§ Home base

Lake Wales Events & Things to Do

The town

This is home base — the Ridge town built around Bok Tower Gardens, Spook Hill, and a Scenic Highway downtown that still runs on porch fronts and citrus-town brick. Everything else on this site radiates out from here.

If you're looking for what's happening in Lake Wales itself rather than a neighboring town, the events, directory, and guide sections elsewhere on the site are the deeper resources; this hub page exists mainly to anchor mileage and drive times to the surrounding cities.

Coming up

Lake Wales events.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Government
Planning & Zoning Board Meeting
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · City Administration
Monthly Planning & Zoning Board meeting.
Full details →
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Community
Trivia Night at 2nd Street Cafe
7:00 PM · 2nd Street Cafe, Downtown Lake Wales
Weekly team trivia downtown — arrive early for a table.
Full details →
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Community
Chamber Breakfast Club
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM · Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber networking breakfast with a short member spotlight.
Full details →
Friday, August 28, 2026
Nature
Wawa Summer Fun Days
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Bok Tower Gardens
Free family admission day at Bok Tower Gardens sponsored by Wawa — kids' activities and carillon music.
Full details →
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Recreation
Sunset Yoga at Lake Wailes
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Lake Wailes Park
Donation-based sunset yoga on the lawn overlooking Lake Wailes. BYO mat.
Full details →
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Community
Community Puzzle Day
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop
Drop-in collaborative jigsaw puzzling all day at the downtown coffee and bookshop.
Full details →
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Library
Toddler Story Time
10:30 AM · Lake Wales Public Library
Weekly toddler story time.
Full details →
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Community
Central Florida Health Care Food Distribution
7:00 AM – 12:30 PM · James P. Austin Community Center
Recurring community food distribution — first-come, first-served.
Full details →
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Arts
Thrown Together — Closing Weekend
Gallery hours · Lake Wales Arts Council
Final day of the Thrown Together group exhibition at the Arts Center.
Full details →
July 16 – September 5, 2026
Arts
Thrown Together Exhibition
Gallery hours · Lake Wales Arts Council
Group exhibition at the Lake Wales Arts Council gallery.
Full details →
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Market
Lake Wales Downtown Market
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Second-Saturday downtown market — produce, makers, and prepared food. Held the 2nd and 4th Saturday each month.
Full details →
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Community
Hot Rods & Reels Car Show
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Kiwanis Park
Classic cars, food trucks, and live music at Kiwanis Park.
Full details →
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Community
Bingo at the Woman's Club
3:30 PM – 8:00 PM · Lake Wales Woman's Club
22 rounds of Bingo with cash prizes. Doors 3:30.
Full details →
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Government
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Municipal Administration Building
CRA meeting on downtown redevelopment — public may attend and speak.
Full details →
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Government
City Commission Meeting
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Municipal Administration Building
Regular city commission meeting — agenda posted online 48 hours prior.
Full details →
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Community
Power Lunch with Sheriff Grady Judd
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM · Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber's annual Power Lunch featuring Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Ticketed — register through the Chamber.
Full details →
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Market
Lake Wales Downtown Market
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Fourth-Saturday downtown market at Market Plaza.
Full details →
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Community
Lakeland Cruisers Car Show
5:00 PM · Beef 'O' Brady's, Lake Wales
Monthly car enthusiast gathering in the Beef 'O' Brady's lot — classics, trucks, and hot rods.
Full details →
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Government
Planning & Zoning Board Meeting
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · City Administration
Monthly Planning & Zoning Board meeting.
Full details →
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Arts
Florida Narratives: Stories in Folk Art — Opening Reception
5:30 PM · Lake Wales Arts Council
Opening reception for the folk art exhibition exploring Florida storytelling traditions.
Full details →
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Community
A Masquerade Gala — 10th Annual Chamber Gala & Awards
5:30 PM · Lake Ashton, Lake Wales
Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce masquerade awards gala. Tickets $85–$95.
Full details →
Friday, October 23, 2026
Festival
Lake Wales Live — Hometown Sounds
5:00 PM · Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Free outdoor concert featuring Hometown Sounds at Market Plaza — food trucks and downtown vendors.
Full details →
October 24 – 25, 2026
Festival
50th Annual Pioneer Days Festival
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Lake Wailes Park
Milestone 50th year of the free community heritage festival — living-history demos, pumpkin patch, crafts, and Cracker music. Presented by the Lake Wales History Museum.
Full details →
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Festival
Halloween Spooktacular
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Downtown Lake Wales
Main Street's family-friendly Halloween takeover of downtown with trick-or-treating and costume contests.
Full details →
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Nature
Bok Tower Big Tree Festival
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Bok Tower Gardens
Family festival celebrating the gardens' champion trees — guided walks, kids' crafts, and carillon.
Full details →
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Community
Veterans Day Ceremony
11:00 AM · Veterans Memorial Park
City ceremony honoring Lake Wales veterans with speakers, wreath-laying, and rifle salute.
Full details →
Friday, November 13, 2026
Festival
Lake Wales Live
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Free outdoor concert and downtown block party — live band, vendors, and food trucks. 2026–27 dates: Oct 23, Nov 13, Dec 11, Jan 22.
Full details →
Friday, December 11, 2026
Festival
Make It Magical
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Downtown Lake Wales
Holiday shopping, festive decor, and music downtown — held alongside the December edition of Lake Wales Live.
Full details →
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Festival
Lake Wales Christmas Parade
6:00 PM · Park Avenue, Downtown
Lighted holiday parade down Park Ave — floats, marching bands, Santa on the last float.
Full details →
Friday, January 22, 2027
Festival
Lake Wales Live
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Free outdoor concert and downtown block party — music, vendors, and food.
Full details →
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Music
Lunchtime Concert Series
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM · Downtown Lake Wales
Free downtown lunchtime concerts. 2027 dates: Jan 23, Feb 27, Mar 27, Apr 24.
Full details →
February 27 – March 1, 2027
Festival
55th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM · Sun 10 AM – 4 PM (Awards Sat 4:30–6 PM) · Lakeshore Blvd, Lake Wailes
Free open-air festival with 70+ juried fine artists, the Tasting Trail, and live music. Presented by AdventHealth.
Full details →
Saturday, March 6, 2027
Festival
Cork & Keys
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Downtown Lake Wales
Main Street's signature wine, food, and live-music stroll through downtown.
Full details →
Saturday, March 28, 2027
Festival
Lake Wales Live
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Downtown Lake Wales
Main Street's downtown block party.
Full details →

