Downtown Lakeland is the place to be  for the July 3rd First Friday and Red, White & Kaboom celebration!  Of course, the grand finale of the evening is the fireworks display and music by Millhopper.

But, before that you can enjoy the fun planned for First Friday around Munn Park and along Kentucky & Tennessee Avenue. We’ll start First Friday a little earlier than usual, because, well it’s a holiday!  (4pm-8pm) So get an early start downtown and plan to play at First Friday, grab a bite to eat in one of the many cool downtown restaurants, then walk over to Lake Mirror to catch a little Millhopper and of course the fireworks! Additional outdoor seating will be available on Kentucky Avenue for diners, so there’s no excuse why you can’t come and enjoy dinner!

Kentucky Ave will be closed to make room for the fun activities like bounce houses, kiddie train rides, street chalk, cake eating contest sponsored by Fresco’s Bakery & Bistro, face painting and other activities planned by the merchants and DLP members.  Check out the ornament making contest at Brooke Pottery!

Airbrush tattoos and balloon artists will add to the fun.  Some of these activities will require the purchase of tickets.  See below for details. Of course, the car show will be in full swing on Tennessee Avenue from 6-9pm.    Shops and restaurants will be open late, too!

Art reception at Mitchells Coffee House on N. Kentucky Ave. featuring local photographer Jon Boring. (6-9pm)

Art reception at Arts on the Park on N. Kentucky Ave. each month during First Friday. (6-9pm)

“The Lake Mirror Story” Ever wonder about the history of the Lake Mirror Promenade?  Curious about what’s behind the iron gates on the Loggia? Well, on July 3 from 6-9pm Historic Lakeland will open the gates and provide a fascinating 22 minute video of how the Promenade came to be, how it almost perished and the efforts to restore it.  Catch the video anytime as it will be played continuously from 6-9pm. Enjoy tasty samples from The Terrace Grille on the Loggia.

A map of activities will be available at stores so you can be sure to hit everything at least once before the fireworks.

Remember, throughout Downtown you’ll find stations to drop off canned goods  and non-perishable food items for VISTE, as well as items for our troops in Operation Drop Zone. THE GENERAL STORE, FASTFRAME and J. ROWAN ART GALLERIES are still accepting donations of items to send to our soldiers currently serving so bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, on this First Friday, July 3, THE GENERAL STORE will provide supplies for folks to write letters of thanks and support to send along. Downtownn guests may also bring pre-written cards and letters.

Check our website for more information on these opportunities to serve our community.

After the fireworks, be sure to stop by the Garden Bistro next to Hollis Garden where Al & Rich from The Sofa Kings will be playing from 9:30 PM until 11:00 PM.

CITY GARAGES WILL BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC PARKING FOR THE EVENTS. NO ON STREET PARKING AVAILABLE ON KENTUCKY AVE FROM LEMON TO OAK OR TENNESSEE FROM MAIN TO PINE.

YOU”LL NEED TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE FOLLOWING:

BOUNCE HOUSE( 1 ticket)   • AIRBRUSH TATTOOS ( 4 tickets)  • KIDDIE TRAIN RIDE ( 1 ticket per child, one adult free with a child)

Tickets are $1 each.  CASH ONLY.

Tickets will be available at stores and the DLP booth in Munn Park across from Harry’s and Nathan’s Mens Store.

Port-o-potties will be on site. For questions please call 863-513-3669.

(We do not contract with food vendors for any of our events.)