Lakeland Florida 16th Annual Pigfest - Tiger Town Sport Complex - January 27-28 2012
Where can you get the best barbecue around this time of the year? Lakeland Florida’s Annual Pigfest is the place to be. Not just best barbecue, best entertainment, and best playground for kids, best for all kinds of food. Best part, it is free!
Since 1997 Lakeland Florida has been the host to an annual barbeque competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. The competition involves people of all ages, men and women. For more information on the history of the Pigfest, read my blog from last year’s event, by clicking the link right here.
This year gates open at 5:30pm on Friday, January 27, 2012 to enjoy an evening of music, food, and games. On Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:00 am is when the real competition begins. Competitors from all over the country will flock to Lakeland Florida to compete in four different categories including Ribs, Chicken, Pork, and Brisket.
There will also be a Kids-Q where children will compete on their own grills. The Kids-Q was started in 2004 when competitors came to the realization they did not want the art of Barbeque to disappear after they were no longer here so they have brought the kids into the mix by giving them a fun way to participate in the competition. And these kids are phenomenal cooks. Not to mention what a great family event! Read more about things to do with kids in and around Lakeland Florida.
Friday’s entertainment at Center Stage is to include nightriders at 6:00 pm and Soul 2 Earth from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm. But don’t forget about the Backyard ‘Party Stage’ which will feature Cross Traxx and Vertical Circus. While Saturday Center Stage will include Pushin Eighties from 10:00 am- 1:15 pm followed by Brush Creek from 1:45 pm- 5:00 pm. And the Backyard ‘Party Stage’ will play host to The Sweeney Family Band, Madison Mckenzie, Cross Traxx, and Ace Jackson & The Jump Kings Performing throughout the day. LEGOLAND Florida will once again sponsor the Children’s corner and is said to include bounce houses and many other fun surprises.
The great things about this competition are the benefits it brings to Lakeland and its non-for profit organizations. While the event is free to attend, if you would like to enjoy any of the delicious food and drinks, and believe me you will, you will need to purchase ‘Pigbucks’ at the front gate or at any of the other various locations throughout the venue. All the proceeds from sales of “Pigbucks” goes toward non-for profit organizations in the Lakeland area to include the Junior League and Girls, Inc., just to name a couple. Since its inception in 1997 the Pigfest has given over $650,000 dollars back to our wonderful community. Both of these organizations have a focus on bettering those in our community through education. It is through education that people in our community can better themselves and then reach out to others in need.
I hope you are able to make it out to the 16th Annual Pigfest at Tiger Town Sports Complex on Friday and Saturday January 27-28, 2012. Come partake in the fun filled events and concerts. And bring an empty stomach to taste the world-class food being prepared at this event. Because of events like this is the reason why I love living in Lakeland Florida.
Top Five Things To Do With Grandkids Around Lakeland Florida
Summer vacation, Spring break, Thanksgiving break, Winter break…. What do they all have in common? It is the time to spend with Grandkids! Whether your grandkids are young or on the verge of becoming adults, as grandparents we cannot wait to see those faces, which always brings a smile to our hearts. I’m always delighted to spend time with my grandkids when they come to visit us in Lakeland Florida. However, the dilemma I face is what can I do to entertain them. Sure we live in the Sunshine State and there is always Disney, Universal, and Busch Gardens however with a tight budget, trips out of town are not always attainable. So what is it we can do with our grandkids right here in Lakeland?
Here is my top five things to do with your grandkids around Lakeland Florida:
There are ample parks around Lakeland. Common Ground Park is located on Edgewood Drive and has received numerous praises for its innovative ideas. This park is a haven where children of all abilities can socialize and play right next to each other. It is a park where children who may not normally get to play in your average playground because of an unleveled or less than solid ground can move around the different obstacles without the worry of footing.
We have Barnett Park, which is situated next to the beautiful Lake Mirror. With its great central location in Lakeland it is easily and quickly accessible to people from all parts of town. Lakeland has essentially in one area three different parks including a small water park to enjoy during those hot summer days. There is an area for older kids to climb and swing. The third area for preschoolers is called Sunflower Preschool Park. A Playground modeled off of Common Ground Park. It is geared toward the 2-5 year old age range. It was developed after parents realized the toys at Barnett Park were geared more toward their older kids, which left the little ones with nothing to truly entertain themselves.
Downtown Lakeland is always a fun
place to go especially during First Fridays. For the little ones stop by Explorations V museum, a great educational but fun place for kids to learn about different things going on in our area. First Fridays is even a great activity for the older grandchildren since there are plenty of activities going on to entertain a wide range of people. Between great foods, live musicians, and Ice Cream what’s not to love.