Places

Lake Wales directory.

Arts / Culture / Attractions

Bok Tower Gardens

1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853

863-676-1408

Lake Wales Events & Things to Do

Lake Wales events.

Lake Wales directory.

Bok Tower Gardens

Lake Wales Arts Council

Lake Wales History Museum

Spook Hill

Alligator Cove Airboat Nature Tours

City of Lake Wales

Lake Wales Municipal Airport

Melanie's Seafood Company

Vibbin' Vinny's

Lake Wales Latte Lounge

Lady B's Tea Parlour

The Thirsty Dragon Tavern

Market Place Cafe

Lake Wales Family Restaurant

Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak

Sizzling Grill

Crazy Fish Bar & Grill

Duke's Brewhouse

McDonald's

Outback Steakhouse

Panera Bread

Kathryn's Christian Books

Cocoa Cake Studio

On the Avenue Boutique & Gifts

Mayer Jewelers

G's Vintage Market

Sew Creative

Natural Roots Beauty Bar

AdventHealth Lake Wales

Central Florida Health Care

Warner University

Lake Wales High School

Edward W. Bok Academy North

Edward W. Bok Academy South

Hillcrest Elementary

Polk Avenue Elementary

Gibson Law Firm, P.A.

Ewing, Blackwelder & Duce

Erwin Insurance Agency

Hampton Inn & Suites

Holiday Inn Express

Camp Mack, A Guy Harvey Lodge

Savannah Court of Lake Wales

Florida's Natural Growers

Hunt Bros., Inc.

Lake Wales Care Center

Lake Wales Heritage, Inc.

CubeSmart Self Storage

Out O' Space Storage

CAPO Security

Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Lake Wales

Yeoman's Feed & Farm Supply

Lake Wales Little Theatre

McKeon Chiropractic Clinic

SpeeCH Savvy Therapy Services

Full Service Property Management

Polk Real Estate — Cheryl Polk

Citizens Bank & Trust — Douglas Clark, Residential Lending

Edward Jones — John C. Miller III

State Farm — Kevin Weltlin

EverTree Financial — Vanessa Colburn & Krystal Massey

Law Offices of James M. Weaver, P.A.

PHR Staffing Services

Labor Solutions

Groover Exterminating

R.J. Elter Construction

Blest Signs

Francis Rivera Handyman

Johnson-Nelson-Gill Funeral Home

Goin' Postal Lake Wales

Kat & Son Airport Transportation — Kat Gates-Skipper

Love's Travel Stop / Speedco

Mary Kay — Debra Jackson True, Independent Beauty Consultant

Pinky Nails

Removing the Barriers — Bill Redmon, Founder

Daybreak Missions, Inc. — Ruby Huntley

The Harbor Waterfront