Get your fancy hats and water shoes ready: Lakeland's annual Swan Derby is April 26

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
·3 min read

LAKELAND — There's still time to assemble your fanciest swan-themed outfits before the 17th annual Lakeland Swan Derby takes over Lake Mirror next week.

The Lakeland Swan Derby is an annual fundraiser for Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, which provides free medical care for working Polk County residents without health insurance and on a limited income. It provided nearly 30,000 patient visits in 2022 with more than $8 million in services provided.

Here's what you need to know about the 2024 Swan Derby:

Where is it?

Where: Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror, April 26 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend.

Parking: Lakeland Electric parking garage, at 501 E. Lemon St., also accessible from East Orange Street. There will also be limited public parking on the east side of the Lake Mirror Complex. Valet parking is available for sponsors only in the Magnolia Building parking lot.

The contestants in the Maiden Handicap race from the start buoys during the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine Swan Derby at the Lake Mirror Center in Lakeland, Florida April 26, 2019. 10 teams from Lakeland area highs school competed in the Maiden Handicap. Each team was composed of a faculty member and a student.
The contestants in the Maiden Handicap race from the start buoys during the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine Swan Derby at the Lake Mirror Center in Lakeland, Florida April 26, 2019. 10 teams from Lakeland area highs school competed in the Maiden Handicap. Each team was composed of a faculty member and a student.

Timeline: Off to the races

  • 5:30 p.m.: Gates open.

  • 6:15 p.m.: Maiden Handicap race featuring local non-profit teams.

  • 6:50 p.m.: Derby Dash featuring the Leaders of Polk teams.

  • 7:15 p.m.: Parade featuring the teams in the Swan Derby.

  • 7:45 p.m.: Swan Derby race begins.

  • 9 p.m.: Fireworks.

Look who's racing

For spectators, here's a list of this year's 2024 Leaders of Polk teams with their chosen team names as posted on LVIM's website:

  • Lindsey Thibodeau and Steve Strickland, "Wanna Buy A House"

  • Christine and John Hubbert, "Swan Move It, Move It"

  • Dawn McDonald and Levi Stovall, "Sunrise Rotarian"

  • John-Michael Elliott and Richard Eijo, "It's Swan Like Donkey Kong"

  • Adrianna Darr and Ryan Larson, "Top Swan"

  • Kaleigh Avian and Audrey Lopez, "Two Pens a Ped'ling"

  • Andrea Merritt and Sarah Baylis, "Swannadega Nights"

  • Crystal Goffe and Josh Vazquez, "Swan Connery"

  • Reid Reynolds and Tony Reynolds, "Like Father, Like Swan"

  • Ashley Lloyd and Mari Meadows, "Girls just Swanna have Fun"

All Leaders of Polk race jockeys are competing for two awards: One given to the winner of the swan race and the other to the team who raises the most money for LVIM. Links to each team's fundraising page can be found at www.lvim.net/2024-leaders-of-polk-2.

Other ways to participate

Those who would like to show their support for LVIM without participating in the derby can purchase a 2024 Super Ticket at $20 per ticket. Individuals can choose which of 12 prize packages their ticket will be entered for, ranging from a gym membership at Will Power Fitness with personal training sessions to a three-course dinner with a bottle of wine at Terrace Hotel. Other prizes include $500 gift cards for Rooms To Go and Publix.

Tickets can be purchased online at lvim.net and the individual does not need to be present at the Swan Derby to claim their prize. Winners will be contacted to pick up their prize after the event.

There is also a Derby Hat contest in which attendees are encouraged to wear their best swan-themed hat.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's annual Swan Derby is April 26. Here's what to know