Upcoming Events

AUGUST 2022 C A L E N D A R

Get Your Listing in the Calendar

Email Listings to: tracey@todayandtonight.com

Info must be received by the 23rd of the Month Prior to Publication. Events will be included as space allows.

Arts, Crafts, Festivals & Expos

AUG 4 – WhistleStop

Political Rally. Join the Winter Haven Chamber for the WhistleStop political rally at Nora Mayo Hall! This will be a fun evening of getting to know candidates running for elected office, eating BBQ from Smokin’ Jims and spending quality time with local friends. Candidates can purchase a booth and share more about what they stand for so you, the community, can learn more and make an educated decision. Located at Nora Mayo Hall, 500 3rd St NW, Winter Haven. Thurs, 5:30-8 pm. Tickets - $25.

AUG 5 – 40th Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally.

Hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce. Meet and mingle with Incumbents & Candidates campaigning for local, county, state and federal offices, enjoy a fabulous catered dinner by John Michael Exquisite Weddings & Catering, Door Prizes, Parade of Candidates, live band Red Hot Rooster and more! Located Lk Eva Event Center, Haines City. Fri, 6-9 pm. Tickets - $50. NortheastPolkChamber.com

AUG 5 – August First

Friday. Head to Downtown Lakeland on the first Friday of every month for First Friday; new theme each month. This month is Back to School bash. Downtown shops and restaurants will be open late. Enjoy goodies, giveaways, and discounts from local business exhibitors. Shop in the Makers Market, which features local artists and creators, and check out the Classy Car Show on Main St. First Friday is a family-friendly event held in the streets of Downtown Lakeland between Lemon Street and Oak Street along Kentucky Ave. and Main St. Downtown Lakeland, Fri 6-9 pm. DowntownLKLD. com

AUG 11 – Lakeland Food

Truck Rally. Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally brings food trucks to Munn Park on the 2nd Thursday of every month. Come on out to Downtown Lakeland and enjoy a variety of Florida food trucks and their delicious cuisine. 20 plus food trucks come together each month and park on the streets surrounding beautiful Munn Park. Thurs, 6-9 pm. (next events: Sept 8, Oct 13)

AUG 14 – Central Florida

Collectorfest. 15,000 sq ft of Toys and Collectibles! Hosted by Florida Toy Shows and Expos. Located at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland. Sun, 9-4 pm. Early Bird Entry (9a-12p) - $15, General Admission (after 12p) - $10, 12 and under free. Parking free. FloridaToyShows.com and www.RPFundingCenter. com

AUG 14 & 25 – Balmoral Summer At The Pool

Series. Balmoral Bar & Grill is hosting a pool party series in August. Aug 14 is the Family Funday Sunday Foam Party 1-5 pm (family friendly) and Aug 25 is the Adult Glow Foam Party 7-11 pm (21 & up). Located Balmoral Bar & Grill/Balmoral Resort, Haines City. Tickets available at CentralFloridaTix.com or BalmoralBarAndGrill.com for info.

AUG 16– Tasty Tuesday.

Third Tuesday of every month. 10 tastes from downtown bars, restaurants and sweet shops. New offerings every month. Tasty Tuesdays are a super fun way to experience multiple Downtown restaurants all in one night! You get hearty sample sizes with each ticket and move from place to place at your own pace! Tastings begin at 4:30pm and end at 9pm. Purchase your ticket package from LDDA. Tickets come in packets of 10 for $25. (Additional packs may be purchased in increments of $5 which is 2 tickets). Tues, 4:30-9 pm. Cost - $25 for 10 tastes. https://ldda.square. site/product/tasty-tuesday-tickets/31?cs=true&cst=custom

SEPT 10 & 11 – F.I.R.Expo.

Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show. Located at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland. Sat, 9-4 pm and Sun, 10-4 pm. Online tickets only $12 Adults, $6 Youth (5-12 yrs), 4 and under free. www.Repticon.com and www. RPFundingCenter.com

SEPT 17 – Sesame Street Live “Make Your Magic”.

Join your favorite Sesame Street friends for a magical adventure when Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic visits your neighborhood. Elmo and Abby Cadabby team up to learn how determination and practice are the best ways to reach your goals. Along the way, they are joined by Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover, Count and Rosita to discover why it’s okay to make mistakes and real magic can be found when you believe in yourself. With high-energy dancing and an introduc-

tion to the art of illusion, you’ll enjoy every magical moment with your family and friends at Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic.Located at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland. Sat, 2 shows 10:30 am & 2:30 pm. Tickets $23, $28, $33, $38, $43, $48, $58 plus parking. www.RPFundingCenter.com

SEPT 24 & 24 – Ultimate Team Challenge Bull Riding.

