Attend arts activities this month and register for a chance to win awesome “ARTS” prizes! The rules are easy. Look for the Heart of the Arts Logo at participating arts and cultural events in Polk County.  Provide your contact information one time at each activity, so we can contact you if you are a winner. The more activities you experience, the more opportunities you have to win. Drawings take place in early November.

This weekend in the Heart of the Arts (Oct 7-9):

Oct 6-9: The Full Monty at Theatre Winter Haven

Oct 7: View & Review – Critiquing Emerging Artists (Photography) at Polk Museum of Art.

Oct 7: Ask a Gardener at Bok Tower Gardens

Oct 7: People’s Choice at Arts on the Park

Oct 7: Half Price Admission to Explorations V from 6-8pm

Oct 7: Cracker Storytelling Festival Ghost Stories at Polk County Historical Museum

Oct 7-8: THE EDGE Stage Read Series – “Hot L Baltimore” LCT at Lake Mirror Theatre

Oct 8: Opening Reception for Student Exhibition at Polk Museum of Art

Oct 8: History Highlights Polk Proud 150 at 2pm at Bok Tower Gardens

Oct 8: Underground at the Polk at the Historic Polk Theatre

Oct 9: Edward W. Bok Birthday Carillon Concerts at Bok Tower Gardens

View the complete EVENT CALENDAR.

Visit our listing with links to Polk’s arts & cultural organizations.

Bok Tower Gardens Remembers at 2 p.m.
Commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 during a time of quiet reflection as we honor the memory of our fallen heroes. Help plant two live oak tree dedicated to world peace during a special ceremony featuring Rob Quam, Lake Wales Care Center director. Included with admission; 863-676-1408; www.boktowergardens.org

10th Anniversary Commemorative Concert at 4 p.m.
The Bach Festival of Central Florida and Florida Southern College present a Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Concert of September 11, 2001 at FSC’s Branscomb Auditorium. The program features choruses, orchestras, bands and other music ensembles of all ages from Central Florida to remember and honor those who lost their lives that tragic morning. The featured soloist is Kimberly Milton. The music will be traditionally American. All are invited. Admission is free.

The program includes quotations from memorial words and searching questions, which were posted on churches, walls and fences surrounding Ground Zero. These were posted in the days and weeks following the smoldering holocaust and remain on the barricades of the entire area to this day.

ROTC Honor Guard Flag ceremonials will open and close the event along with the singing of the National Anthem and patriotic favorites. The intention of the concert is to be a tribute to the fallen heroes of that dreadful day when the whole world stood still.  “Lest We Forget.”

9/11 Memorial Concert at 7 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church presents a “9/11 Memorial Concert” on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in the FPC Sanctuary, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, at 7:00 p.m.  This concert is FREE and open to the public.  All are welcomed to attend and join in this remembrance!

The concert will include the haunting Fauré “Requiem” and Copland’s “Quiet City” as musical tributes to the tragic events that occurred ten years ago on 9/11.  Interspersed with the music and congregational hymns, this Memorial Concert includes poignant stories, poetry, and scripture to evoke recollections of that heartbreaking day in our history.

Lakeland’s Chandler King returns from the American Boychoir in Princeton, NJ to sing Fauré’s beloved “Pie Jesu.”

Platform Art Parties showcase regional and emerging talent in the fields of visual arts, film, fashion, sound and performance in a nontraditional setting.

Platform Art Party #17: We’re not in Canvas Anymore culminates in the unveiling of a mural created in collaboration with professional artist/educator Paula Allen, Lakeland Sister Cities, City of Lakeland, St Joseph’s Academy, Parker St Ministries and Prodigy Lakeland.

The bicycle safety themed mural created on four panels of four foot by four foot handmade paper will be unveiled at this Platform Art Party, then presented to Lakeland Sister Cities to display publically until it travels to Imabari Japan as part of a formal cultural exchange.

This project serves as a model for expanded relationships with other Sister Cities; and/or a permanent mural to benefit the City of Lakeland community. See a few of the images that the kids developed for the mural in a little animoto video by clicking here.

Get single tickets.  Learn about the benefits of getting an annual pass or becoming a member at various giving levels by clicking here.

The Fly-In hosts a daily air show from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. featuring the world’s best-known air show performers such as:

• United States Navy Blue Angels
• Skip Stewart
• Patty Wagstaff
• Many more!

Besides a daily air show, you can also enjoy static display aircraft, over 500 commercial exhibits, Ladies Pavilion and even a Parts Exchange! The Fly-In guarantees a great time to not only aviation enthusiasts, but also to the general public. For more information, visit Sun ‘n Fun’s website. Sun-n-fun.org. For Sun ‘n Fun friendly accomodations, click here.

January 4, 1:30pm and 7:00pm: Opera Overtures: A theatre broadcast preview of Puccini’s La Fancuilla del West (The Girl of the Golden West).  Live in theatres on January 8th at 1:00pm at Cobb Theatres Lakeside Village 18 Cinemas in Lakeland and Cobb Grand 10 Cinemas in Winter Haven. Learn more!

On exhibit through January 7 at the Lake Wales Municipal Building: Municipal Fine Art Show sponsored by Lake Wales Arts Council and City of Lake Wales.  Learn more!

On exhibit through January 8 at Polk Museum of Art – Eye See America: Through the Lens of Joshua Mann Pailet and Visual Unity 2.  Learn more!

January 9, 1:00pm and 3:30pm: Edward Bok Memorial Carillon Concerts. Commemorate the life of Gardens’ founder Edward W. Bok who died January 9, 1930, less than a year after his beloved Singing Tower was dedicated.  Free with admission.  Learn more!

January 13, 7:30pm: Afiara String Quartet, Updike Hall at Lake Wales Arts Center.  Learn more!

January 17, 1:00pm and 3:30pm:  Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Carillon Concerts featuring music of hope, inspiration and peace honoring Dr. King. Learn more!

January 18, 7:30-8:30pm:  Moonlight Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens.  Learn more!

January 19, 7:30pm: Singer and comedian Mark Lowry performs benefit concert for Southeastern University at The Historic Polk Theatre. Learn more!

January 21, 8:20pm (2020 hours): Pecha Kucha Night Lakeland at 241 S. Kentucky Ave in Lakeland.  The doors open at 7:20pm for this fun and creative event where eight creatives give thought-provoking and entertaining presentations of 20 slides for 20 seconds.  Learn more!

January 21 – April 1: Municipal Fine Art Show at the Lake Wales Municipal Building.  The opening reception and awards ceremony are on January 21 from 5:00-7:00pm.  Learn more!

January 22, 7:00pm: The Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s Night at the Opera takes place in Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College.  This 10th anniversary season celebration includes selections from Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Barber of Seville, La Traviata, Tosca, La Boheme, Lakme, Cavalleria Rusticana, Samson & Delilah, Le Nozze Di Figaro and Lucia Di Lammermoor with a nationally renowned cast, including Stella Zambalis, Mark Thomsen, Thomas Potter, John Thomasson and Christina Sale, led by Artistic Director James Caraher, Indianapolis Opera.  Learn more!

January 23, 4:30pm: Music at Pinewood Concert Series: Duo Turgeon, Piano. Learn more!

On exhibit through January 27 at Lake Wales Arts Center – Ringling College of Art and Design Trustee Scholar Artists.  Learn more!

January 27 – April 21: 12-Week Watercolor Art Classes at Bok Tower Gardens.  Thursdays, except April 14. Beginning/Intermediate: 9:30am-12:30pm, Intermediate/Advanced: 1:30-4:30pm.  Learn more!

January 29, 7:30pm: Leap of Faith – A hand-clapping, toe-tapping evening of gospel music featuring some of the finest voices of church choir members from around the community. Celebrate faith, family and heritage.  This jubilant salute will lift your spirits and restore your soul.  Presented on the Bartow Performing Arts Series at Bartow Elementary Auditorium.  Learn more!

January 30: Sundays @ the Center – Singing Tree, 2:00pm.  Updike Hall at the Lake Wales Arts Center.  A special name for a unique duo. Celtic, folk and traditional music.  Learn more!

January 30, 2pm. One day only – “Thank you for the music – the music of ABBA,” a joint production of Theatre Winter Haven and Lakeland Community Theatre presented at The Historic Polk Theatre.  Tickets available through the Polk Theatre are $25, $20, $15.  Phone: 863.682.7553.  Learn more! Purchase tickets online here!

Learn more about arts events and news by visiting the Polk Arts website.

Nov 11-14: Harrison School of the Arts presents Camelot
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm / Sunday at 2:00pm
Ticket Prices: $10 Adults / $8 Senior Citizens and Students
Purchase tickets online.  The box office will be open 1 hour prior to the performance.  Phone: 863-499-2939.  Harrison Arts Website.

Nov. 12-14: Architecture in Landscape Art Workshop
A three-day workshop for intermediate & advanced students of watercolor, acrylic and oils with artist Gary Gessford at Bok Tower Gardens in the setting of Pinewood Estate.  Bok Tower Gardens Website.

Nov. 12: View & Review at Polk Museum of Art
Polk Museum of Art hosts another installment of View & Review, an informal art critique for emerging artists. This View and Review is led by Rocky Bridges and Leslie Neumann, two of the artists who have work on display in the exhibition Visual Unity 2. The event starts at 6:00pm. Artists who wish to have their work critiqued by Bridges and Neumann must pre-register, but the event is also open to people who are interested in simply hearing what is said.  Admission is $15 per piece for artists who are presenting artwork, and $5 for the audience.  A cash bar will also be available.  Artists must pre-register by calling 863-688-5423 by November 9.  Polk Museum of Art Website.

