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Lake Wales GuideThe Polk County Guide · Independent since 2025
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Today

What's happening today

The time-sensitive page: what's on this afternoon, what starts tonight, what fills the weekend, and what needs a ticket or a sign-up sheet.

Today on the Ridge

Sunday, September 13, 2026

Full Today panel →

Happening today

Nothing on the daytime calendar today.

Tonight

Nothing confirmed for this evening. The next confirmed evening listings:

This weekTuesday, September 15, 2026Free

City Commission Meeting

Time
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue
Municipal Administration Building
City
Lake Wales
Address
Municipal Administration Building
Cost · age policy
Free — no ticket required
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Regular city commission meeting — agenda posted online 48 hours prior.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

UpcomingSaturday, September 26, 2026

Rock for Paws Benefit Concert

Time
7:00 PM
Venue
Idlewood Venue, Bartow
City
Bartow
Address
Idlewood Venue, Bartow
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Nearby: live music and dancing benefit for the Polk County Bully Project rescue.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

UpcomingSaturday, September 26, 2026

Lakeland Cruisers Car Show

Time
5:00 PM
Venue
Beef 'O' Brady's, Lake Wales
City
Lake Wales
Address
Beef 'O' Brady's, Lake Wales
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Monthly car enthusiast gathering in the Beef 'O' Brady's lot — classics, trucks, and hot rods.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekend

This weekendSaturday, September 19, 2026

Hispanic Heritage Festival

Time
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue
Lake Gwyn Park, Winter Haven
City
Winter Haven
Address
Lake Gwyn Park, Winter Haven
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Nearby: Polk County's Hispanic Heritage Festival — live music, street food, vendors, fashion show, and talent show.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekendSaturday, September 19, 2026

Central Florida Gun Show

Time
Time unconfirmed
Venue
Skylight Hangar, SUN 'n FUN Expo, Lakeland
City
Lakeland
Address
Skylight Hangar, SUN 'n FUN Expo, Lakeland
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Nearby: Lakeland Rifle & Pistol Club's fall gun show on the SUN 'n FUN campus.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekendSaturday, September 19, 2026

Hispanic Heritage Festival — Polk County

Time
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue
Lake Gwyn Park, 137 Ave A E, Winter Haven
City
Winter Haven
Address
Lake Gwyn Park, 137 Ave A E, Winter Haven
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Polk County: county-hosted festival with live music, authentic street food, vendors, games, a fashion show, and a talent show.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

Begins soon

This weekMonday, September 14, 2026

Detroit Tigers Fall Instructional Games

Time
Time unconfirmed
Venue
Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
City
Lakeland
Address
Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Polk County: fall instructional-league baseball at the Tigers' historic Lakeland spring-training home.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekTuesday, September 15, 2026

Bingo at the Woman's Club

Time
3:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue
Lake Wales Woman's Club
City
Lake Wales
Address
Lake Wales Woman's Club
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

22 rounds of Bingo with cash prizes. Doors 3:30.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekTuesday, September 15, 2026Free

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

Time
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue
Municipal Administration Building
City
Lake Wales
Address
Municipal Administration Building
Cost · age policy
Free — no ticket required
Accessibility
Not confirmed

CRA meeting on downtown redevelopment — public may attend and speak.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

This weekThursday, September 17, 2026

Power Lunch with Sheriff Grady Judd

Time
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue
Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce
City
Lake Wales
Address
Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Chamber's annual Power Lunch featuring Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Ticketed — register through the Chamber.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

UpcomingSaturday, September 26, 2026Free

Lake Wales Downtown Market

Time
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue
Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
City
Lake Wales
Address
Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Cost · age policy
Free — no ticket required
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Fourth-Saturday downtown market at Market Plaza.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

UpcomingTuesday, September 29, 2026Free

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting

Time
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue
City Administration
City
Lake Wales
Address
City Administration
Cost · age policy
Free — no ticket required
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Monthly Planning & Zoning Board meeting.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

UpcomingThursday, October 1, 2026

Central Florida Health Care Food Distribution

Time
7:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Venue
James P. Austin Community Center
City
Lake Wales
Address
James P. Austin Community Center
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Recurring community food distribution — first-come, first-served.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

Schedules change. We verify listings regularly, but confirm important details with the organizer before traveling.

Archived

Recently past events

Kept as a record, not as a listing. These dates have already happened.

PastSaturday, September 12, 2026Free

Lake Wales Downtown Market

Time
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue
Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
City
Lake Wales
Address
Market Plaza, Downtown Lake Wales
Cost · age policy
Free — no ticket required
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Second-Saturday downtown market — produce, makers, and prepared food. Held the 2nd and 4th Saturday each month.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

PastSaturday, September 12, 2026

Hot Rods & Reels Car Show

Time
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Venue
Kiwanis Park
City
Lake Wales
Address
Kiwanis Park
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Classic cars, food trucks, and live music at Kiwanis Park.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

PastSaturday, September 5, 2026

Thrown Together — Closing Weekend

Time
Time unconfirmed
Venue
Lake Wales Arts Council
City
Lake Wales
Address
Lake Wales Arts Council
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Final day of the Thrown Together group exhibition at the Arts Center.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

PastSaturday, September 5, 2026

Thrown Together Exhibition

Time
Time unconfirmed
Venue
Lake Wales Arts Council
City
Lake Wales
Address
Lake Wales Arts Council
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Group exhibition at the Lake Wales Arts Council gallery.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

PastFriday, September 4, 2026

First Friday Winter Haven

Time
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue
Downtown Winter Haven Historic District
City
Winter Haven
Address
Downtown Winter Haven Historic District
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Nearby: monthly downtown Winter Haven street party — food, drink, live music, and shopping.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026

PastFriday, September 4, 2026

Lakeland First Friday

Time
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue
Downtown Lakeland
City
Lakeland
Address
Downtown Lakeland
Cost · age policy
Not confirmed — ask the organizer
Accessibility
Not confirmed

Nearby: makers market, live music, and downtown shops open late along Kentucky & Tennessee Avenues.

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Reported · Last checked Sunday, September 13, 2026