Come watch some of the world’s best cowboys compete on teams to try and win piece of a $100,000 cash prize! Over the course of this event, 90 bull riders will be going headto-head with the countries best bovine athletes. The team with the highest accumulated score on 3 rides, wins! We will have fun for everyone at this event, with activities for the whole family. We will have a boot scramble for the kids on Friday, and a dance off on Saturday. You can also try your luck as a bull rider on the mechanical bull in our family zone. Or if you’re feeling brave, you can play Money the Hard Way for the chance to win $200! Located at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland. Fri & Sat, 7 pm. Tickets $21, $29, $34, $40, $108 VIP Floor Seats. www. RPFundingCenter.com

Markets, Antique Fairs & Car Shows

Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market – (Closed Aug).

We have an exceptional variety of local vendors who offer fresh produce, seafood, pastries, breads, desserts, local honey, artisans, and crafts, to name a few. We are part of the FAB (Fresh Access Bucks) program that assists those in the SNAP/EBT program by encouraging healthy behaviors by making fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to SNAP customers. Stop by the Market Information Booth for more details! Located N. Kentucky Ave, Lakeland. Sat, 8 am-1 pm. (Closed August)

Winter Haven Farmers

Market – Saturdays. Shop locally-grown food, artisan food vendors, plants, food trucks and more while supporting a healthy & connected community. Located across from Grove Roots on the NE corner of 3rd St. & Ave C SW in the BB&T parking lot in downtown Winter Haven. Sat 8:30-11:30 am (Summer Hours Jun, Jul, Aug).

AUG 14 - Second Sunday

Artisan Market. Every second Sunday of the month, enjoy a variety of Florida based businesses selling a variety of hand-made items. Located Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center, Lakeland, Sun, 12-5 pm. www.shoplakesidevillage. net

AUG 18 - Lake Wales 3rd

Thursday Market. The boutique market will feature a variety of produce, artisan food vendors, plants, a pinch of crafts and a mind-blowing food truck. This market is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Located Stuart Avenue in the parking lot near downtown’s new Gillian Fazio mural in Lk Wales. Thurs, 4-7 pm.

Concerts & Theatre

AUG 12 – Classic Albums

Live Concert Series. Note for Note and Cut for Cut. Performances of classic rock’s best albums and artists with original music performed live on stage. Aug 12: Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms”, Sept 22: U2 “Joshua Tree”, Oct 23: Billy Joel “The Stranger”. Located at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland. Fri, 8 pm. Tickets - $44, $33 plus parking. www. RPFundingCenter.com

AUG 20 – Candlelight at the Ritz: Summer Woodwinds.

A unique musical series experienced in an intimate and breathtaking setting. Immerse yourself in the artistry of the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra Woodwinds Quintet, while awash in the warm glow of candlelight in Winter Haven’s downtown treasure, The Historic Ritz Theatre. Come celebrate this wonderful music form with the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and horn. Your choice of a free drink from our bar is included in the ticket price. Located at Ritz Theatre, downtown Winter Haven. Thurs & Fri, 7:30 pm and Sat, 7:30 pm. Cost – 30. www. RitzWinterHaven.com

AUG 27 – Spirit and the Cosmic Heart wsg Brett

Staska. A warm shoegaze pop sound founded on good production, lush instrumentals and soft vocals, and show a tendency for memorable and tuneful writing. Subtly reminiscent of sixties pop, Moments EP (2021) is an accurate representation of the bands songful character, bringing forth symmetric levels of dream pop melancholy and twee smoothness. Located at Ritz Theatre, downtown Winter Haven. Sat, 7:30 pm. Cost - $10 adv, $13 at door. www. RitzWinterHaven.com Show at Balmoral. Hosted by Trishelle featuring Olivia and Japonica. Located Balmoral Event Center, Balmoral Resort, Haines City. Sat, 7-10 pm. Tickets - $45. CentralFloridaTix. com

SEPT 9 – The U.S. Bee Gees.

The ultimate salute to the Bee Gees in their prime! This 5-piece band features the precise vocal blend, and musicianship, of Todd Pitts, Greg Pitts and Ken Custalow as the brothers Gibb. The sibling harmonies of the Pitts brothers makes for an even higher caliper of vocal blending. This combined with an energetic stage performance continues to thrill audiences everywhere. Located at Ritz Theatre, downtown Winter Haven. Fri, 7 pm. Cost - $30. www.RitzWinterHaven.com

Charity Events & Golf Tournaments

AUG 7 – Bowl A Rama 2022.

Join us for a Family Friendly fundraiser which includes Bowling w/ Shoes, Food Buffet, Raffles, Fun! 8 Pin No-Tap format. Enter a 4-person team to bowl or sponsor a lane. Space is limited so book early! PolkNoKill.org or email Lisa Baker for details: lisa.baker@ humanesocietyofpolkcounty.org

OCT 22 – 7th Annual Fore

the Love. Golf and Women’s Tennis Tournament. Benefit for the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation. Located at the Country Club of Winter Haven. Sat, 9 am. (online auction and raffles: Fri, Oct 14 to Sat, Oct 22) whhfoundation.org for more info