Things to do: From jazz to opera, the weekend is filled with music in Polk. Comedy too.

Paul Catala
·4 min read
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LAKELAND – Even though the forecast is for some cooler temperatures through the weekend – from 53 degrees low Thursday to down 34 on Saturday – Polk County will heat up with a variety of diversionary events taking place.

Whether it’s a good laugh or good music or just some time for creative thinking, here are a few suggested ideas to while away the next four days.

Cheers!

Mary Gauthier at Derry Down

Singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier plays Thursday at Gram Parsons' Derry Down in Winter Haven.
Singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier plays Thursday at Gram Parsons' Derry Down in Winter Haven.

Mary Gauthier, a Grammy-nominated, country and folk singer-songwriter whose work has been covered by artists as varied as Tim McGraw and Boy George over 25 years, plays a 90-minute show at Gram Parsons' Derry Down in Winter Haven on Thursday. “An Evening with Mary Gauthier: A Career Retrospective Show” starts at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Since first recording, Gauthier has released 12 albums, including 2018’s “Rifles & Rosary Beads,” which earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Folk Album” and an “Album of the Year” nomination from the Americana Music Association. Tickets are $25. Derry Down is at 297 5th St. NW, Winter Haven. For more information, go to  www.gpderrydown.com/products/mary-gauthier-with-jaimee-harrisor call 863-295-9422

'Story gets better as we go': Country-folk artist Mary Gauthier playing in Winter Haven

Comedian Juanita Lolita

Comedian, actress, motivational speaker and author Juanita Lolita, voted Tampa's “Funniest Female” in Creative Loafing's “Best of the Bay” and a finalist for the “World Series of Comedy” in Las Vegas, brings her “clean comedy” to Frostproof’s Ramon Theatre, 15 E. Wall St., at 7 p.m. Saturday. Among the nationally known acts she has worked with are Arsenio Hall and Shawn Wayans, and she has appeared on talk shows on ABC and the Christian Television Network. Tickets are $25. For information, see www.cityoffrostproof.com/event/comedian-juanita-lolita-the-ramon-theater or call 863-635-7222.

'Madama Butterfly' by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra

Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will play "Madama Butterfly" on Saturday at Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College.
Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will play "Madama Butterfly" on Saturday at Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College.

The Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will present its take on Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera “Madama Butterfly” at 7 p.m. Saturday at Florida Southern College's Branscomb Auditorium. The opera, which premiered in 1904 in Milan, Italy, is the tragic tale of “Cio Cio San,” a young Japanese girl who falls in love with American naval officer “Pinkerton,” with devastating consequences. Tickets are $25 to $75. For information, see www.lkldsymphony.org, www. polkarts.org/event/madama-butterfly or call 863-688-3743.

Creative Writing Event

Listen to live readings from works created and written by students in the creative writing department from Lakeland’s Harrison School for the Arts, a magnet school that draws students from communities throughout Polk County. The readings will start at 7 p.m. in the school’s Black Box Theatre, 750 Hollingsworth Road. Tickets are $9 to $12. For information, see www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-writing-event-black-box-theatre-tickets-772210170407?aff=ebdsoporgprofile or call  863-499-2855.

Black-Eyed Soozie

As part of the Lake Wales Arts Council’s ongoing “Lake Wales Live in Downtown” series, Lake Wales-born roots-rockin’ band Black-Eyed Soozie with Jeff Peacock on saxophone will perform from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. The free series’ shows take place downtown at 293 E. Orange Ave. The event includes live music, food trucks and a local vendor marketplace. For information, see www.lakewalesartscouncil.org/events-2023-2024/2023/01/19/lake-wales-live or call 863-676-8246.

2024 Swan City Jazz Festival

A variety of jazz sounds will be playing this weekend at Kathleen High School in the Swan City Jazz Festival. The festival was originally scheduled for Lakeland's Munn Park, but was moved to the high school. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. and admission is free.
A variety of jazz sounds will be playing this weekend at Kathleen High School in the Swan City Jazz Festival. The festival was originally scheduled for Lakeland's Munn Park, but was moved to the high school. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Originally scheduled for Downtown Lakeland’s Munn Park, the Swan City Jazz Festival has been moved to the Kathleen High School Auditorium. From noon to 7 p.m., the free festival brings a variety of styles of American-spawned jazz music. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday and features a lineup of internationally recognized musicians and local high school and college acts. Headliners include recognized bass guitarist Julian Vaughn on Saturday and the renowned Latin jazz pianist Lannie Battistini, a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winner, on Sunday. There will also be food trucks and vendors on hand. Donations to the Blended Family Foundation are encouraged. For information, see www.swancityjazzfestival.com or admin@swancityjazzfestival.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Jazz, opera, comedy: Here are some of the top things to do in Polk