Lakeland, FL, our little “Mecca of Cool”, has an amazing array of family events for the Holidays, but it is difficult to find all the information. And inquiring minds want to know! At InTune Studios, we have a few of our own special family offerings, and we attempt to find a good time with the local calendar isn’t too full. So here is my gift to all of my local followers. Thank You! and Enjoy your holidays!
May your holidays be filled with family harmony.
First, let me share about the family events we are offering at InTune Studios:
Kidz Night Out featuring our own Gingerbread Art Studio – Friday, Dec. 14 6 – 9 pm.
Kidz Night Out is a once a month offer to entertain your children with a variety of art projects and activities based on a theme. This month features making and decorating a true gingerbread house, and other gingerbread dough ornaments, perfect as family keepsakes. Drop off your independent children and enjoy some shopping or time to yourself. Space is limited, and Registration in advance is required. $18 for first enrolled child. $17 for each sibling. Activities and price may vary for children under 3 years old.
For questions, and/or to register your child for this event, contact her at carolyn.espina@gmail.com . Please include your family name and contact information (phone and email), as well as the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) planning to attend.
Kindermusik Playdate featuring our Jingle Jangle Gingerbread Party – Saturday, Dec. 15 9:30 or 10:30 am
Kindermusik Playdates are offered once a month, featuring a full class of interactive musical play with your young children based on a specific monthly theme.
This month features fun new ways to celebrate the season with jingle bells and delicious smells, making Jingle Jangle music, and cooking up muffins (activity rhyme) and cookies (books), and, of course, dancing like Gingerbread Men. Families take home props and music to continue the fun at home, and an email follows with more information and pictures.
9:30 am. – Specifically designed by Ms. Debbie for Babies up to 2 years old who are more comfortable in a setting without older children. 45 min.
10:30 am. – Specifically designed by Ms. Debbie for Families with children of all ages, mostly up to 7 years old. Loads of music, movement and fun for everyone. 60 min.
Space is limited, and Registration in advance is required. $20 for first enrolled child. $10 for each enrolled sibling. Complete the following form to save your spot in the class time of your choice.
Registration Form for Kindermusik Playdates
Now, for the rest! Dec. 6, 7, and 8 are jam-packed with downtown Lakeland events !
Treasured Annual Lakeland Events
The event name is typically a link to more information online.
Holiday Walk-a-bout – Tuesday, Nov. 27 , 6 – 9 pm – Downtown Lakeland
Downtown Lakeland celebrates the holidays with shopping, dining, music, horse-drawn wagon rides and more! Holiday music from many area schools and churches create a festive atmosphere. Explorations V is open late until 8 pm. with admission at half-price.
Radio Disney Holiday Event – Sun. Dec. 2, 1 – 3 pm. – Lakeland Square Mall
Featuring Disney fun, children’s games and activities. Check Lakeland Square Mall Events for other events there as well. The Toys for Tots drive is De. 11th.
Lakeland Christmas Parade – Thursday, Dec. 6th – 7 pm – Downtown Lakeland
Theme: “Tis the Season. Set up your seats early as the parade consisting of about 100 floats will set off from the Lakeland Center and wind through Downtown. Roads will begin closing at 5:30. Fireworks over Lake Mirror at 7:00 to start the parade.
Cookies & Carols at First Friday, Dec. 7, 6 – 9 pm – Downtown Lakeland
Holiday fun galore! Local schools and groups performing live. Holiday specials at many of the Downtown shops. Parade floats parked Downtown so you can get a closer look.
Jingle Bell Rock Party – Friday, December 7, 6 -9 PM – Wabash Community Center, Lakeland
Geneva Classical Academy Event: Experience a Dickens holiday as you move through seven themed rooms of a home. Costumed interpreters playing the roles of Charles Dickens’ family and characters from A Christmas Carol lead you to experience the holiday as it was celebrated in the 1850s, at the height of the Victorian period, when most of our beloved Christmas traditions began.
Snowfest – Saturday, Dec. 8 10:00 am – 2 pm. – Lake Mirror Promenade
A Holiday Event for the Entire Family featuring Snow Mountain, a rock climbing wall, photos with Santa, live entertainment and more! The festival is open to all. The cost for admittance onto Snow Mountain for a few minutes play is a can of tuna for the food bank (or $1), and other activities may include a ticket price. This is totally lacking online info, but I called to make sure ! Our family has been before and enjoyed it. It can sometimes be crowded with long lines, but other years it has been quite pleasant and enjoyable.
A Country Christmas Hayride – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Dec.; 6 – 10 pm. – North Lakeland
The Smith Family Farm, the folks who bring us Cornfusian, is offering a 30 min. lighted hayride, a cowboy Santa, a live Nativity scene, and other country Christmas happenings.
