An independent guide to Lake Wales and the Florida Ridge.
§ Polk County · 12.2 mi · ~25 min from Lake Wales
The town
Winter Haven is built on the Chain of Lakes — 25 interconnected lakes with canals cut between them in the 1910s. Downtown wraps around Lake Silver, Legoland sits on Lake Eloise, and Lake Howard hosts the sunset crowd on the patio at Old Man Franks.
It's the closest full night out from Lake Wales: a 25-minute drive up SR-60 or US-17 gets you to a denser restaurant and bar scene than anything in Lake Wales proper, plus the Central Avenue food hall district downtown.
Coming up
Friday, August 14, 2026
Nearby8:00 PM · Tanners Lakeside Restaurant & Bar, Winter Haven
Nearby: live pro wrestling card at Tanners on Lake Howard.
Full details →Every Saturday in August 2026
Market9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Magnolia Ave between 2nd & 3rd St SW, Downtown Winter Haven
Polk County: weekly market with produce, seafood, baked goods, honey, plants, food trucks, and local makers. Free market bag at the info tent.
Full details →Saturday, August 15, 2026
RecreationPre-show 4:15 PM · Show 5:00 PM · MLK Park at Lake Silver, Winter Haven
Polk County: the world-famous Cypress Gardens Ski Team performs free on Lake Silver. Bring a chair and cash for the 50/50 raffle.
Full details →Friday, September 4, 2026
Nearby5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Downtown Winter Haven Historic District
Nearby: monthly downtown Winter Haven street party — food, drink, live music, and shopping.
Full details →September 4 – 6, 2026
NearbyAll weekend · Chain of Lakes Complex, Winter Haven
Nearby: youth and high-school baseball tournament kicking off the fall Perfect Game season at Chain of Lakes.
Full details →Saturday, September 19, 2026
Nearby12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Lake Gwyn Park, Winter Haven
Nearby: Polk County's Hispanic Heritage Festival — live music, street food, vendors, fashion show, and talent show.
Full details →Saturday, September 19, 2026
Nearby12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Lake Gwyn Park, 137 Ave A E, Winter Haven
Polk County: county-hosted festival with live music, authentic street food, vendors, games, a fashion show, and a talent show.
Full details →Saturday, October 3, 2026
Nearby11:00 AM · Tanners Lakeside Restaurant & Bar, Winter Haven
Nearby: charity fundraiser supporting AED placement and heart-health education across Polk County.
Full details →Places
Government & Public Services
1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, FL
863-298-6200
Website ↗Restaurants & Coffee
1005 Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
863-294-9179
Website ↗Seafood · Bar · Live music
1005 Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven
(863) 294-9179
Website ↗American · Steakhouse · Seafood
701 6th St SE, Winter Haven
(863) 293-7070
American · Seafood
2499 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven
Steakhouse · BBQ · Happy Hour
363 3rd St NW, Winter Haven
Classic American Diner
2030 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
Breakfast & Lunch
1008 6th St SE, Winter Haven
Steakhouse
300 Cypress Gardens Blvd SW, Winter Haven
Seafood
5500 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven
American · Waterfront Views
615 7th St SW, Winter Haven
Italian
231 W Central Ave, Winter Haven
(863) 293-0641
Downtown Food Hall
308 4th St SW, Winter Haven
American · Seafood · Lakeside
1006 Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven
Steakhouse · Brazilian
4790 S Florida Ave, Winter Haven
Latin American · New American
20 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
(863) 293-1961
Food hall · Multiple vendors
302 W Central Ave, Winter Haven
Craft Cocktails · Lounge
356 3rd St NW, Winter Haven
Tiki Bar · Waterfront · Live Music
1004 Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven
Whiskey & Craft Cocktail Bar
239 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
Sports Bar · Trivia · Live Music
5688 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven
Local Hangout · Karaoke
2995 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven
Bar & Pool Hall
Winter Haven
Hometown Corner Bar
100 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
Craft Beer & Tap House
Winter Haven
Craft brewery · Biergarten
Winter Haven
Live Music Venue & Dance Bar
118 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
Dance Bar & Nightlife Spot
1006 Lake Howard Dr SW, Winter Haven
Country Dance Bar & Live Music
Winter Haven
Guides
Public parks, library programs, free markets, and free music nights across Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow, and beyond.
Read the guide →
Downtown cafes, a barbecue counter, lakeside seafood shacks, and the US-27 corridor chains — grouped by type.
Read the guide →
Recurring markets across the county — downtown Lake Wales to lakeside Winter Haven — with cadence and how to check current dates.
Read the guide →
Nearby
16.9 mi from Lake Wales
Auburndale
Auburndale sits between Lakeland and Winter Haven on the chain of lakes that gives the cor…
8.7 mi from Lake Wales
Dundee
Dundee is the closest Ridge town to Bok Tower Gardens, a small lake-dotted community just …
15.6 mi from Lake Wales
Lake Alfred
Lake Alfred is a small rail-line town northwest of Lake Wales, known for its antique shops…
15.7 mi from Lake Wales
Bartow
Bartow is Polk County's government seat, but the reason to drive over from Lake Wales is t…