Southeastern University Choral Concert
Date: Monday, April 23
Venue: First Presbyterian Church – Lakeland
-This Southeastern University Choral Concert will take place Monday, April 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland.

ISO “Tea and Symphony”
Date: Tuesday, April 24
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-The Tuesday before each Masterworks concert, enjoy wine, tea and refreshments while learning about the upcoming Imperial Symphony Orchestra concert.
-This will be at Lake Hunter Room in The Lakeland Center.

Driven to Abstraction, Tony Eitharong & Carol Frye
Dates: Thursday, April 26 – Thursday
Venue: Lake Wales Arts Center
-This is an exhibition held at the Lake Wales Arts Center.
-The opening reception is scheduled for April 26, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Rumors
Dates: Thursday, April 26 – Sunday, April 29
Venue: Theatre Winter Haven
-This is a Comedy by Neil Simon, America’s best known multi-award winning playwright, at Theatre Winter Haven.

String Ensemble Concert
Date: Thursday, April 26
Venue: Harrison Arts Center – Lakeland
-This string orchestra concert will take place at Harrison Arts Center.

Lakeland Derby
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: Lake Mirror – Lakeland
-The Lakeland Derby is an annual “Derby Style” event staged on beautiful Lake Mirror in Downtown Lakeland.
-The Derby features ten beautifully hand-crafted swan paddleboats in a thrilling race to the finish line along with exciting new additions including corn hole, a bounce house, balloon artist and small fishing ponds for the little ones.
-Fred’s Southern Kitchen is offering a dinner for only $5, and you can also enjoy wine, beer and strawberry shortcake.
-The proceeds will support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, a vital local charity.

Lakeland Raiders vs. Rome Rampage
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-The Raiders’ 2012 season consists of seven home games at The Lakeland Center.
-Kick-off for all home games will be 7:15pm.
-Single Game Ticket Prices:
Club Level: $25 Adult, $18 Child
Side Line: $18 Adult, $9 Child
Red Zone: $12 Adult, $7 Child

Motion Picture Art Film Festival
Dates: Friday, April 27 – Saturday, April 28
Venue: Harrison Arts Center – Lakeland
-Harrison School for the Arts presents a Motion Picture Arts Film Festival Friday through Saturday.
-The event takes place at 7:30pm on both evenings.

Polk Museum of Art: Curator Tour
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: Polk Museum of Art – Lakeland
-Enjoy a special tour of the “Sketches & Steel” exhibition with Adam Justice, PMoA’s Curator of Art.

Roundhousen’s Roast
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: Polk Theatre – Lakeland
-This film was produced and directed by Southeastern students and faculty and includes many students in its cast.
-Roundhousen’s Roast follows in the line of murder mystery comedies such as Clue and Murder by Death.

STARPOWER National Talent Competition
Dates: Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-STARPOWER is a National Talent Competition held at The Lakeland Center’s Youkey Theatre.

The Odd Couple
Dates: Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29
Venue: Lakeland Community Theatre
-Lakeland Community Theatre presents The Odd Couple, a 1965 Broadway comedy by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series as well as other derivative works and spinoffs.

Eagle Lake BBQ Festival
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Gazebo Park (off Hwy 17) – Eagle Lake
-Enjoy the best local barbeque at this pro-team /backyard BBQ competition along with all-day live music, children’s activities and free parking and admission.
-The Festival proceeds will benefit Lake Region High School Athletics.

Fancy Flea Vintage Vintage Home and Garden Market
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
-Rated as one of the Top 10 Flea Markets in America, Fancy Flea is a semi-annual event located in Downtown Lakeland featuring furniture, vintage clothing, hand-made jewelry, original art and more.

Florida Southern College Graduation
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-Florida Southern College’s graduation ceremony will be in the George Jenkins Arena at The Lakeland Center.
-The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Healthy Kids Day
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: YMCA Winter Haven
-Join YMCA Winter Haven for fun activities relating to health and education as they encourage kids and parents to commit to keeping the body and mind active this summer.

Historic Walking Tour
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
-Realtor Jim Malless and architect John White will lead you on entertaining and informative treks into Downtown Lakeland’s distant and recent past.
-Reservations are required, and tours are limited to 30 people.

Lakeland Love Comedy
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Polk Theatre – Lakeland
-A romantic comedy described as The Office meets Raising Arizona meets Paul Blart (Mall Cop).
-This feature-length film was shot in many locations around Lakeland with film dialogue that was entirely improvised.

Over 55 Show Band
Dates: Saturday, April 28 – Sunday, April 29
Venue: Fine Arts Theatre, Polk State College – Winter Haven
-The Over 55 Show Band performs at Polk State College in the Winter Haven Fine Arts Theatre on Saturday and Sunday.

Platform Art Party #19
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Downtown Lakeland
-A progressive art party of visual art, short film, fashion, sound and performance with a focus on our agricultural heritage.
-A public art piece funded by Platform Art will be unveiled during the event, which is a celebration of Earth Month and Polk County’s rich agricultural heritage.
-The primary venue is under the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Pavilion.

Webster University Graduation
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-This college graduation will take place in Sikes West at The Lakeland Center
-It’s free and open to Public. 

Upcoming Events:

Legends & Legacies- D-Day Invasion of Normandy – May 11-12 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Ironman 70.3 Florida – May 19-May 20 (Lake Eva Park-Haines City)

Carillon Classic 5k Run/Walk – May 26 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Legends & Legacies- Reflections of Vietnam – June 8-9 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Florida’s Sunshine State Games: Polk County Festival – June 15-17 & 23-24

Red, Brick & Boom – July 4 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

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

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

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

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

Polk County’s 19th Platform Art party will be held on April 28, 2012 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. in downtown Lakeland. Next weekend’s progressive art party will feature visual art, short film, fashion, sound and performance with a focus on agricultural heritage. Tickets will be $15.00 in advance, $20.00 the day of the event, and $10.00 for students with a valid id at the door.

For an even more exciting twist there will be a public art piece funded by Platform Art that will be unveiled during the event, which is a celebration of Earth Month and Polk County’s agricultural heritage. Art Party #19: Art in AgriCulture will be an event no one will want to miss!

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.

This show, sure to be an eclectic mix of art and party is creating quite a buzz.  “But what is it? It’s not just a concert, an art show, a film or a dance — it’s all of them and more.” says Peggy Kehoe, managing editor for the Polk County Democrat.  

The party will be Saturday February 13, 6:30-10 p.m. at the Polk County Historical Museum, 100 East Main St, Bartow.  Admission is as follows: $15 – General Admission, $12 – Seniors, $10 – Students.