Lights of Lakeland – Dec 7, 8, 9 and 14, 15, 16 – 6:30 – 9 pm – Highland Park Church
Lights of Lakeland is an annual FREE walk-thru Christmas experience the whole family can enjoy! Come experience an evening of excitement and wonder filled with your favorite holiday sights, smells and sounds. Check the link for more details and a map. Personal note: It is beautiful and worth it… we make it a part of our family’s night out to see the Christmas lights.
Lakeside Village Holiday Events – see ongoing schedule – South Lakeland
Look for the Elf – daily. Watch it snow – nightly. Strolling Carolers – Fri & Sat evenings. These are some of the free events to experience at our sprawling mall. Check the schedule for getting pictures with Santa in Santa’s Workshop, and for the Holiday Concerts on Friday nights. And while in the area, stop into PicassoZ Art Cafe to paint an ornament.
Public Ice Skating Dec. 18 – Jan 7 (see times) – The Lakeland Center
Get in the winter mood with some chilly fun. Dress warm and bring thick socks. Good Luck, and Be Careful !
Santa’s Calling – Tuesday, Dec. 11 5:30 pm
Arrange for your child to receive a special telephone call from Santa!! Print Santa’s Calling Form, then return the completed form to a city Parks & Rec. location (mail, fax, or deliver) by Dec. 10. The questions are interesting.
The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever – Dec. 7, 8, 9 (check times)
Lakeland Community Theatre at the Lake Mirror Complex: In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids– probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem– and the fun– when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!
Swingin’ Holiday Pops – Dec. 11, 7:30 pm. – Lakeland Center
The Imperial Symphony Orchestra takes on the holiday spirit in style. This might be best for children of elementary age and older.
Exploration V Children’s Museum Holiday Workshops – Saturday, Dec. 15 10 – noon and/or 2 – 4 pm.
Drop off program for elementary age children to enjoy art and museum activities independently. Check their online calendar for all the fun daily activities they have for the younger children.
Sat. Dec. 22 – 10 am. features the Family Gingerbread Village Workshops
The Great Russian Nutcracker – Thursday, Dec. 27, 7:30 pm. – Lakeland Center
This wonderful story put to music by the Russian composer, Tchaikovsky, is performed in all it’s glory by the Moscow Ballet. After enjoying the Russian Santa Claus in “Rise of the Guardians”, we have been in a jolly Russian mood around here. PLUS, we are studying this story and music in our Young Child class this month. Our family will be there !!!
Treasured Nearby Weekend Events
Cannonball Christmas Express – Sat & Sun in Nov & Dec – Tavares, FL
Get into the holiday spirit on board the Orange Blossom Cannonball Christmas Express for a magical trip to the North Pole. Take a real train ride in vintage coaches pulled by our 1907 steam locomotive as we travel to our destination singing Christmas songs and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and cookies. Santa will board the train at the North Pole to visit with kids of all ages and present each child with a gift.
Christmas Bricktacular at Legoland Florida – Sat & Sun in Dec. – Winter Haven
Loads of Lego fun and festivities. Check the link for more details.
Tea with Mrs. Santa – Saturdays throughout Dec. – Auburndale, FL
Make arrangements with friends to enjoy a Christmas Tea Party in Auburndale. Mrs. Clause is there to read stories and take pictures with your little ones. Upstairs there is a place for decorating Gingerbread houses (graham crackers). Limited seating means no overcrowding. Magnolia Tea Room. CALL for reservations: (863) 965-1684 They are almost all booked already !
Bartow Christmas Parade – Friday, Dec. 14 – 6 – 8 pm. – Bartow
I can’t find many details, but I know it is happening.
Christmas Notes – Sat, Dec. 15, 5 – 8 pm. – Homeland Heritage Park, FL
Polk County Parks & Recreation invites you to the annual Christmas Notes. Join us for a Frontier Christmas and explore the historic Homeland Heritage Park. Activities include cookie decorating, photos with Santa, a caroling hayride, live music and entertainment, inflatable bounce houses, refreshments, and food vendors. Most activities will be free to the public. Phone: (863) 534-3766. At the website, look for contest coloring page & festival info. to download in pdf format.
Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens – ongoing – Lake Wales, FL
Coordinate your Guided Winter Walk, and the Seasonal Carillon Music concerts with the Saturday morning opportunity to make your own unique holiday ornament, and other family art projects. Reservations required.
Please share if you know of other local events that should be shared with our local families. Or if you have been to one of these, please give your review ! Thanks !