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Hi Lakeland, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Adventure pass perks, a $59 million courthouse, and a LEGO building competition + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Unlock perks for local adventures: Visit Central Florida’s three passes reward Polk adventures in barbecue, beer, and murals. Sign up on your phone, earn prizes and discounts, plus Lakeland stops like Swan Brewing and Jimbo’s — see how the passes work.

Hiring rules face overhaul: Polk State trustees are considering a private presidential search keeping candidate names private under a 2022 law and may drop the doctorate requirement as the college replaces Angela Garcia Falconetti — get all the details.

Advanced courtroom tech and amenities: St. Petersburg’s $59 million Bernie McCabe courthouse has opened on Mirror Lake, uniting the Second District Court of Appeal and consolidating work once split between Lakeland and Tampa — get all the details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Fight cancer at Polk Relay For Life
• Experience Elvis through Dwight Icenhower
• Relive ABBA magic at Polk Theatre
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Burger night, sorted: Craving a proper burger and a pint? At Cob & Pen in Lakeland’s historic Dixieland neighborhood, the Classic Burger pairs with craft beer or boutique wine, plus easy, come-as-you-are vibes. Friends gather, stories flow, and conversation and fries vanish.

Roll into this week: Skate World has kept Lakeland rolling since 1973, with a refreshed rink, upbeat playlists, and community vibes that make laps fly. Swapping screen time for glide time delivers a midweek reset with Skate World… easy, nostalgic, and energizing.

Local art brain break: When inspiration flags between errands or lake walks, The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art offers rotating exhibitions, quiet nooks, and an easy reset for your week. Whether solo or with a friend, pause for a minute and let the unexpected catch your eye.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Lakeland for grown ups

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🤠 The Bellamy Brothers @ Wish Farms Soundstage | Thursday (3/5) at 3:30 PM – Grab your boots and a napkin, then hit the Florida Strawberry Festival for The Bellamy Brothers live in Plant City. Florida boys singing the songs you actually know, strawberry shortcake in one hand, a lawn chair in the other. Nostalgia, harmonies, and zero filler.

⛳ 5th Annual Golf Classic Fundraiser @ The Club At Eaglebrooke | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 AM – Nothing beats a morning on pristine greens at The Club at Eaglebrooke, Golf Channel’s Best Course in Florida, especially when it funds The Wilson House. Tee up for breakfast, a shotgun start, lunch, a silent auction, and raffles. Bragging rights, better karma, and birdies await.

🎉 First Friday @ Downtown Winter Haven Historic District | Friday (3/6) at 5:00 PM – First Friday in downtown Winter Haven is your excuse to eat well, sip something decent, and linger while shops stay open late. Drift between live music, the night market, and the car show, snag specials, then run into everyone you’ve been avoiding since Publix.

🌱 Seedling Workshop @ Plant City Commons Community Garden | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Getting your hands dirty with a Master Gardener, you’ll plant flower and veggie seeds, learn what to plant when, and leave with a 36-cell flat to boss around all spring. Limited to 20, so call Nancy at 813-478-4327, or visit plantcitycommunitygarden.com.

🍽 Women’s Lunch & Matinee @ Winter Haven Church of God | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Consider this your low-drama ladies’ day out: lunch at Ruby Tuesday’s in Winter Haven, then a cozy matinee back at the church with movie snacks. You pick up your lunch tab, we bring the fellowship. RSVP so the restaurant knows how many salads to toss.

🧱 LEGO Building Competition & Tour @ Florida Southern College | Sunday (3/8) at 10:30 AM – Skip the yard work and play with bricks that don’t require a permit: a LEGO build-off inside Ordway Hall, a Frank Lloyd Wright landmark, followed by tours of Nils Schweizer and Robert A. M. Stern gems. Mixed teams welcome, bricks provided, prizes, architectural one-upmanship encouraged.

🚗 Lakeland VW Classic @ RP Funding Center | Thursday (3/12) at 3:30 PM – Lakeland’s VW Classic is rolling in, rain or shine, with air and water-cooled beauties, a swap meet, a cruise to the drive-in, and great food. Equal parts nostalgia and new parts, plus a free kid zone, overnight camping, $5K prizes, and shot at a rail.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/5 The Bellamy Brothers @ Wish Farms Soundstage – 3:30 PM
• 3/6 First Friday @ Downtown Winter Haven Historic District – 5:00 PM
• 3/7 863Live! @ Camp Margaritaville – 2:30 PM
• 3/7 Def Leppards Journey @ The Polk Theatre – 6:00 PM
• 3/7 Jennings and more @ Songs & Strings House Concerts – 6:30 PM
• 3/8 E-Rod @ Swan Brewing – 2:00 PM
• 3/8 Conspiracy Theory @ Caribbean Bay Bar – 3:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Lakeland report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 87°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 42%

Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of rain showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then patchy fog. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

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Tomorrow – High: 87°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 44%

Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This 4-bed, 3-bath South Lakeland pool home sits on over an acre, one block from Scott Lake. Two double garages, a solar-heated pool, and a lanai deck with outside bar add fun. Inside, a hidden pantry, wet bar, and a primary suite with spiral staircase to hurricane room stand out, plus a great room with lanai access and electric awning.

Take a peek inside →