TOP 10

POLK TOP 10

POWER IN PINK!

POWer in Pink is BACK! The virtual 26.2 mile, month-long marathon challenge will be September 1-30. Help local, Central Florida breast cancer patients, and their families, pack a POWerful PUNCH to situational poverty, stemming from a breast cancer diagnosis! Run/walk, bike, swim, or skate/rollerblade to complete the marathon; register at bcfcf.org/power-in-pink.

VIDIYO MUSIC FEST

Sep. 4-6 at LEGOLAND. Super fun interactive games, prize competitions, sing-alongs, and creative pop-ups, it’s a full-on music festival of fun for the whole family. International superstar DJ L.L.A.M.A will be appearing live and rocking out to his hit tune “Shake.” Reserve tickets in advance at legoland.com/florida.

BEATS & BACKPACKS

Sept. 18, 9am-1pm at the Winter Haven Farmers Market in the BB&T Bank lot across from Grove Roots in Winter Haven. This is a fundraiser!!! Join Deek Beats to stuff backpacks with supplies and prepare them for distribution. Please bring donations of new backpacks, school supplies, notebooks, etc. to the Market, and Deek will collect and distribute to students in need.

BLING IT ON!

Sept. 17, 6pm at the Lake Ashton Country Club.This is Meals on Wheels of Polk County’s 14th annual Silent Auction & Dinner fundraiser featuring raffles, live and silent auctions, and music by B Haven. For tickets, sponsorships, and other information, call Susan Eldridge at 863-299-1616 or send an e-mail to susan@mealsonwheelspolk.com. Mealsonwheelspolk.com

FOREVER PLAID

Sept. 17-26 at the Balmoral Event Center. Produced by TheatreWorks Florida. Synopsis: Once upon a time, there were four guys who discovered that they shared a love for music and then got together to become their idols. On the way to their first big gig, the “Plaids” are broadsided by a school bus and killed instantly. Full of 50s tunes and pitch-perfect melodies! Centralfloridatix.com

CELEBRATE WINTER HAVEN

Sept. 23, 6pm at Nora Mayo Hall. This is a night to revel in all things Winter Haven! The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce will award the 95th annual Citizens of the Year Banker’s Cup Awards, honor the small and large business of the year, and have a few surprises throughout the night. Reserve your ticket in advance winterhavenchamber.com.

TOTALLY 80S DANCE PARTY

Sept. 23, 7-10pm at the Balmoral Event Center. Grab your legwarmers for a trip back in time - all your favorite 80’s music. Eighties outfits are encouraged with two contests throughout the night: Best Dance & Best Dressed! A taco bar station will be also be available for you to enjoy at no additional cost! Purchase tickets in advance at centralfloridatix.com.

POLK PRIDE 2021

Sept. 25 - Oct. 2 at various locations around Polk County. Pride Week Kickoff is at The Lakeland Parrot. This event is 21+ as it is a bar venue. There is also a Lakeland Youth Alliance event, and a Pride in Faith event. End the week with Pride in the Park for music, entertainment, food, local vendors, and community resources. Bring the whole family to the heart of Lakeland to celebrate Pride! polkpridefl.com

LAKELAND PUNK ROCK FLEA

Sept. 26, noon-6pm at Swan Brewing. Live music with some of the best punk bands across central Florida including Lakeland’s own BULLY FOR YOU and THE KUTOFFS. Shop from 30+ vendors specializing in counterculture collectibles, vinyl, clothing, hand made art and other oddities. Family-friendly with hands on activities for all ages. Food trucks & Swan Brewing beer complete this fun day out.

LADIES NIGHT

Sept. 30 5:30-8:30pm in Downtown Winter Haven. All ladies are invited to a totally rad night planned to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Businesses will be open late and invite you to wear your favorite PINK 80’s fashion. For just $10, you are able to participate in all of the specials, door prizes, and yummy bites and drinks at participating businesses! Register at mainstreetwh.com.

ORLANDO TOP 10

ORLANDO’S MAGICAL DINING

Throughout September at participating restaurants. Enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe menu for only $37 per person. It is strongly encouraged that reservations be made in advance. Participating restaurants are prioritizing your safety with enhanced health and sanitization measures. Visit magicaldining.com for a list of restaurants.

DISNEY ON ICE

Sept. 3-5 at the Amway Center. Disney on Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party featuring Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and stars from Moana, Coco, Frozen, Toy Story, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. This show is filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics, and unexpected stunts! Purchase tickets in advance at Amwaycenter.com.

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS

Sept. 3 - Oct. 31 at Universal Orlando. Now in its 30th year, with haunted houses, sinister scare zones, live entertainment, and Jack the Clown will be back, lunging from the shadows where you least expect. Warning: the event may be too intense and is not recommended for children under the age of 13. Purchase tickets in advance at Universalorlando.com.

UNCORKED

Sept. 14, 7-9pm at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre. See Orlando Ballet’s dancers perform up-close-and-personal. Experience Artistic Director Robert Hill and a few Orlando Ballet dancers choreograph right in front of you. VIP experience is available for an additional charge. 407-418-9828 Register at orlandoballet.org.

