From standup comedy to Rocky Horror and a Pioneer Festival: Top things to do in Polk
With fall in full effect and Halloween ushering in the beginning of the holiday season, activities and events across Polk County will literally be cooling down after a sizzling summer.
And along with the cooler temperatures, holidays and holiday-related events begin to breeze through Polk County.
As Halloween is sort of the unofficial swing into the holiday season, here are five outings and events that might help you tee-up!
Stand-up Friday
If you’re in the mood to start off the weekend with a good laugh, Lakeland’s Yard on Mass, 802 N. Massachusetts Ave., has your lineup. Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, some of the area’s best purveyors of punchlines will take the Yard’s stage with their witty jokes, possibly painful puns and hilarious takes on personal stories. Scheduled to hawk some hilarity will be comedians Ants Rants, Gordon Dixon, Rashad Baker and Henry Pounders. Along with Yard on Mass’ lineup of 22 craft beers, there will also be a food truck on-site. The event consists of two shows, one at 7 p.m. and another at 10 p.m. Cost is $10 online and $15 at the gate and includes both shows. For information, call 863-333-0330 or see www.theyardonmass.com.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Since Sept. 26, 1975, people across the planet have been doing the Time Warp again, again and again. At 9 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28, Lakeland’s Polk Theatre will once again come alive with a screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the ultimate audience-participation movie. For the past 48 years, Rocky Horror audiences have made the movie their own, bringing an array of props to go along with the action on the screen – newspapers, rubber gloves, noisemakers, bells and costume feather boas, fishnet stockings, corsets and other wearable facets of erotica. The movie will be accompanied by a live cast – Lakeland’s “The Lipstick Players” – simultaneously performing scenes on stage. There will also be a lineup of pre-movie fun on the theater stage. Tickets are $22, prop bags, $5. “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is rated R. For information, call 863-682-7553 or see www.polktheatre.org.
Pioneer Days
For the 47th year, Lake Wales is hosting its free “Pioneer Days” and “Pioneer of the Year” festival. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday along the shore of Lake Wailes, the city travels back in time with a variety of old-fashioned fun. Come experience the handmade craft market, historic tours, heritage demonstrations, family-friendly modern and pioneer day activities, a Heritage Village with historical demonstrations of art, skills and trades and the chance to learn about, share and buy hand-crafted goods from more than 60 craft market vendors. The Lake Wales History Museum announced Bill Redmon as the “2023 Pioneer of the Year Lake Wales” and “The Pioneer of the Year” award will be presented to Redmon during thefestival at 10 a.m. Saturday. For information, call 863-676-1759 or see www.lakewaleshistory.org/pioneer-days-festival-1.
The U.S. Bee Gees
Break out your bell-bottoms, white belts and polyester shirts and join the U.S. Bee Gees Tribute Concert from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, in Winter Haven’s Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave. The U.S. Bee Gees is a five-piece band featuring Todd Pitts, Greg Pitts and Ken Custalow as the “Brothers Gibb.” The ban re-creates The Bee Gees’ looks and style, and they sing and play hits such as "To Love Somebody,” "Jive Talking,” "More Than a Woman,” "Night Fever,” “You Should Be Dancing,” "Nights on Broadway,” and the ever classic "Stayin' Alive." Doors are at 6:15 p.m.; general admission $25, reserved seating $35. For information, call 863-937-1414 or see www.ritzwinterhaven.com.
Beyond the haunt: 5 great Polk County Halloween events leading up to the big day
Haunted jail
Hosted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, this haunted house is located in an actual jail, allowing guests access to never-before-seen areas of the old booking facility. What could be spookier? Be prepared for loud frights and jump scares during a tour of a chaotic old booking facility at 455 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow. A benefit for the United Way, the haunted jail is open from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. At the end of the scare, there's a a bounce house, a deputy dunk tank and food trucks along with PCSO agency members who will be available to watch children who might not want to take the tour with their parents or siblings. Donation is $15 per adult, $5 for children under 10, cash and credit accepted. Food and drinks will be available for sale. For information, see https://tinyurl.com/2xwwzm9v.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Top things to do in Polk: Rocky Horror, standup comedy, Pioneer Fest
