July 1 First Friday is proud to partner with the City of Lakeland to create a night of family fun and community celebration.

In the streets of Downtown Lakeland from 6-9pm, enjoy carnival style family games, bounce houses, live music/entertainment, sidewalk sales and plenty of outdoor seating at the local restaurants.  Check out dance performances on N. Kentucky Ave beginning at 6:30pm.  Classic Car Show on Tennessee Ave!

So come out early, enjoy the activities in Downtown then walk over to grab your spot for the fireworks!

WHILE YOU’RE DOWNTOWN….. Check out these merchants:

Brooke Pottery has flameless home fragrances.

The General Store has a new local artist.

Gallery 231 is featuring a graffiti artist.

Evolution Records has free live music.

Arts on the Park - People’s Choice Award

Bosphorus Turkish Kitchen – NOW OPEN!

T.Mims Corp.

Red, White & Kaboom

Independence Celebration  watch the  promo video

LAKELAND, FL (June 8, 2011) – The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce that the T.Mims Corp. Red, White & Kaboom Independence Celebration will take place at Lake Mirror on Friday, July 1, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. with music and a breathtaking fireworks display dazzling the crowd at 9 p.m.

Tom Mims, President of T. Mims Corporation said, “We are pleased to sponsor Red, White & Kaboom again this year.  It is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together in celebration of our great country and it is free to the public.” Mims added, “We will be continuing our Chow for Now canned food drive to benefit Volunteers In Service to the Elderly so we want each spectator to bring at least one can of food for Viste.”

The evening’s main entertainment will include live music from Channel Z Band.  The Channel Z Band has been in existence since 1997 and is a five piece band with a current member compliment that has been in force for nearly eight years.   A culmination of many diverse and augmenting talents allows Channel Z to be a notch or two above your average Pop Rock Cover Band.  The Channel Z Band continues to perform numerous events in Central Florida.  They are sure to be a crowd pleaser with their diverse song list that spans from the 60’s to current pop favorites and includes hits from the Beatles to the latest from Katy Perry.

There will be a guest appearance from Derik Thomas.  Thomas is a talented student at Lakeland’s Harrison School for the Arts.  He first began playing shows in early 2009 and in 2010 he won the Earthday Networks “Song for Earth” competition.  He got to perform at the 2010 Earthday Climate Rally on the National Mall in Washington DC alongside Sting, John Legend and The Roots.

The evening will also include a showcase performance from the award winning 2011-2012 Taken By Surprise Step Team.  This talented group of young ladies have performed at many Central Florida venues and continue to dazzle the crowds at step competitions.

There will be a variety of food and drink vendors around Lake Mirror so bring a blanket and enjoy the live music and a dramatic display of fireworks over the lake.  The evening is free to the public and everyone attending is encouraged to bring at least one food item to benefit Chow for Now. All City parking garages will be open for T.Mims Corp. Red, White & Kaboom.