New to the Lakeland Florida area is Legoland Florida. Legoland is situated in the same location of Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, FL. I was saddened to hear that Cypress Garden’s which had become a staple to the Central Florida region was closing. It didn’t come as a surprise when our economy took a turn for the worse and so many large theme parks within a 60 mile radius drive. However when hearing Legoland Florida was now going to occupy this same location I was excited because it meant a whole new realm of possibilities. Legoland even held onto some of the charm of the former Cypress Gardens with a ski show, historical botanical gardens, and Lego Southern Belles. And coming Summer 2012 is the Legoland Waterpark.
When it is a teenager needing to be entertained there is the ample options of shopping and movies at the Lakeside Village. Lakeside Village features many places to shop for people of all ages. Know of a movie coming out which your teenage grandchildren maybe interested in why not try a midnight showing! Show those kids that even though we like to go to bed early and get up early doesn’t mean that every once in a while we can’t stay up late and enjoy a nice night out on the town with them.
While Lakeland Florida is a great place to retire due to our warm winters and suburban towns centrally located to larger cities, there are still plenty of activities to entertain our grandchildren when they come to visit us here in Lakeland.
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The annual Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival takes place around Lake Mirror and in the Downtown Lakeland Florida area on October 14 – 16, 2011. Best of all – it’s free!The honorary chairman for this year’s Festival is Bob Tullius, he is best known for his highly successful team Group 44 racing team. Mr Tullius is best known for creating the Jaguar XJR-5 protoype racing cars which competed in IMSA’s premier GTP class and the LeMans during the 1980′s.
Noon: Lunch Parade to the Lake Mirror Promenade led by Scottish bag-piper as tuxedo-clad Terrace Hotel waiters deliver lunch to Concours d’ Elegance participants.
Since I have been going for the past couple of years to Lakeland’s Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival, I would like to share with you the collection of photographs I took. Enjoy!
- Live music along the streets Bay and Kentucky
- Motorcycles on display
- Classic Car Show
- Shops and Restaurants stay open late.
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Best Barbecue in Town – Lakeland FL Annual Pig Fest January 28-29, 2011
Gates open to the annual pig fest on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with live music. I have heard that The Ed Wright Band take main stage at 6:00 p.m. and Sean Chambers will be the headliner at 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. for some barbeque braggin’ rights competition.
On both days there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy including: NASCAR Simulators, Interactive Children’s area, Live Music, Tasting Opportunities and some world class barbecue.
Legoland – a soon to be open attraction in Winter Haven, FL at the former Cypress Gardens location – is for the first time the official sponsor for the Kid’s area. A Lego brick building area with thousands of Legos to use for the children’s imagination along with the jump houses, bouncy obstacle course and a lot more.
I can’t imagine spending a better way than to attend this year’s Lakeland’s Annual Pig Fest on January 28 and 29, 2011. In it’s 15th year for its barbecue competition, such as the Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned competition, Publix Supermarket Backyard BBQ competition, and for kids, Kids-Q barbecue contest, enticing professional barbecue teams to travel to our beautiful city and compete in four categories: Ribs, Chicken, Pork and Brisket.
A tad bit of history lesson! It started all in 1994 when a small group of local businessmen attended the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Tyron, N.C. to watch a barbeque championship. From then on, a festival committee was established and Lakeland’s Pig Festival welcomed its first barbeque competitors in 1997. Since then, professional teams and backyard teams travel great distances to compete separate in now five different categories in Ribs (loin and spare), Pork (shoulder and butt), Chicken, Brisket (beef) and Sauce. The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Professional Competition and Judging School considers Lakeland’s Pig Fest to be one of the finest events sanctioned by KCBS. Lakeland’s annual Pig Fest held at Tiger Town located next to Joker Marchant Stadium has since then grown to over 300 Barbeque Teams competing for prize money and attendance growing quickly each year.
The Junior League of Greater Lakeland became in 2005 the lead organizer for this great event and they do an outstanding job providing volunteers to see that this free event is run smoothly. The Lakeland Pig Festival has contributed over $500,000 to local charities and growing. The event in itself is free, such as the concerts – as you walk towards the gate, let me suggest you buy “Pig Dollars” near the entrance for food and drinks and also some for your kids, since I’m sure they want to take part in arts & crafts, climbing and jumping. Don’t worry if you run out of the “Pig Dollars or “Pig Bucks”, there are various locations throughout the area for you to buy more.
It is a fun event for the whole family to enjoy.
Check out this video of year’s past at the Lakeland FL Pig Fest!
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the annual Mercedes-Benz Lake Mirror Classic takes place around Lake Mirror and in the downtown Lakeland area on October 16/17, 2009. Lakeland expects an estimated 35,000 people wandering around Lake Mirror for the two day event which is considered as one of the best shows in the Southeast. Visiting the extraordinary event will mesmerize car enthusiasts around Lakeland and the country.