SUSHI 101

Sept. 16, 6pm at Publix Aprons Cooking School at Winter Park Village. Learn the basics of making perfectly seasoned sushi rice, forming sushi rolls & Nigiri using all the classic sushi ingredients like nori, wasabi, sushi rice, and pickled ginger. This is a hands-on cooking class, register in advance at Publix.com.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS 5K

Sept. 18, 7:30am at Lake Concord Park in Casselberry. Music reigns supreme at the 2nd race of the Track Shack Running Series featuring local bands dueling it out at every mile. High energy and live music, runners and walkers love this course. Virtual option available. Register in advance at trackshack.com/event/234

TACOS & TEQUILA

Sept. 18, 1-3pm at the Cheyenne Saloon. Sample and vote on your favorite tacos among competing food trucks, taco shops, and restaurants! There will also be tequila samplings, plenty of Pacifico, and live entertainment, included in your ticket price. VIP experience is available for additional charge. Must purchase tickets in advance at orlandoweeklytickets.com.

GLOBAL PEACE FILM FESTIVAL

Starting on the International Day of Peace, Tuesday, Sept. 21, running through Sunday, Sept. 26, a selection of feature and short films will be presented in person at locations in Winter Park and Orlando. These films highlight themes such as civil rights, environmental justice, ethics, human rights, immigration, LGBTQ+, and more. Purchase tickets in advance at peacefilmfest.org.

THE BOOK OF MERMAN

Sept. 24-Oct. 17 at the Winter Park Playhouse. This is the Florida premiere of this new musical comedy that takes a hilarious look at a seemingly fated encounter between Ethel Merman and two young Mormon missionaries who arrive at her door. Must purchase tickets in advance at winterparkplayhouse.org.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Your last chance to see the Happily Ever After Fireworks Show at Magic Kingdom is Sept. 29. This fireworks extravaganza uses lights, lasers, and special effects, plus a score featuring contemporary versions of beloved Disney songs. Must reserve tickets in advance disneyworld.disney.go.com.

TAMPA TOP 10

BAY CRAFTED PASS

Use the Bay Crafted Pass to check-in at Tampa Bay breweries and unlock prizes along the way. Pull up your saved pass when you get to the brewery or distillery and click “Check-In.” Pick up your prize at the Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center. This is mobile-exclusive, instantly delivered via text and email with no apps to download. visittampabay.com/baycrafted/ pass/

CANOE ESCAPE

Escape to nature on a 2-hour to full day, downstream, quiet-water, paddling adventure through a 16,000-acre wildlife preserve. From the thousands of white ibis in the fall, the sightings of deer, wild hog, and turkey in the winter, the Hillsborough River brings a new surprise and adventure around each bend. Schedule in advance canoeescape.com.

MINECRAFT MANIA

Saturdays, 1pm-3pm, ages 7-12 at Mosi. You’ll get a chance to play on individual, small-team, and fullteam challenges as you work on perfecting your mining strategies or learning some basic coding! Due to space constraints, parents are not permitted to attend this program. Parents may drop off their participants and return for pick-up. Preregistration is required. Mosi.org

CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY ANNUAL SALE

Sept. 4, 9am - 2pm. The USF Botanical Gardens are hosting the Cactus & Succulent Society for their 27th annual Central Florida sale. They will be located under an event tent near the parking lot. Free admission & free parking. (813) 974-2329 gardens.usf.edu/

TAMPA BOAT SHOW

Sept. 10-12 at the Tampa Convention Center. This is Tampa’s largest, longest running boat show with hundreds of boats from all the top brands displayed on and off the water, there’s a boat for every lifestyle and activity. Every day of the show includes a line up of boater’s education, seminars and family-friendly attractions. Tampaboatshow.com

CABARET

Sept. 10 - Oct. 2 by the Carrollwood Players. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920’s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. Purchase tickets in advance carrollwoodplayers.org.

MEET THE BREEDS

Sept. 18 & 19 at the Tampa Convention Center. The American Kennel Club is giving dog lovers a unique opportunity to meet, play with, and learn about more than 100 dog breeds (and cats, too)! Learn from experts about each breed in attendance. akc.org/ sports/akc-meet-the-breeds/

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR

Sept. 23 - Oct. 3, various dates at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover. The annual county fair is held every fall over an 8 day period. It’s a celebration of community, agriculture, education and exhibits. This year includes a pie eating contest, Harvest Queen Pageant, kids activities, and more for the entire family. hillsboroughcountyfair.com

BLEU COLLECTIVE

Sept. 25, 6:30-9pm on the Riverwalk Stage at the Straz Center. Bleu is a collective of artists centered in the Tampa Bay Area known for taking classic RnB, HipHop, Soul, Singer/Songwriter, and Pop sounds and uniting them with the sounds of the new decade. This is a free event part of the Live & Local Series. Strazcenter.org

ERIC CLAPTON

Sept. 25, 8pm at Amalie Arena. The legendary Eric Clapton is coming to Tampa with special guest Jimmie Vaughan. Eric Patrick Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and of Cream. amaliearena.com