Studies Series. This month’s presentation is “Transformation through Clay with Claudia Van Horn.” The presentation begins at 5:30pm, and tickets are $15 for non-members, and $12 for Museum members. Space is very limited, so if you’re interested, please pre-register with payment by October 13.

There’s so much going on in October, I think I’ll end there for now! You’ll hear more from me in the coming weeks, though.

P.S.: I’ve posted pictures of Polk Museum of Art’s Red, White & The Blues, which was held Friday, October 3. Go here to see a slideshow!

I’ve been to Red, White & The Blues for the past 6 or 7 years, and I will tell you that it’s a fantastic party. I’m not even really a blues fan! Traditionally it’s been held at the Museum, but this year the Museum decided to move it out of the building and make it bigger and better. I can’t wait to see how great it is!

Blues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland is the headline act, and local favorite Sarasota Slim is opening. But besides the great music, General Admission ticket holders get treated to free beer and barbecue by Good Buddies BBQ all evening! A cash bar will be available with premium beer, wine, and mixed drinks. But, the perks get even better if you purchase V.I.P. tickets: open bar, food by Texas Cattle Company, a wine tasting, private parking, and a balcony overlooking the concert!

Tickets are $50 for General Admission, and $100 for Blues Club V.I.P. tickets. Plus, be sure to bring art supplies (min. value $10) to be distributed to area schools. You can purchase tickets by calling 863-688-7743 x238 or visiting www.PolkMuseumofArt.org.

Oh, and one last thing: you have to be at least 21 years old to attend! It’s a bummer, I know, but them’s the rules. I hope to see you there!