Downtown Lakeland’s streets, galleries, stores  and restaurants will be bursting with art during First Friday in October “Art Walk”.  Kentucky Ave will be closed from Lemon Street to Oak to allow art vendors, dance performances and more to fill the streets. Shops and restaurants are open late, music and entertainment along the streets, donate blood with Florida Blood Services, and visit our DLP business members set up  in Munn Park.  Tennessee Ave. offers a classic car show every First Friday.

Here are the COOL things you can expect to see at October’s First Friday “Art Walk”:

Starting on the North end of Kentucky Ave the merchants in the 300 block are having a BIG TENT SALE!  Starting at 10am on Friday through 8pm of the First Friday event, check out the great sales.  JP Henderson will be the DJ in front of Lloyds of Lakeland (corner of Bay & Kentucky)  keeping everyone entertained while they shop!  Plenty of parking in the Bay Street parking Lot. Remember: Metered and permit parking are always FREE after 5pm and ALL DAY on the weekends.

Mitchells Coffee House will host an art reception and poetry readings. Poetry Reading 6-8pm:  Bring a listening ear and join the celebration of the spoken word–creative writers sharing their thoughtful reflections.

Between Bay St and Pine St along Kentucky Ave, check out the art exhibits in the street from local artists and Peace River Center.  At the corner of Pine and Kentucky will be dance performance and audience participation from Sapphires Dance Studio.  Be a spectator, be a participant, or be both! They’ll show you some moves and get you dancing!

Cedar Street: PlatformART will be open to the pubic. If you missed the GREAT art event last weekend, here’s your chance to see some really cool artists! Entrance is across from the Main Street lot Cedar Street entrance.

Munn Park will be brimming with DLP members who want to share their businesses with you.  Get a massage, win prizes, sign up for drawings, and more! Plus Lifestyle Family Fitness has the tunes to keep you entertained! PLUS: Senator Paula Dockery will be there to talk with you!  WLKF – MAYHEM IN THE AM’s Seth Mela and the gang will be there!

South Kentucky Ave will have art in the streets plus performances in the street from Rae’s Retro Mannequin and Modeling. Performances stat at 7:00pm in front of J Rowan Galleries with Micheal’ Jackson’s “Thriller“, Rocky Horror’s “Time Warp“.    Plus a Michael Jackson Impersonator will be there!

Blake Academy will be taking over part of South Kentucky Avenue and showing off everything that makes them so special.  Enjoy the jazz band and the pinwheels for peace, the CO2 car races and other technology exhibits.  If you like what you see, Blake will have representatives available to discuss their open enrollment!

Lake Mirror:

Come join us on Lake Mirror on First Friday, October 2 and enjoy a German Buffet for  $9.99 from 6-8pm ( Purple Cabbage, Weiner Schnitzle, Hot German Potato Salad and More!). Music provided by The Sofa Kings from 7:30 – 11pm • Garden Bistro, next to Hollis Garden on Lake Mirror Promenade • Plenty of parking next to Hollis Garden. 686-3332

Parking’s a snap in Downtown Lakeland during First Friday! Did you know that all metered and permit parking is FREE after 5pm and all weekend long?  That means Main Street garage, both the public parking entrance on Cedar and the Man Street permit entrance are open to the public for FREE parking.  Plus, the large permit lot on the corner of Cedar and Massachusetts is available, plus the Bay Street parking lot is available!  On street parking available everywhere except Kentucky between Lemon and Oak.

ALL this and more makes…