Friday, February 3

6 – 9pm :: FREE

Enjoy the visual and performing arts throughout Downtown Lakeland on February 3rd. From school children to professionals, photography to painting and dancing and singing, local talent will be showcased throughout Downtown. Who knows, you may pick up a tip or two, or discover a hidden talent.

CALL TO ARTISTS (and musicians, dancers, poets, authors, and theatrical performers) — Set up a booth to sell your originally produced pieces (no buy-sell will be allowed). Booths are $25 per 10′x10′ spot. For details and to register for a booth space, go to http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2735204069.

Confirmed performances and activities include:

• Artists displaying their artwork in the street
• Free West Coast Swing class at Just Dance, 6-7pm, an Open Dance 7-10pm, Giveaways to anyone who walks through the door, and Valentine’s Day specials
• Video, dance, spoken word, and  musical performances by the youth from Victory Church
• Dance performances by the professional dancers from Florida Dance Theatre
• Spoken word by the Southeastern University English Department
• Children’s Art Activities by Polk Museum of Art
• “Hearty” Appetizer Preparation & Presentation class at Home Essentials, $5 per person. RSVP REQUIRED. Call 863-687-3600
• Car Show on Tennessee

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.

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

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership is pleased to announce its partnership with Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital as title sponsor of the September First Friday – Dog Days of Summer with support from Northwest Animal Hospital.

REGISTER TO WIN!!

A basket of people treats and pet goodies valued at over $1000!! You must register at Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital at 3710 Cleveland Heights Blvd.  by September 1st at 10pm.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Rescue Groups – learn about dogs who need our help
• Music & Entertainment along the streets!
• Shops  Open Late – visit store for specials and activities
• Outdoor  Dining – many restaurants have outdoor seating to accommodate you and your pooch!
• Classic Cars on Tennessee Avenue

$1000 BASKET WINNER ANNOUNCED – 8:00pm

Register to win a basket of people treats and pet goodies valued at over $1000!! You must register at Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital at 3710 Cleveland Heights Blvd.  by September 1st at 10pm.

Participants for the Pooch Parade must pre-register by e-mailing the following information to annrye@DowntownLakelandFL.com.  Use the subject line “Pooch Parade Entrant”

GOOGLE MAPS

100 N. Kentucky Ave is the GPS address of Munn Park, Downtown Lakeland.  Just type it in to Google maps to get directions.

October 7, 2011 – Motorcycle Mania! - February’s Motorcycle Mania was so successful, we’re bringing it back!  We are inviting motorcycles, motorcycle related vendors, music and more will fill the streets.About 80 vendors will fill Kentucky and Main Streets.  Bay and Pine will be prime motorcycle parking.  Enjoy various music groups along the streets including SOUTHBOUND on Bay and Kentucky.

Restaurants will be open late and of course there’s plenty of shopping opportunity in the retail stores.  Classic cars are always on Tennessee Ave.

Whether you ride or not, this should be an excite First Friday. We’ve gotten response from vendors and visitors from far and wide!

There’s so much fun and activity, we extending the hours ’til 10pm!

Because of the many vendors, Downtown streets affected will be closed at 4pm.  Ample parking in the Main Street garage, Oak Street lot and on street parking on Tennessee south of Main, Kentucky south of Lemon and Orange Street.

You’ll want to park and walk through all of the cool vendors and motorcycle parking.

TWO DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES – ONE AFTER SCHOOL PLACE!
~~~~~~~THIS FIRST FRIDAY, ENROLL YOUR CHILD & GET A COMPLIMENTARY UNIFORM  ~~~~~~~~~
Pay one price, get two choices!!!  choose either martial arts or dance classes for your child

If your anything like we are you know that some children may be more sport active (or you would like them to be   and some like to dance.  We are offering both this year, with the combined forces of the Wing Chun Martial arts studio and Kevin’s Just Dance studio both located in downtown.
Your child can pick from Wing Chun Kung Fu, Hapkido, Karate, Taekwondo, Jiujitsu, Long Horn Kung Fu and more ~OR~ Hip Hop, Ballroom, Salsa, Modern, Ballet, and more!
Sign up more than one child and they can still pick different things, your daughter can do dance and your son martial arts or visa versa!   Contact us for details, 863.800.0171

- pickup and drop off available
- all classes are taught by certified instructors
- classes will be held monday – friday afterschool
- polk county school teachers on staff to assist with homework and related school projects
- 2600 sq ft facility full equipped

116 east pine street, lakeland florida 33801
863.800.0171

On August 5 the First Friday theme in Downtown Lakeland is “Back To School” .  To show our teachers that we appreciate them, the shops listed below will conduct drawings for door prizes. All you have to do to qualify is be a Polk County teacher. In addition, all of the shops listed will offer an ongoing teacher’s discount of 5% on all purchases.

Black Swan Bazaar 229 N Kentucky Ave
Brooke Pottery 223 N Kentucky Ave
Traditions Unlimited 221 N Kentucky Ave
Rafa Natural 229 N Kentucky Ave
Reflections 230 N Kentucky Ave
Su Su’s Particulars 229 N Kentucky Ave
Mitchell’s Coffee 235 N Kentucky Ave
Bay Street Bistro 211 East Bay St
Pumpernaks Trader’s Alley

Visit the First Friday Artisan Market on N Kentucky on August 5 from 6-9pm.

Lakeland's Premier Office Address in Downtown Lakeland, The Historic McKay Building

Come see me tonight and tour one of Lakeland’s Premier buildings at the corner of Main and S. Kentucky. We will have two suites open for tours and refreshments. If you like the downtown lifestyle, then maybe your business would too! Don’t have time to come for a visit tonight? Then you can watch a video tour of the property here.

Enjoy First Friday in June, I hope to see you tonight.

-Jack Strollo

Ride your bikes, one, two, three or four wheeled, to Downtown Lakeland and enjoy a beautiful summer evening in Downtown Lakeland.  Learn about BikeLakeland and its plans for bike racks in Downtown.  Get up to speed on bike safety.   Red Trail Racing will perform bike tricks throughout Downtown. Watch out for the roaming stunt riders. These guys will amaze you with what they can do on a bike!

•  Come learn about Lakeland’s bike community.
•  Trick bike demonstrations BY RED TRAIL RACING. They may look like regular guys on bikes…until they stand n the handle bars while in motion!
•  Bicycle basket decorating contest.  Visit The General Store on South Kentucky to show off your basket and enter the contest.
•  Promenade in Plaid around the Frances Langford Promenade, 7pm.  Meet us at Kryger Park (where Main Street and Massachusetts meet on Lake Mirror) We’ll ride             around the lake together, promoting biking in Downtown Lakeland!
•  Get the low-down on cycle chic, Lake-to-Lake urban trails,  bicycle repair, trail  biking, geocaching, bike safety,biking health benefits, and more as Lakeland works on becoming a bike friendly city.
•  Learn about the latest in bike technology, commuter and road bikes with Lakeland’s bike shops.
• Explore summer camps  S. Kentucky Ave is hosting DLP members who have summer camps they’d like to tell you about.  Vivst the booths and find out about all the fun!

June First Friday sponsored in part by:

An inveterate adventure traveler, EJ Jensen made the hop from standard mountain biking to mountain bike trials in 2008 in Okinawa Japan.  Since then, he has been driven to hone the precision skills and balance necessary to excel in urban trials, and has enjoyed sharing his passion for the little-known sport with the many people he meets along his journey. Though primarily focused on urban trials, with cities in North America and Europe providing the obstacle courses (or “puzzles” as he sees them), EJ has recently branched out into natural trials as well, competing in the Southridge Fontana winter series on the rocky terrain of southern California.  He is currently touring the US promoting the culture of cycling through demonstrations at bicycle themed events.

Downtown has a smart phone APP! Keyword: DLPAPP

First Friday Business supporters: