It all starts Saturday, September 18 at 11:00am, and besides the great entertainment (that I’ll be telling you about below), the first 500 school age children through the door will receive a free bag of art supplies!

So what can you do or see at Family Day? How about performances by Didgeridoo Down Under, magician Luis Campaneria, Tampa Taiko Japanese drumming, and the Kuumba Dancers & Drummers? You can also find balloon bending, face painting, a community sculpture project, a global stick game, portrait sketches, a bake sale, and tables about countries from all over the world. For art activities, you can try your hand at paper African masks, origami lanterns, Japanese kimono dolls and carp kites, Moroccan good luck hands, Australian didgeridoos, and Chinese good luck door hangers.

The event runs 11:00am – 3:00pm on September 18. You won’t want to miss it!

This year’s Family Day features a “Going Green” theme. Activities and entertainment will feature a variety of eco-friendly ways to be artistic and creative, including the chance to participate in the construction of a large sculpture made from recycled materials. A diverse entertainment schedule will include Tampa Taiko, Japanese drummers whose instruments are made from recycled wine barrels; didgeridoos made from old PVC pipes by Didgeridoo Down Under; a recycled magic show by Luis Campaneria; and more.

The event takes place from 11am – 3pm, and art supplies will be given away while supplies last.

Family Day part of the Diversity Partnership Multicultural Week and is sponsored by: MIDFLORIDA,  The George W. Jenkins Fund though the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, BCI Engineers & Scientists, Mosaic, The AT&T Real Yellow Pages, Friends of the Lakeland Public Library, Kohl’s, Pepperidge Farm, and Party People Celebration Company.

Polk Museum of Art

As a special pre-event celebration, on Friday night, May 8, the Museum hosts the Mayfaire Kick-Off Party. The party is fro 5:30 – 7:30pm and is held on the lawn of the Lakeland Public Library on Lake Morton. Some of the artists are open for early viewing, and visitors can check that part out free of charge. But the happening place to be is at the party, which will include an open bar, entertainment, and great hors d’oeuvres by Texas Cattle Company. Tickets to the party are $20 for Museum members, $30 for Non-Members, or $35 at the door.

The main event begins on Saturday at 10am. All of the artists and food vendors will be open and ready for business! As always, a wide variety of artists will have their work on display — from painters to jewelers to ceramicists to wood workers. Everyone can find something they like!

If you’ve ever been to Mayfaire before, you know that finding parking can be a trick. To make it easier, we recommend parking behind the library at Florida Southern college right off MacDonald. PMoA is providing a free shuttle between the parking lot and Palmetto Street. Just hop aboard and you’ll be whisked down to the festival, and then when you’re done, you can catch a ride back to the parking lot.

One of the big changes this year is that the Children’s Art Tent has been moved to the Museum’s parking lot and is now part of a larger Kids Zone. As always, there will be fun, FREE art activities to engage the young ones, but this year there will also be bounce houses and a climbing wall. The bounce houses and climbing wall will involve a small fee.

On Saturday night, the fun moves over to Lake Mirror for Mayfaire Saturday Night/Festival of Arts & Athletes. Entertainment starts at 5:00pm with Quittin’ Time. At 7:00pm, Lakeland Runners Club will start the annual Mayfaire Classic 5k. Then at 9:00pm, you can enjoy a great fireworks display. Music continues until 11:00pm with The Ditchflowers. Admission to this event is free, so feel free to bring your picnic and chairs. If you’d rather have someone else make the food, vendors will be on hand.

MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake continues on Sunday until 5:00pm. The show award winners will be announced at 2:00pm from the stage at the Lakeland Public Library lawn.

We hope you can join us for this Lakeland tradition! Wear your sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses, and come out to celebrate the arts.

People of all ages are coming out and enjoying the great art and the great food to be found around the lake. And a lot of people are wandering into Polk Museum of Art for a few minutes of AC and to see even more wonderful artwork.

So far, the MayFerries have been a big hit. Every time I see one, it’s full! And when I was driving one this morning, the people I picked up were really pleased to be able to catch a lift.

We’re looking forward to finishing off a great day, and celebrating some more at Mayfaire Saturday Night tonight. Be sure to come on down to Lake Morton in Downtown Lakeland before 5pm to see the art, and then mosey over to Lake Mirror for music by The Rogues and fireworks at 9pm. I’ll see you there!