This two-day charity event raises money for Lakeland’s non-profit groups, such as the Junior Achievement, Pied Piper Players, Boy Scouts, the First Tee, Historic Lakeland, and Lakeland Regional Cancer. More than $200,000.00 has been raised or donated helping them raise needed funds through the sale of food and beverage at the event.
The honorary chairman for this year’s Festival is Hall of Famer and endurance racer Hurley Hawood, known as a one-of-a-kind driver winning the 24 Hours of Daytona five times – a pioneer and a legend indeed.
What can you expect at Lakeland’s Lake Mirror Classic?
Friday, October 16th from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. there will be a free Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater with a free outdoor concert featuring live music by Jr. and the MDs, 100 hot rod and custom cars.. The Hot Rod Rendezvous will benefit the Junior Achievement of Polk County
Saturday, October 17th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Lake Mirror Park and downtown Lakeland, Judged Concours d’ Elegance – “contest of elegance” for 100 selected cars in the following categories:
- Brass Era Vehicles
- Pre-War Classics 1925-1942
- Pre-War Production Cars 1900 – 1942
- Post-War Production Cars 1945-1962
- Commercial Vehicles thru 1959
- Muscle Cars 1964-1972
- Domestic Sports Cars Thru 1972
- Foreign Sports Cars Thru 1972
- Cars of Particular Interest
Art Deco Automobiles featuring 1930 Mercedes-Benz 130H (German), 1938 Panhard Dynamic (France), 1937 Tatra T87 (Czechoslovakia), and the Peugeot Darl’ mat (France). Classic Wooden Boat show at Lake Mirror, Classic Motorcycles
Noon: Lunch Parade to the Lake Mirror Promenade led by Scottish bag-piper as tuxedo-clad Terrace Hotel waiters delivers lunch to Concours d’ Elegance participants.
2:00 p.m.: Parade of Classic Wooden Boats at Lake Mirror
3:00 p.m.: Awards Ceremony of Concours d’Elegance trophy presentation
Check out the photos I took at last year’s event of the Lake Mirror Classic – you don’t want to miss it – Truly Amazing!
Lakeland Local Events are always a worthy effort, especially this weekend’s special celebration of First Friday, Red White and Kaboom and Independence Day
Folks, if you have nothing better to do this weekend than just sitting around the house watching the tube. Then you are missing out on one of Lakeland’s best entertainment this year.
Lakeland Florida is the place to be for this weekend’s 4th of July holiday celebration and local events are the best Family Entertainment. Don’t you agree! And here is the reason why?
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of every month and this free (most of it) event is themed “Sundown Celebration”. It’s happening downtown Lakeland around Munn Park (Kentucky and Tennessee Avenue) July 3rd, 2009 starting at 4 p.m. – an hour early this time just because it is a holiday and you should have an early start to share this wonderful celebration with your family Downtown Lakeland.
Kentucky Avenue will be closed for bounce houses, kiddie train, and cake eating contests, face painting, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk and many more activities planned by our local merchants. Shops stay open late and downtown restaurants will have outdoor seating on Kentucky Avenue for you and your family to enjoy an evening dinner before heading down to Lake Mirror for the Red, White & Kaboom celebration!
Airbrush tattoos and balloon artists will add to the fun. Some of these activities will require the purchase of tickets, I’m sure you can spare a couple of bucks for your kids.
A classic car show will also take place, just like every month with some great looking cars.
This month’s art reception takes place at Mitchells Coffee House on N. Kentucky Ave. featuring local photographer Jon Boring from 6-9pm. Not to forget, if you are an arts enthusiast there is an art reception at Arts on the Park on N. Kentucky Ave. every month during First Friday from 6-9pm.
Speaking of Red, White & Kaboom celebration, this celebration almost did not happen with the economy being blamed. Local Sponsors came through giving its citizens and folks visiting Lakeland, something to look forward to in the celebration of Independence Day.
This event takes place almost simultaneously with First Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. with live music – pop/rock sounds by the popular local band MillHopper. Plenty of drink and food vendors will be displayed around Lake Mirror. So, just bring your blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy this wonderful family celebration at the Lake Mirror Promenade.
The City of Lakeland recommends that you park in the parking garage Downtown Lakeland – there are ample parking spaces available. Also, please bring a canned food item to help stock up our local food bank for the needy – they surely will appreciate it.
Around 9:00 p.m. a spectacular firework display will round out the first day of the 4th of July celebration – Trust me, you don’t want to miss this event!
