Auburndale, FL (June 2022) – The summer solstice marked the start of summer for the rest of the country, but Florida is fortunate to enjoy beautiful weather nearly all year long. Central Florida’s Polk County is especially blessed with more than 550 fresh-water lakes, to provide cool and refreshing water activities, and visitors can also cool off with a splash in the “muddy puddles” at the new Peppa Pig Theme Park. The area offers many unique attractions and events for visitors to enjoy. Highlights are listed below but check out the tourism and sports event calendars for the most up-to-date information on all there is to see and do in Florida’s Sweetest Spot.
Attractions News and Events:
- Polk County History Museum: This exhibit extended until August 13, “Grandeur & Grace: Portraits of Black Women in their Church Hats”
- Polk Museum of Art: New exhibition “Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams / Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections” runs June 25 to October 30, 2022. This exhibition is the largest installation of sculptures in the museum’s history. See attached press release.
- Fireworks Displays July 2-4, as listed below. For more details check the blog post:
- July 2
- Rockin’ Freedom Fest in Winter Haven
- Red, White and BOOM at LEGOLAND Florida (July 2, 3 & 4) in Winter Haven
- July 3
- Red, White & Kaboom in Lakeland
- Lights on the Lake in Frostproof
- Red, White and BOOM at LEGOLAND Florida (July 2, 3 & 4) in Winter Haven
- July 4
- Lakeland Flying Tigers 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular in Lakeland
- Thunder on the Ridge in Haines City
- Davenport 4th of July Celebration in Davenport
- Fireworks at Auburndale City Beach in Auburndale
- Bartow 4th of July Fireworks in Bartow
- Dundee 4th of July Fireworks Display in Dundee
- Red, White and BOOM at LEGOLAND Florida (July 2, 3 & 4) in Winter Haven
- July 2
- Streamsong Resort and Spa: One of America’s most acclaimed golf resorts has announced the name, routing and new logo for its much anticipated fourth course. The Chain is a creation by the legendary design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. See attached press release.
On-going events:
- Free Water Ski Shows on the 3rd Saturday of every month, performed on Lake Silver in Winter Haven by the world-renowned Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team.
- Saturday Night Rodeos at Westgate River Ranch Resort are a long-standing tradition for many families visiting Central Florida. This award-winning rodeo features trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and rodeo clown antics.
The Year-Long Celebration to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Water Skiing continues:
The Sport of Water Skiing celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2022. Polk County, known as the Water Ski Capital of the World, continues to hold events and activities during 2022 to commemorate the milestone, culminating with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) World Water Ski Show Tournament being held in Winter Haven in October 2022. https://visitcentralflorida.org/waterski100/ #Waterski100
In case you missed it:
- Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida – Now Open:The World’s First Peppa Pig Theme Park opened on Feb. 24, in Winter Haven. The new stand-alone park (just steps from LEGOLAND® Florida Resort) combines six interactive rides and themed play areas with character shows, an indoor cinema and a colorful splash pad that celebrates “muddy puddles” jumping fun.
- The new Visit Central Florida Travel Guide is now available. View the 74-page experiential guide online or request a copy by mail.
Looking Ahead:
New Attraction: Pirate River Quest is coming to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in 2022! Set sail with a rowdy crew of LEGO® pirates on Captain’s orders to explore the murky waters and retrieve the lost treasure, stolen by a troop of mischievous monkeys. Journey through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens and discover the secrets protecting its canals, as this all-new story unfolds brick by brick into a family-friendly treasure hunt.
Seasonal Closings for Summer 2022: (But never fear, they’ll be back in the fall.)
- Ridge Island Groves: Closing July 2, Reopening mid-Sept.
- A local’s favorite, featuring fresh juices, citrus ice cream, U-pick tours and more.
- Peebles B-B-Q: Closing June 25, Reopening Sept. 9, 2022.
- A Polk County B-B-Q staple, celebrating 74 years in 2022.
- Florida’s Natural Grove Store and visitor center: Closed June 3, Reopening Oct. 3, 2022.
- History, shopping and juice samples from one of the world’s most well-known citrus brands, Florida’s Natural.
- Lang’s Taste of Florida Café: Closed May 27, Reopening Oct. 3, 2022.
- Don’t miss their famous Grapefruit Pie dessert.
Discounts and Deals:
- Polk Savings Pass exclusive discounts and special offers for local restaurants, shops, accommodations and more.
For more information on all that is happening in Florida’s Sweetest Spot, go to VisitCentralFlorida.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. Please contact Kelly Rote at kelly@visitcentralflorida.org if you need more information, photos, or further assistance. A broad selection of photography can be downloaded directly from our image library on imagerelay.com.
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About Visit Central Florida: Visit Central Florida (known locally as Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing) is the official destination marketing organization for Polk County, Florida, and specializes in helping visitors plan a fun-filled Central Florida vacation. Polk County is Florida’s Sweetest Spot… ideally situated between Orlando and Tampa, the Gulf and Atlantic beaches and close to all of Florida’s major attractions. www.VisitCentralFlorida.org
