Friday, March 2

6-9pm :: FREE

Let your fancies take flight and your imaginations soar during this First Friday.  Sun ‘N Fun brings a taste of their world of aviation to Downtown.  You’ll have fun with paper airplanes and helicopter pyrotechnics, hot air balloons, flyovers, and other flight-related demonstrations and displays.  Of course, there’ll be great music through out Downtown, including a big band in Munn Park.

Well, the kids are out of school but we don’t all have the same days off as the kids! What to do? Call Explorations V Children’s Museum, located at 109 North Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland, and sign them up for Holiday Out of School workshops running December 19-23 and Dec 27-30.

They can get holiday creative with decorations, ornaments and gifts, tasty cookies and candies, winter art and science and more! The daily themed camps include hands-on activities, museum exploration, afternoon snacks and outdoor play (weather permitting).

Full day sessions for K-6th grade run from 9am to 5pm and half day sessions run 9am-1pm. Early drop off and late pick up is available for an additional fee.

Museum member pricing is $40 for a full day and $25 for half days. Non-member pricing is available. Not a member…not a problem! Join today for $70 and get 15 months for the price of 12 through December 30, 2011.

For additional information, contact the museum at 863 687 3869 or email us at info@explorationsv.com.

Friday, December 2, 6:00 – 9:00pm

Downtown continues the holiday festivities with a “Cookies and Carols” theme at the December First Friday.  Come down and enjoy holiday music and entertainment, visits with Santa and so much more.

Plus, it’s a great time to work on that holiday shopping list as shops are open late.  Don’t forget to stop and get a little something – or a big something – to eat at one of Downtown’s fabulous restaurants.  Maybe you’ll pick up an idea or two  for your holiday party.

Merchant Specials:

• Lloyd’s of Lakeland - 20% off one item over $20
• Home Essentials - 20% off one regularly priced item
• Traditions Unlimited - $5 off total purchase of $25 or more
• Bay Street Bistro - Free dessert with each purchased entrée
• Mitchell’s Coffee House - Purchase gets your name in a drawing for a gift certificate. One drawing per hour, 6-9pm.
• Black Swan - Purchase gets your name in a drawing for a gift certificate
• Brooke Pottery - $5 off purchases of $25 or more
• Arts on the Park - Artists Showcase Holiday Market
• Explorations V Children’s Museum - Santa and Mrs. Claus in front of the Museum
• Fresco’s - Gingerbread cookies

Performances by:

• Berkley Charter Elementary
• Blake Academy
• George Jenkins High School
• Kingsford Elementary
• Lawton Chiles Middle Academy
• Longbow Family
• Sikes Elementary
• South McKeel Academy
• Suzuki Strings

November 29th, 6:00 PM -9:00 PM

Entering our third decade, this annual event in Downtown Lakeland celebrates the holidays with shopping, dining, music,  horse-drawn wagon rides and more!

Entertaining Specials:

• Lloyd’s of Lakeland – 20% off one item over $20
• My Cottage Garden - Tea samples
• Home Essentials – 20% off one regularly priced item
• Studio 323 – refreshment tent
• Traditions Unlimited - $5 off total purchase of $25 or more
• Rafa Natural – Free votive candle with purchase of $10 or more
• Bay Street Bistro – Free dessert with each purchased entrée
• Mitchell’s Coffee House – Purchase gets your name in a drawing for a gift certificate.
• Black Swan – Purchase gets your name in a drawing for a gift certificate
• Peacock Antiques – Stop in for refreshments
• Reflection of the Past – 20% off Storewide Sale
• The Strand –  Stop in for refreshments
• Brooke Pottery –  $5 off total purchase of $25 or more
• Arts on the Park – Artists Showcase Holiday Market
• Explorations V Children’s Museum – Free admission with Museum Store purchase of at least $5 per person (Note: Each person must make a purchase in order to receive free admission); 15 month Family Membership for the price of 12 months
• Tougie Baby – Pictures with Santa
• Fresco’s – Gingerbread cookies
• The General Store – Free children’s craft activity and local authors signing books
• Paint Along Studios –  Create a 10 inch x 10 inch  painting of a Christmas Ornament for $7.50 per person. Two classes: one at 6:00pm and one at 8:00pm. Sign up in advance here or first come, first serve night of event.
• Fast Frame –  Photos with The Grinch taken by Maddi Leigh Photography for a fee, or bring your own camera for no cost photo
• Main Street Creamery - Hot Chocolate and Hot Christmas Punch
• Black & Brew Coffee House - Folk & Americana music by Wood & Bronze, and 2 for 1 house wines.
• Linkster’s Tap Room – Mention the Walkabout when you order your first drink and get your second drink free.
• Nathan’s Men’s Store –  Free cap (while they last) with the purchase of any Tommy Bahama shirt or jeans. $10 gift certificate with purchase of $100 or more. Neckties 33% off.
• Geo. L. Gaines Jewelers – 20% off one regularly priced item. Stop in for light refreshments.

An example of a Christmas Card offered by C.E. Design Co.

• C.E. Design Co. –  Buy one of our modern, vintage inspired designed cards, pull together for a free photo, and have an exceptionally creative card ready for mailing to friends and family in time for the Holidays.
• Wing Chun Martial Arts Downtown Kung Fu Academy –  Two people train for the price of one OR purchase a $50 gift card and receive $200 in training (includes classes and one individual session)
• Historic Lakeland - Lakeland-themed Holiday ornaments

Performances by:

• Berkley Charter Elementary
• Calvary Chapel
• Citrus Lakes Chorus
• Eagle Lake Elementary
• Longbow Family
• The Salvation Army
• Suzuki Strings
• Wing Chun Martial Arts Downtown Kung Fu Academy

Carriage Rides:

Sponsored by GrayRobinson, P.A.

• Carriage Point 1 – Corner of Main and Tennessee: Picks up a group and travels Tennessee Avenue to Pine Street, then drops group off at the corner of Pine Street and Kentucky Avenue.
• Carriage Point 1 – Corner of Pine and Kentucky: Picks up a group and travels Kentucky Avenue to Main Street, then drops group off at the corner of Main Street and Tennessee Avenue.

In conjunction with the Downtown Lakeland Partnership’s annual Holiday Walkabout on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, Explorations V Children’s Museum will be open evening hours from 6pm to 8pm and will offer free admission with the purchase of a minimum of $5 from the Museum Store.

The museum is also offering a Membership Special wherein all new or renewed membership purchased will receive 15 months of membership privileges for the price of 12.

Regular museum admission is $7 per person.

The museum is located at 109 North Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland. Additional museum information may be obtained by calling the museum at 863 687 3869 or visiting the web site at www.explorationsv.com.

The City of Lakeland and NFocus will be showing “A Christmas Carol” this Friday, November 18, at dusk on Lake Mirror. This is the last Pics on the Promenade for the Fall. Admission is free, and feel free to bring blankets, chairs, and picnic.

Sponsored by Allen & Company.

Explorations V Children’s Museum will host its annual Pilgrim Day on Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 10am to 3pm! Celebrate the life of our early settlers by spinning rope, dipping candles, churning butter and more!

All activities are included with the price of admission, which is $7 per person while supplies last. Senior citizens 65 + and military with ID are $3.50. Children under 2 and museum members are free.

Not a member? That’s easy! Join now through December 30, 2011 for only $70 and get 15 months for the price of 12! You and your kids can enjoy unlimited hands-on, fun-filled learning adventures for 15 months!

Explorations V Children’s Museum is located at 109 North Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland. Additional information can be obtained by calling 863 687 3869, checking out Explorations V on Facebook or emailing info@explorationsv.com

It’s that time again! The Annual Dr. Scissorhands Pumpkin Carving Exhibition is this Saturday. Eight local doctors – surgeons, cancer specialists, a veterinarian: come see what they create! The carving begins at 9:30 and the auction is at 11. We’ll have a costume contest at 10:45, kids’ crafts, the bloodmobile, swag from Peace River Center, poinsettia pre-order table, Hall Communications’ staff, and a boatload of our favorite vendors! This year, our vendors are competing for your votes for their best costumes! It is a fun time and we hope YOU join us at the Downtown Farmers Curb Market this Saturday. By the way, we are open every Saturday 8-2 and every Wednesday 11-2, right across from Crispers at the corner of N. Kentucky and E. Pine. See you there!  For more information, visit our website and the event details page. The Farmers Curb Market is a project of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority.