Why wait to be merry. Over 45 enjoyable Christmas occasions in Polk County

There’s twinkling lights right here, and sweet canes there because the Christmas season will get into full swing in Polk County.

Starting as early as Nov. 26, it is time to get merry and shiny. No want to attend for Thanksgiving Day to be over.

The Ledger has compiled a complete listing of largely free vacation festivals, parades and occasions taking place throughout Polk, positive to get even a cranky Ebenezer Scrooge within the vacation spirit.

Nov. 26

Bartow: Get within the vacation spirit with Polk County History’s Merry and Bright in Bartow on Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to five p.m. It contains a specifically curated Festival of Wreaths tour to study in regards to the design of the wreaths and the organizations or people who made them. Tour begins at 11 a.m. on the Polk County History Center, 100 E. Main St., Bartow.

Nov. 27

Lakeland: The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority will host its inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Nov. 27, 6 p.m. in Munn Park, 100 Main St. The tree lighting goals to coordinate with the City of Lakeland’s unofficial begin of Christmas, the place vacation decorations throughout the town’s parks are turned on for the primary time.

Nov. 29

Bartow: Get within the vacation spirit with Polk County History’s Merry and Bright in Bartow on Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to five p.m. It contains a specifically curated Festival of Wreaths tour to study in regards to the design of the wreaths and the organizations or people who made them. Tours start at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the Polk County History Center, 100 E. Main St., Bartow.

Frostproof: Frostproof Chamber of Commerce will mark the beginning of the vacation season with its Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Nov. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Wall Street Park, 100 W. Wall St. The occasion will function a reside nativity scene, Santa and Mrs. Claus, distributors, meals vehicles and a youngsters zone.

Lakeland: Shop on the LDDA’s Holiday Craft Bazaar in Lakeland on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29 from 9 a.m. to three p.m., in Munn Park. There might be greater than 45 vacation craft distributors within the park alongside the Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market. There might be a chance to take selfies with Santa in Munn Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lake Wales: Lake Wales Main Street will exhibit dozens of designer Christmas timber decked with heartfelt decorations at Lake Wales’ Festival of Trees beginning Nov. 29, open from 10 a.m. to five p.m. via Dec. 19, at 250 E. Park Ave. On choose nights, the show will keep open later. Visitors are requested to convey a canned or dry good to donate to a neighborhood meals financial institution.

Dec. 2

Eagle Lake: TheEagle Lake Christmas parade might be held Dec. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. from the Eagle Lake Ball Park, 350 Cooley Road, and finish at Eagle Lake Elementary college, 400 Crystal Beach Road.

Dec. 3

Davenport: The City of Davenport will maintain its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 3, begin at 6:30 p.m. at Tom Fellows Community Center, 207 North Blvd. W.

Dec. 4

Auburndale: The City of Auburndale will host Lights in the Park on Dec. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. The occasion contains a the town’s tree lighting at 7 p.m. with music, festivities, meals vehicles and extra at 120 W. Park St.

Lakeland: The Junior League of Greater Lakeland’s 44th annual Christmas Parade with the theme, “Rocking Around Lakeland” will step off at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. The begin might be signaled by fireworks over Lake Mirror. The parade begins on the RP Funding Center, travels east alongside Lemon Street, turns north on Tennessee Avenue, turns east on Main Street, north on Kentucky Avenue, east on Lake Mirror Drive, south on Lake Avenue, then west on Orange Street again to the RP Funding Center.

Winter Haven: The City of Winter Haven’s annual tree lighting ceremony might be in Central Park, 41 fifth St. NW, on Dec. 4 from 6 to eight p.m. The occasion contains reside vacation music, free cookies and scorching chocolate for the primary 100 youngsters, and a group countdown to mild the official metropolis tree.

Dec. 5

Plant City: Plant City will maintain its annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. There’s a brand new route this 12 months that begins at Collins and Ball streets, heads north to Reynolds Street, then west on Reynolds to Wheeler Street, south on Drane Street to the top of the route.

Lakeland: The LDDA’s First Friday contains a “Holiday Spectacular” on Dec. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m., in downtown Lakeland alongside Munn Park. The occasion features a automobile present on Tennessee Avenue, a makers’ market on North Kentucky Avenue, reside music, food and drinks with native eating places and outlets staying open late. There would be the alternative to take photos with Santa Claus at Crews Bank on Main Street, or free skilled household pictures in entrance of the Munn Park Christmas Tree.

Lake Wales: Warner University will host a Merry Market 2025 on Dec. 5 from 5:30 to eight:30 p.m. in Warner’s courtyard that includes procuring, reside music and meals vehicles.

Mulberry: Celebrate the vacation season with Mulberry’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Cookie Stroll on Dec. 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.. The occasion begins contained in the Gem Theater, 118 NW 1st Ave., with a musical efficiency from the Mulberry High School Choir. Head exterior for the official lighting of the town’s Christmas tree with a presentation by the Purcell Elementary Choir. Stroll the downtown streets to get pleasure from pop-up cookie stops and reside musical performances.

Winter Haven and Auburndale: The City of Auburndale in partnership with the City of Winter Haven presents the annual Havendale Christmas Parade on Dec. 5, stepping off at 7 p.m. The parade begins at Spring Haven Senior Living, 1225 Havendale Blvd. SW, and ends at Publix in Auburndale, 606 Havendale Blvd.

Dec. 6

Frostproof: The City of Frostproof will host its 33rd annual Christmas in the Country parade on Dec. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. The parade runs alongside Scenic Highway, from third St. W north to F St. W.

Frostproof: The City of Frostproof’s Holly Jolly Christmas Party at Henderson Field, 71 N. Lake Reedy Blvd., might be held Dec. 6, beginning at roughly 6:30 p.m. following the Christmas parade. The occasion options meals, music, a snow slide, trains and a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus.

Haines City: The City of Haines City will host is annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. The parade route will begin at Hinson Avenue and Lake Elsie Drive, then comply with the westbound lanes of Hinson Avenue to sixth Street, the place it makes a proper flip and goes again to Lake Eva Park.Haines City: The metropolis’s annual vacation competition “Glitter, Glisten and Snow” to instantly comply with the Christmas Parade is Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Eva Park, 555 Ledwith Ave. Take photos with Santa Claus whereas having fun with a uncommon snowfall in Central Florida.

Homeland: Homeland Heritage Park presents Christmas Notes, a free household occasion on Dec. 6 from 5 to eight p.m. at 249 Church Ave., Homeland. The occasion options pictures with Santa Claus, cookie adorning, festive picture alternatives, crafts, video games and actions.

Lakeland: The Florida Air Museum hosts a Flight Before Christmas on Dec. 6, from 4 to eight p.m. Visitors can stroll via a maze of twinkling lights and luxuriate in heat apple cider, scorching cocoa and cookies. Snag a a selfie with Santa and provides him your vacation want listing. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 youngsters youthful than 12 on the door. Museum members get in free, the museum is situated at 4075 James C. Ray Drive, Lakeland.

Lakeland: The metropolis’s forty fifth annual Snowfest off Lake Mirror Park might be Dec. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. The occasion options arts and crafts distributors, meals vehicles, leisure and extra.

Lakeland: Get into the vacation spirit on the Holly Jolly Cocoa Party, a festive Polk County occasion designed for households with younger youngsters on Dec. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m., on the Medulla Resource Center, 1048 Parker Road. Enjoy holiday-themed actions with cocoa, music and extra. The occasion is free however pre-registration is required. To RSVP contact Jenna Carver, by emailing jennacarver@polk-county.net or name 863-647-4035.

Lakeland: Join Lakeland’s Santa-themed downtown pub crawl and social gathering on the LKLD Santacon on Dec. 6, beginning at 5 p.m. at Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave. Tickets are $20 per particular person, age 21-plus, with all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit KidsPack Inc., offering meals to youngsters in want.

Lake Wales: There’s a Light and Local Market Dec. 6 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. for a market designed to convey folks collectively, have fun religion and uplift native companies within the Downtown Market Place, 20 N. Market Place. Worship will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Winter Haven: Shop for vacation presents at Winter Haven’s Holidays on Central with Bandit Market on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Central Avenue. There might be greater than 100 distributors, reside musical performances, free pictures with Santa Claus and many festive giveaways.

Winter Haven: A glowing vacation custom on the water, the annual Winter Haven Boat Parade that includes festively embellished boats takes to the Chain of Lakes at 6:30 p.m. off Lake May. The parade route brings boats via Lake Howard and Lake Shipp, ending about 8 p.m.

Dec. 12

Bartow: Join Main Street Bartow for its annual Magical Illumination Christmas Parade on Dec. 12, stepping off at 6 p.m., with a route that travels alongside Broadway and Main Street.

Lake Hamilton: Lake Hamilton invitations all to hitch them for the primary Lake Hamilton Golf Cart Christmas Parade adopted by a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. The occasion will function enjoyable actions, together with scorching cocoa, cookies, films and a go to from Santa Claus.

Lake Wales: Celebrate the vacations with Lake Wales Main Street’s Make It Magical on Dec. 12 from 5 to 9 p.m., that includes vacation musical leisure within the Downtown Market Plaza, 20 N. Market Place, with procuring and meals from native outlets, eating places, meals vehicles and craft distributors.

Winter Haven: The City of Winter Haven host its Winter Haven Winter Wonderland on Dec. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Central Park Downtown, 41 fifth St. NW. This family-friendly occasion will function photos with Santa Claus beginning at 6:30 p.m., a festive vacation movie beginning at 7 p.m., craft stations, holiday-themed inflatables and meals vehicles.

Dec. 13

Bartow: Main Street Bartow will host a Mistletoe Market on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., that includes distinctive crafts, youngsters actions, meals and a chance to satisfy Santa Claus. Event happens on Bartow’s Main Street.

Bartow: The Polk County History Center will have fun the vacation season with its Jingle and MIngle event on Dec. 13. Snag a cookie and luxuriate in particular carol performances at 11 a.m., midday and 1 p.m. from Frostproof High School Chorus and Berkley Charter Elementary School Chorus. The historical past middle is situated at 100 E. Main St., Bartow.

Davenport: The City of Davenport will maintain is annual Christmas Parade and Winterfest on Dec. 13 from 4 to 9 p.m. on the Tom Fellows Community Center, 207 North Blvd. W. The parade steps off at 6 p.m. with the general occasion that includes distributors, fireworks, a snow slide and a go to from Santa Claus.

Fort Meade: The Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. with this 12 months’s theme being “Here we go a caroling…”. The parade traces up at Monument Park, Southeast 2nd Street with family-friendly actions to comply with.

Haines City: Eat Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Lake Eva Event Center, 799 Johns Ave. Tickets are $15 per particular person, with youngsters age 2 and youthful free. Space is restricted.

Lakeland: The City of Lakeland’s annual Holly Jolly Jingle Jog 5K might be held Dec. 13, with race begin at 7:30 a.m., at Cleveland Heights Golf Course, 2900 Buckingham Ave. Registration is open via Dec. 10, at $35 per particular person for the 5K and $10 for the Reindeer Dash Kids Fun Run at 8:15 a.m. Holiday apparel and cheer is welcome. The race is a fundraising occasion for the town’s Three Parks Trail Perpetual Fund.

Lakeland: Florida Technical College’s Lakeland Campus will maintain a 2025 Christmas Winter Festival on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., that includes youngsters’s actions, program demonstrations, crafts and a free picture with Santa Claus. The campus is situated at 4715 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland.

Lakeland: The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority invitations all to a Holiday Night Market in Downtown Lakeland on Dec. 13 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. that includes greater than 200 artists and makers, reside music and DJ units, prolonged affords from downtown retailers with specialty meals and drinks.

Lake Wales: Watch the annual Lake Wales Christmas Parade, introduced by Rotary on the Ridge, on Dec. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. The parade route begins at Polk Avenue Elementary School, touring up First Avenue to Central Avenue, it is going to transfer towards Lakeshore Boulevard earlier than ending at Orange Avenue.

Mulberry: Mulberry’s annual 2025 Christmas Parade, with the theme “All Creatures Great and Small” will happen Dec. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. Celebrate the vacation season with floats, costumes and lights. The route begins on NE ninth Street, activates NE seventeenth Avenue, to NE 1st Street, north on Dr. MLK Jr. Avenue, then west on NE fifth Street ending at State Road 37.

Mulberry: The City of Mulberry invitations all to step into its Christmas Village on Dec. 13 from roughly 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Spence Park, 1100 NE 1st St. The occasion contains carriage rides beneath the lights, a go to from Santa and roast free s’mores and snap pictures with princesses.

Winter Haven: It’s time to Deck The Yard at Winter Haven’s Bowen Yard on Dec. 13 beginning at 2 p.m. This free occasion will function mild shows, actions, music, meals and drinks with go to from Santa Claus. Bowen Yard is situated at 308 4th St. SW, Winter Haven.

Dec. 19

Lakeland: Bonnet Springs Park will host a free Movie on the Lawn, showing “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Dec. 19 from 6 to eight:30 p.m. on the Allen & Company Family Lawn. There’s the prospect to satisfy a real-life Grinch and take pictures. Bonnet Springs Park is situated at 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland.

Dec. 20

Lakeland: Lakeside Village will maintain a “Tis the Season: Holiday Concert” on Dec. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. on The Lawn at 1479 Town Center Drive, Lakeland.

Know of a free group vacation occasion taking place that is not on our listing? Email swalsh@theledger.com with the main points to be added.