Nov 13: Behind the Art of Visual Unity 2
On Saturday, November 13, Polk Museum of Art hosts a roundtable discussion of the Visual Unity 2 exhibition. At least nine artists are confirmed for the event, which delves into the experiences of the artists as they prepared their artwork for the exhibition. The event is from 1:00 – 2:00pm, and is free with regular Museum admission.  The confirmed artists to speak at Behind the Art are: Rocky Bridges (Tarpon Springs), Leslie Neumann (Aripeka), Lucia Taxdal (Winter Haven), Monica Eastman (Plant City), Monica Londono (Sarasota), Theo Wujcik (Tampa), Kirk ke Wang (Tampa), Jill Cannady (Deland), and Robert Stackhouse (St. Petersburg). Other artists may appear if their schedules allow.  Learn more at the Polk Museum of Art Website.

Nov 13: Polk County Art Teacher’s Invitational Reception
A reception for the Polk County Art Teacher’s Invitational takes place at Ridge Art Association Gallery on Saturday, November 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  The exhibition runs in the Gallery from October 26—November 17, 2010.  Visit the Ridge Art Website.

Nov 15: American Festival Pops Concert
The Lakeland Choral Society presents an American Festival Pops Concert at the Ramon Theater in Frostproof on Monday, November 15 at 7:30pm.  Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5.  Tickets are available at the door on the evening of the concert.  Click here to visit Lakeland Choral Society on the web.

Learn more about arts and cultural activities and how you can support the arts by visiting the Polk Arts Alliance Website.

Future concerts will include dixieland music by the Good Times Jazz Band on July 25; 50s and 60s music with Elivis impersonator Dwight Icenhower and The Repeatles on August 22; and traditional Appalachian music by Mustang Sally and the Hamjos on September 11.

All of the performances start at 7:30pm and tickets are $15 ahead of time, or $20 the day of the event. The optional dinner starts at 5:45pm in the Blue Palmetto Cafe and cost $15.50 for Bok Tower members or $17 for non-members.

For tickets and more info, visit the Live at the Gardens page on their website.

First, Florida Dance Theatre just announced that it will be extending a special offer to its upcoming performance: buy one ticket, get one free! This applies to not only the general admission and children’s tickets, but also to the pre-performance V.I.P. Cocktail Party. The performance will be on April 18 at 7:30pm at Polk Theatre in downtown Lakeland. The V.I.P. Cocktail Party starts at 6:30pm and includes premier seating at the performance. Tickets are $50 for V.I.P., $18 General, and $12 for children under the age of 12. But remember, buy one, get one free! It’s a great deal, and it’s being offered because people are feeling pinched by the economy.

This is really going to be an excellent performance. Not only are the dancers just fantastic anyway, but they’re also joining forces with the Lakeland based Indie band, Joon. For part of the performance, Joon will be playing their music on stage while FDT dances. Sounds exciting to me!

Next, coming up more quickly — as in this weekend — Bok Tower Gardens will host two events. On Saturday at 7:30am, you can join them for a Sunrise Tree Walk & Breakfast.  Nick Baker, their Director of Horticulture, will guide visitors on a tour of the gardens and talk about the history, variety, and special features of the trees. After that, you’ll get to enjoy breakfast indoors and ask questions. On Sunday, April 12, they’ll be hosting their 81st Annual Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am. Admission is free, and there will be music by the Gardens’ 60-bell carillon and the Lake Wales Choral. An Easter Buffet will be available for a fee.

A new event that hasn’t been publicized much yet is Polk Museum of Art’s Folk Art Day on Saturday, April 25. A workshop by Lakeland folk artist Jack “Mr. B” Beverland will be offered at 11:00am and will cost $10 per person. Space is limited, so you should call ahead to register (688-7743 x249). Then, from noon until 2:00pm, local folk artists will be selling their artwork in the Museum’s parking lot. The final list of participating artists has not been determined yet, but local folk artist and collector Rodney Hardee is helping to organize this part of the day. The great thing about folk art is that it’s usually fairly inexpensive. You can come away with a nice piece of artwork for well under $100. Admission to the sale is free, and a small reception with light refreshments will take place in the Museum’s lobby at the same time.

There are MANY other great events taking place before the end of the month in Polk County. I didn’t even mention Explorations V’s Annual Children’s Festival on the 18th, Lakeland Community Theatre’s performances of Macbeth  starting on the 23rd, or the Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s Cookie Concert on the 26th! Be sure to pick up a copy of Art-i-Facts magazine at any of the local arts institutions or you can view an online version here.

For the first time, FDT will also be hosting a pre-performance V.I.P. Cocktail Party. $50 per person gets you an open bar, a chance to meet the dancers, and premier seating at the performance.  Tickets to the performance or the cocktail party can be purchased by calling FDT at 802-0399.

Here’s the flyer for the event: