Swantoberfest, cardboard boats and more: 5 things you don't want to miss this weekend in Polk
With the Florida fall weather finally rolling in, it will be a lot easier to be really cool when you venture for fun.
Since October is sort of the de facto kickoff to the holiday season, starting with Halloween and ending New Year’s Day, fun activities and inside and outside diversions are fruitful and multiplying.
Here are The Ledger’s pick for the “5 best things to do in Polk County this weekend.”
Go!!
Swantoberfest
Lakeland’s Swan Brewing rolls out the kegs for its annual Swantoberfest Friday through Sunday at the brewery, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. It will be a weekend of German food, beer and games over three days, Noon to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Food selections will include traditional German cuisine from the Cultivated Pig, Fat Maggie's and Billy's Roadside Grill; beer will feature a special Swantoberfest Märzen release, a brew crafted for a taste of the season; live music over the three days will come from The Detectives (Friday night), SG Wood (Saturday afternoon), Rivals & Villains (Saturday night) and John Frinzi (Sunday afternoon). For information, call 863-703-0472 or see www.swanbrewing.com.
Plant Pop-Up
For the green thumbs out there, or those just green with envy of those with green thumbs, Downtown Lakeland is sponsoring a “Plant Pop Up” in Munn Park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Across the park, plant- and garden-related vendors will sell an array of plants for homes and gardens. The Pop-Up will take place during and in conjunction with the Downtown Farmers Curb Market along Kentucky Avenue. The Plant Pop-Up will be a smaller-scale version of the former Fall Garden Extravaganza, owned and operated by The Garden Club of Lakeland for many years, which will not return this year. For information, call or text 863-944-7907 or email dfcmmanager@gmail.com.
Cardboard Boat Challenge
If you don’t have a sinking feeling, Saturday might be a good day to head out to the 18th annual Cardboard Boat Race and Lakes Festival, sponsored by The Lakeland Education/Action Drive and the City of Lakeland. The race starts at 10 a.m. at the Lake Hollingsworth Public Boat Ramp, 920 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland. The cardboard boat challenge brings teams of families and friends together to design, build and race a boat made entirely of cardboard around a marked course on Lake Hollingsworth. Teams can participate in pre-building, on-site building and in corporate, community, family and youth categories. On-site registration starts at 8 a.m.; from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. is the on-site cardboard boat building; 9 to 9:30 a.m. is pre-built boat registration; and at 10 a.m., the race begins. Live music will be provided by the Sofa Kings, who will play from a party pontoon boat. There will also be environmental exhibits and food vendors on-site. For information, see www.lakeseducation.org/events-page.
Polk State Fall Fest
Fall breezes will drift over the campus of Polk State College Winter Haven from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday during its annual Fall Fest. For more than 35 years, this fall tradition has brought together more than 110 local clubs to sell seasonal and innovative homemade arts, crafts and other products and items. The event features family-friendly fun with various games, a craft show, a Kids Zone, music, police and EMS demonstrations, the Pumpkin Patch, food vendors, a Haunted House, along with presentations from local law enforcement and Emergency Medical Services. Additionally, Polk State College clubs and athletics programs will take part in an effort to raise money for their organizations by hosting different activities and food sales. For the first time, there will be a FallFest Car Show with proceeds going to Study Abroad Scholarships for Polk State students. Live music and other entertainment throughout the day will include Polk State's Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and the Polk State Choir. Local high school bands, choirs and the Chain O' Lakes Big Band will also perform. For information, 863-297-1050 or by emailing fallfest@polk.edu.
Smokin' Renegade: A tribute to Boston and Styx
Smokin’ Renegade is a South Florida pro-level group that has perfected an electrifying state tribute to the rock bands Boston and Styx. The concert runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday in Winter Haven’s Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave. Smokin’ Renegade is made up of members that have toured with national acts and played in some of the most renowned tribute bands. Doors open at 6 p.m. There will be specialty drinks, cocktails, beer, wine and light snacks for sale at The Ritz Lounge before and during the concert. Reserved cabaret table seating is $35 per person, sold in tables of 2, 3, 4, or 6 seats only. General admission seating is $25 per person on a first-come, first-served, non-reserved seating basis. Tickets are non-refundable and free street and garage parking is available daily. For information, call 863-937-1414 or see www.ritzwinterhaven.com
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Swantoberfest, cardboard boat races among best things to do in Polk
