Lakeland Highlands, FL Lifestyle and More

Why Everyone Is Pulling Over at This Unassuming Florida Chicken and Fish Shack

There is a small chicken stand in Lakeland with no dining room, no fancy sign, and almost always a line out front. Drivers pass it for years before they finally stop, and many of them wish they had stopped sooner. The menu sticks to Southern basics, and the fried chicken...

Lakeland, FL · 5d

everafterinthewoods.com

This Florida Breakfast Buffet Has Become The Place To Be On Sunday Mornings

Fried chicken shows up on the breakfast line here, right next to the eggs and the biscuits with gravy. Yes, at breakfast. I can’t imagine a better excuse to skip cereal on a Sunday morning. The weekend spread also brings fried catfish, smoked sausage, a house breakfast hash, and...

Plant City, FL · 1d

Lakeland Gazette

partner publisher · 249.8K followers

Lakeland Italian Festival Under the Stars 2026

The inaugural Lakeland Italian Festival “Under the Stars” takes place along South Kentucky Avenue in Downtown Lakeland on Saturday, November 7, 2026, running from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Organized by the Italian American Club of Central Florida, this evening block-party-style celebration brings regional Italian cuisine, art, and...

Lakeland, FL · 1d

WFLA

Veteran Journalist Jennifer Leigh to retire from WFLA after nearly 34 years

After nearly 34 years at WFLA-TV, Emmy Award-winning journalist and longtime news anchor Jennifer Leigh will retire from News Channel 8 following her final broadcast on Dec. 23.

Tampa, FL · 2d

uncoveringflorida.com

This Gorgeous Florida Garden Is Completely Free to Visit and Almost Too Pretty to Be Real

A neoclassical colonnade, splashing fountains, and a lakeside view, and the price of admission is zero. I still find that a little hard to believe. This 1.25-acre botanical garden sits above a downtown lake in Florida. Paths wind past roses, a koi pond, a grotto, and tidy beds of flowers. Benches pop up in quiet corners, so nobody has to rush.

uncoveringflorida.com

publisher · 149 followers

Hidden in a Small Florida Town, This Charming Restaurant Has a Porch Worth Driving For

Lunch arrives in a little picnic basket here, and an alligator might be watching from the pond. That alone made me stop scrolling. A restaurant with a resident gator and basket-style service deserves a closer look. The ordering system feels like a game. You mark your choices on a paper...

Lake Alfred, FL · 3d

The Citrus Tea News

Lakeland Highlands Middle Gym Opens As School’s First Indoor Gym

Lakeland Highlands Middle School opened a 15,000-square-foot gym on Oct. 14, its first indoor gym since the school opened in 1975, built for about $10 million. The post Lakeland Highlands Middle Gym Opens As School’s First Indoor Gym first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Becky McLachlan . The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Polk County, FL · 1d

Lakeland Gazette

Trader Joe’s looking at Lakeland for possible 2030 Development

As of right now, Trader Joe’s has not announced any official plans, leases, or store developments targeting Lakeland, Florida. But unofficial chatter is making the rounds. The popular grocery chain typically keeps its real estate expansion plans tightly under wraps until leases are finalized or official “Coming Soon” announcements are posted on their website. They continue to grow their Florida footprint—with recent and upcoming expansions in regions like Orlando, Sarasota, and South Florida.

fscsouthern.com

Chicken Guy is the addition students have waited for

As a senior at Florida Southern College, I have watched the dining options on campus change almost every year. From renovations to Wynee’s Bistro to new food concepts, the college has continued to find ways to improve the student dining experience. While the loss of Steak ’n Shake may be disappointing for some students, I believe Chicken Guy is a wonderful addition to campus.

Lakeland Gazette

Central Florida Food Fest 2026 at Bonnet Springs Park

Bonnet Springs Park will welcome food lovers from across the region to the Central Florida Food Fest on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 5-9 p.m. Hosted at the Harrell Family Botanical Gardens and Kirby Center, this ticketed culinary celebration brings together prominent local eateries, beverage vendors, and live musical acts for an unforgettable evening.

hoodline.com

publisher · 6.0K followers

Plant City's Dinosaur World Turns Into a Prehistoric Christmas Wonderland This Winter

Dinosaur World in Plant City is swapping its usual roar for holiday cheer this winter, transforming its 20-acre jungle into what the park is billing as a prehistoric winter wonderland. Christmas at Dinosaur World kicks off Friday, November 27, and runs through January 3, 2027, bringing miles of Christmas lights, a Candy Cane Express train and a Christmas Market to wind among the park's life-size dinosaurs.

Plant City, FL · 1d

LkldNow

Mural Festival Makes Waves Downtown, Brings International Artists

The festival, created by Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos, hopes to make contemporary art accessible to everyone and create meaningful opportunities for community connection. “What we’re trying to do here is make people want to spend more time in our local businesses, buy a coffee, walk the walls, and spend time in our local community,” said Fazio, a born and raised Lakelander. “We’re excited to contribute to our local economy in that way.”

businessdebut.com

partner publisher · 19.0K followers

22 New and Independent Restaurants Opening Across Florida (November 2026)

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL – Nara Thai Sushi is preparing to open at 424 Luna Bella Ln Unit F And G New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 around Thanksgiving, owner Craig Finney told Business Debut. Finney said the new concept will anchor the center village area of the Venetian Bay...

Florida · 3d

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaways start this weekend, to help fight hunger during the holiday season

Feeding America says the food insecurity rate across Tampa Bay is higher than the national average. Here's a list of several organizations across the area staging turkey giveaways during the month of November 2026. The post Tampa Bay’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaways start this weekend, to help fight hunger during the holiday season appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa .

Tampa Bay Area, FL · 3d

American Songwriter

partner publisher · 245.1K followers

Born 80 Years Ago Today in Florida, the “Cosmic Cowboy” Who Pioneered Country-Rock and Toured With Emmylou Harris

On this day (November 5) in 1946, Ingram Cecil Connor III was born in Winter Haven, Florida. However, you may better recognize him as Gram Parsons, the visionary artist whose intergalactic blend of country, rock, R&B, soul and folk music laid the foundation for what we now know as country-rock. A member of the Byrds and co-founder of The Flying Burrito Brothers before embarking on a solo career, Parsons’s remarkable musical run was cut tragically short when the 26-year-old singer-songwriter died of an accidental overdose on September 19, 1973.

Winter Haven, FL · 2d

Tampa Bay Times

partner publisher · 139.5K followers

10 unexpected places around Tampa Bay to get great food

Food and discovery go hand in hand, and there’s a lot to discover around this area — if you know where to look. There are diligent folks throughout Tampa Bay crafting Colombian-style empanadas steps away from one of St. Petersburg’s oldest beach towns; assembling Taiwanese-style rice rolls and hawking them via Facebook groups — all of them making the food they grew up eating, and crafting it with love and care.

Tampa, FL · 3d

LkldNow

publisher · 6.0K followers

Arts and Health Week 2026 Inspires Creativity Across Lakeland

Make your mark on downtown Lakeland during the Farmers Curb Market by joining in Color Wave’s community mural. What: A free family and pet friendly outdoor festival celebrating the arts. When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Swan Brewing, 115 W Pine St. New this year:

Lakeland, FL · 14h

WMNF