Swan City Piano Festival is coming, and one venue is offering a preview | Things to do

Paul Catala
·4 min read
Craig Brenner, known for his boogie-woogie, blues and jazz repertoire, will perform Thursday at Lakeland's Pink Piano in a preview event for the Swan City Piano Festival, which takes place June 6-9 in Lakeland.
Craig Brenner, known for his boogie-woogie, blues and jazz repertoire, will perform Thursday at Lakeland's Pink Piano in a preview event for the Swan City Piano Festival, which takes place June 6-9 in Lakeland.

LAKELAND – The 2024 Swan City Piano Festival isn't for another week, but one local venue can't wait to get the keys warmed up a little early.

On Thursday, Lakeland’s Pink Piano will host a “Swan City Hang Out Night” in advance of the 2024 Swan City Piano Festival that will take place June 6 to 9 at different venues throughout the city.

The Swan City Piano Festival was founded by Patrick and Robert Fleitz. Patrick Fleitz is director of piano studies at Harrison School for the Arts. Robert Fleitz, Patrick's son and a Lakeland native, is an award-winning composer-pianist, graduate of The Julliard School and winner of many international piano competitions.

The festival is a Lakeland-based, multiday celebration of pianists and piano repertoire spanning multiple ages and styles.

The “Swan City Hang Out Night” will feature Lakeland pianist Craig Brenner, known for his boogie-woogie, blues and jazz repertoire. He said the “Swan City Hang Out Night” is a chance for folks to come in and hear about the Swan City Piano Festival while also hearing some original music and familiar, classic piano standards.

In addition, Patrick Fleitz will give those in attendance an overview of the Swan City Piano Festival for 2024, who’s playing, venue information and other details.

Brenner, who began playing piano at 5 years old in Pennsylvania, is a 1970 graduate of Florida Southern College and studied piano at the Indiana University School of Music from 1976 through 1980. He’s lived with his wife, Lori, in the home he inherited from his mother and brother since 2019 and lives part time in Bloomington, Indiana.

As for the Hang Out Night, Brenner said he’ll be performing from 8 to 10 p.m., along with his recording drummer Dan Hostetler, who will be visiting from Ohio. In addition, other area pianists will be invited to play a piece or two. During his set, Brenner said the audience can make requests or listen to covers he’s chosen to perform, such as “All Blues” by Cannonball Adderly and Miles Davis or “Mess Around” by Ray Charles.

Brenner, 75, said besides the spotlight on piano music, the evening will give Patrick Fleitz the opportunity to chat with the audience, tell them about the Swan City Piano Festival and why they should attend or support it.

“I want to preview the event and give Patrick a chance to talk to the people about how they can help the festival,” he said. “I’m going to try to help the Fleitzes. It’s a way to generate support for the event. I’m playing but I’m mostly just there to help out in promoting the festival that’s coming up next month.”

The “Swan City Hang Out Night” is free, but donations for the festival are accepted. For information, or see www.swancitypianofestival.com/events-and-tickets/swan-city-hangout-night-at-the-pink-piano or call 863-937-8885.

Finding Goals in Family History: Dribbling Through a Basketball Story

The Polk County History Center is hosting Deborah Abbot, a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections and African-American family research in a free online forum from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, May 25. This is a hybrid virtual program. Abbot will appear virtually, but guests are invited to visit the History Center, 100 E. Main St., Bartow, to participate via Zoom. For information, call 863-534-4385 or email ShannonGraham@polk-county.net.

Winter Haven Saturday Market

Winter Haven's Saturday Market includes nearly 100 local makers with arts, crafts, jewelry, food trucks and live music.
Winter Haven's Saturday Market includes nearly 100 local makers with arts, crafts, jewelry, food trucks and live music.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 25, the free Winter Haven Saturday Market opens up again in downtown Winter Haven, where nearly 100 local makers with arts, crafts, jewelry, food trucks, live music and other downtown diversions coalesce around 469 W. Central Ave. If you can’t find it here, good luck. For information, see www.winterhavensaturdaymarkets.com or call 863-258-3561.

Munn Park Saints

Lakeland duo Christine Collister and Craig Morby frequently team up with other musicians for a night of acoustically refined originals and covers of popular tunes from classic to modern rock. They’ll be rocking Swan Brewing from 7 to 10 p.m., Friday, May 24, for a free show on the brew pub’s outdoor stage, 115 W. Pine St. For information, see www.facebook.com/events/979356296935911/ or call 863-703-0472.

Fishing with Firefighters

Lake Wales’ Hillcrest Elementary School is hosting a day for students from kindergarten to high school to fish for free alongside some of the city’s firefighters. The action takes place Friday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Crystal Lake, 205 N. 5th St. For information, see www.lakewalesfl.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=8763&month=5&year=2024&day=17&calType=0 or call 863-678-4182.

At the Polk

At The Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland. 863-682-7553; www.polktheatre.org

  • Friday, May 24, 7:30 p.m. Movie – “THEM!” Rated PG. 1954. $5.

  • Saturday, May 25, 4 p.m., Movie – “Fantastic Mr. Fox” PG. 2009. $5

  • Saturday, May 25, 7:30 p.m., Movie – “Caddyshack” R. 1980. $5.

  • Sunday, May 26, 4 p.m., Movie – “The Godfather” R. 1972. $5.

  • Monday, May 27, 6:30 p.m., Movie – "Doctor Doolittle" G. 1967. $5

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Pink Piano offering preview of Swan City Piano Festival | Things to do