Lakeland, FL

Free Arts & Entertainment Event in Lakeland Florida - Saturday Nov 14th 2009

Did you enjoy this past weekend's free events honoring the people who service? Check out this Saturday's free art & music event on November 14, 2009 from 11am-5pm. This event takes place downtown Lakeland at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater.

This event would help bring unity to the community of Lakeland through a common passion; creative arts. It would be a place for talented artists within our community to release their gifts, bringing a positive influence into our city. Artists would have the opportunity to network & share with other artists of the same vein and hopefully it would provide profit for them by selling their pieces/music. To simply put it, they want to promote art.

There will be all sorts of live entertainment throughout the day, featuring: The Florida Dance Theatre, Southeastern's fX Percussion Group, Joe Gavin, John Conklin, Terra Terra Terra and more!

If you would like to learn more about the event, please visit their website: http://www.kristinacollins.org/events.html

First Friday in Lakeland Florida – Local Event “Honoring Service” – November 6th, 2009

Being married to a veteran, who served 20 years in the Army and both of my sons (SIL) serving in the military, one as a Marine reservist and the other active duty in the Air Force, this is very dear to my heart. Veterans Day is November 11^th and Lakeland, Florida’s First Friday local event “Honoring Service” could not have been timed any better.

With all Lakeland First Friday events, Downtown Lakeland Partnership has always done an outstanding job organizing, which proved at last month event of “Art Walk”. I’ve never seen that many people downtown Lakeland comingling, shopping, dining and having a good time.

What can you expect to see in and around Munn Park?

It all starts at 6:00 p.m. with the National Anthem that will be performed by the Harrison School for the Arts string quartet in front of Brooke Pottery.

• Color guard demonstration by Lake Gibson High, Lake Region, and George Jenkins High Schools.
• Dance and ROTC performances throughout the evening are scheduled – Kentucky Avenue will close from Lemon Street to Oak.
• Music and Entertainment
• Student art displays along the streets

At 7:00 p.m. between Main and Lemon Street, you’ll be entertained by clogging and nutcracker dances.

• Girl Scouts are sponsoring card making activities to be sent to troops overseas.
• Massages will be offered
• Prizes to win, sign up for drawings and more.
• Lifestyle Fitness Center will also have you entertained

There is so much more from Nonperishable Food Drive organized by Brooke Pottery to benefit the Talbot House to Operation Drop Zone donating items for our active military members deployed overseas. Think about our military veterans when you shop downtown Lakeland!

Also, Senator Paula Dockery, who just announced her run for governor will be there to talk with you.

Stop by at the classic car show!

Ever wonder just how many people call Lakeland, Florida, home? Well, at the present time, about 93,000 people consider themselves Lakelanders. And of that amount, 46.5% are male and 53.5% are female. The population of Lakeland is actually up about 14.6% since the year 2000.

Lakeland boasts 5 high schools, 7 middle schools and 26 elementary schools. What about private schools and other types of schools in Lakeland? Well, there are 17 of those. So if you can't find an education in Lakeland, you're just not looking in the right places.

The U.S. cost of living index is 100 but Lakeland's is only 84.5 so despite how it feels when you're checking out at the grocery store, it does actually cost less to live in Lakeland than a lot of other cities in the United States. Lakeland is 190 feet above sea level and covers 45.8 square miles.

How about some information on the weather. Our annual precipitation is 49.13 inches with April being the driest month at an average of 2.04 inches and September being the wettest with 6.33 inches.

And then there are Lakeland's tropical temperatures. Daytime average high temperatures are in the 70's in January, February and December, in the 80's in March and April and in the 90's the other seven months. Lows range from the 50's in January, February, March, November and December, the 60's in April, May and October and the 70's in June, July, August and September. This all works out to an average annual high temperature of 85.5 and an average low of 63.2.

If you want to learn more about such things as politics, where to volunteer in Lakeland, government resources or other community info, check out the American Towns website.

If you want to learn more about finding housing in Lakeland or selling your home in Lakeland, check out The Boyce Team. Contact Damion Boyce and let him and the rest of the team use their extensive knowledge of the area to find your perfect home.

Update for the Lakeland real estate market! Currently, there are 1940 homes for sale throughout Lakeland – as of 11/03/09, still balanced no major increase in inventory for the past few weeks. Newly listed homes for the period of October 16th through October 31^st totaled 192 Lakeland homes recently came on the market. Average sales price of $177,940 or $85.32 per square foot with area Realtors®.

The types of homes and average prices just listed in Lakeland, Florida according to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) are as follows:

2 duplex listed with an average sales price of $36,299

5 condos listed with an average sales price of $104,560

16 mobile homes listed with an average sales price of $96,212

11 Townhomes/Villas listed with an average sales price of $110,561

158 single family homes with an average price of $195,022

Three Lakeland homes exceeding $1 million were just listed. The priciest Lakeland real estate was a former “Home of the Year” in the 2006 Spring Parade. This custom built pool home is located in the Lazy Creek subdivision; featuring 5 bedrooms and 5 baths with close to 6,000 square feet of living space currently offered for $1,499,000. On the contrary, the cheapest Lakeland home newly listed is a 2 bedroom 1 bath listed for only $10,000 – just under $12.00 per square foot – located in the Palma Ceia Court subdivision.

For a more detailed report, please continue to read by clicking this link!

Lakeland's CommonGround Park was originally thought of from two Lakeland-area mothers of children with special needs, who contacted the Parks and Recreation Department with their suggestion. After four years of fundraising, planning and construction, this park opened up for all children ages 2-12 earlier this year. CommonGround Park's playground is designed to have fun play experiences, as well as aid children in their cognitive, physical and emotional development.

I just love when Lakeland's community leaders, various fund raising organizations, such as the Rotary Clubs, businesses and volunteers come together and create such a place for children.

Located in Lakeland's Edgewood Park, at the corner of Edgewood Drive and Buckingham Avenue, CommonGround uses the space very efficiently with two separate playground areas, a rock-climbing wall, an astroturf mound for kids to roll down, and much more for all children of all abilities. Play zones are exceptionally designed, so children can play side-by-side.

The park is open from 8:00 a.m. until dusk!