Fireworks display two days in a row only is happening in Lakeland
The celebration continues on Saturday, July 4, at the Joker Marchant Stadium. There will be a dazzling display of fireworks around 9:00 p.m. following the Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. the Tampa Bay Yankees baseball game. Joker Marchant Stadium, the home of the Detroit Tigers during Spring Training, is located at 2301 Lakeland Hills Boulevard in Lakeland.
Happy Independence Day – Lakeland!!!
Lakeland “Swan” Derby in Lakeland Florida – A Free Community Event & Entertainment!
Dust off your hats….., bring your family and c’mon down to Lake Mirror in Lakeland Florida this Friday April 24, 2009 for the annual Lakeland Derby.
With this added excitement just one week prior to the Kentucky Derby, you are going to have a blast watching the “Maiden Handicap Race” at 5:00 p.m., followed by the… oh, you can’t miss the magnificent show of the “Derby Hat Contest” at 5:30 p.m., “Running of the Ducks” at 5:45 p.m., the “Parade to the Post” at 6:00 p.m., and last but not least “The Lakeland Derby”, a race of ten beautifully hand-crafted swan paddle boats racing for the prestigious winner’s trophy – What a memorable race to the finish line it was last year. All I can say – we had a blast!
Wait…that’s not all – Live Entertainment by the “Millhopper” at 7:30 p.m., children activities, barbeque, fish and dessert. A spectacular Fireworks show around 9:15 p.m. will conclude this free community event in Lakeland, Florida.
All proceeds will go to the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, a clinic that provides free medical care to the working uninsured of Polk County.
There are folks that call Shakespeare’s “King Lear:” his greatest work; some folks call it the darkest, most compelling tragedy ever written. D. A. Ward’s contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic saga of pride and greed has been cast at Harrison School for the Arts. This biting tale renamed “Lear Inc.” is set amid the sleek, high-tech world of a military defense contractor’s corrupt corporate family clan. ”Lear, Inc.” unveils a workplace of treachery, lust, fraud, avarice, and . . . murder!
Vice Principal for Harrison School for the Arts Daryl Ward and author of this contemporary adaptation said, “Shakespeare’s work is meant to be acted, so you need to see it played out in front of you,” ”In ‘Lear, Inc.’ I tried to consciously create scenes that work on a physical level, but also on a mental and emotional level – you have to experience the work as if you are a part of it.”
“President Obama said ‘…know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you can destroy.’ The members of Malcolm Lear’s corporation learn this too late or not at all,” states Ilene Fins, director. “Enlightenment through entertainment has been my guiding artistic principle for the last 25 years. I feel truly blessed with the creative talent that is bringing this piece to life.”
With this being said by the creator of this adaption and the Dean of Theater for Harrison, you certainly will be astonished and mesmerized by the performances of these fine theater students.
Meet the cast!
Brendan Troost as Lear, Britt Michael Gordon as Edmund, Lance Taylor as Edgar, Skyler Knopp as Kent, Misti Rucks as the Clerk, Sterling Chesney as Grayson, Laurel Finch as Cordelia, Joey Wells as
Al, Amanda Keen as Gabrielle, Amelia Marler as Regan, Ryan Shults as Duke, and Justin Nipper as Ozzie.
Olympia Lamar, Ruthie Ellison, Demonte Cheeks, Nicole Richard, Courtney Lang, Beth Rousseau, Brandie Perez, Baron Simmons, Anna Erdman, Chris Holseth, Aaron Acevedo, and Aaron Brannan portraying as Yes-Men.
Lear, Inc. plays Thursday, Feb. 26, Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Mar. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland, FL.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.harrisonarts.com
The Harrison Box Office will be open at 6:00 p.m. the evening of the performances. (863) 499-2939.
Check out these great photographs by Andy Glogower Photography taken during rehearsals.
Photo credit – Andy Glogower
Mark your calendar for these upcoming performances of The Harrison Fine Arts Series for 2008/09:
- Connections & Combinations, Visual Arts Exhibit & Reception, Mitchell Gallery, Feb. 27 – Mar. 27.
- Evening of Opera, Mar. 19.
- Piano Concert, Mar. 24.
- Jazz Band and Chamber Orchestra Concert, Mar. 26.
- Chamber Music Concert @ Jenkins Recital Hall, Florida Southern College, Apr. 14.
- Reflections on the Ground, Visual Arts Exhibit & Reception, Mitchell Gallery, Apr. 17 – June 4.
- Side by Side by Sondheim, Apr. 17 – Apr. 19.
- Spring Dance Concert, May 1 & 2.
- Spring Orchestra Concert, May 14.
- Spring Music Concert, May 21.
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Lakeland Florida Harrison School for the Arts presents “Lear Inc.”
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
P.O. Box 92050 – Lakeland, FL 33804-2050
Telephone (863) 618-6919
