Things to Do This Weekend in Polk County: Sept. 25 — 27: Bartow Fall Festival, Lake Wales Oktoberfest & More
Fall arrives in Polk County this weekend whether or not the thermometer agrees, its on the calendar.
Main Street Bartow brings its Fall Festival back to South Central Avenue on Saturday morning, and Lake Wales holds its second annual Oktoberfest in St. James Park on Saturday evening. Two corn mazes are open for business in Polk City and Bartow, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort opens the candy stations for Brick or Treat on both Saturday and Sunday.
There is plenty to do for people who would rather stay closer to a stage or a starting line. Theatre Winter Haven runs four final performances of a children’s musical and brings a Moody Blues tribute band to The Ritz on Friday night. Lake Wales Little Theatre closes its own children’s production on Sunday afternoon.
Two races will be held on Saturday, one at sunrise on the Sun ‘n Fun campus in Lakeland and one after dark at Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale. There are four farmers markets and maker markets set up across the county on Saturday morning.
Here are 25 events we verified for Friday, Sept. 25, Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, listed in the order they start. Times, prices, and locations come from the organizers’ own pages. Be sure to check their event for the most up to date information.
Movie on the Lawn: Back to the Future, Lakeland
Bonnet Springs Park closes out Tampa Theatre’s On The Road series with a free outdoor screening of the 1985 classic on the Allen & Company Family Lawn on Friday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. The park lists the pre-show as starting at 7 p.m. with era-appropriate music from a DJ, a restored DeLorean on display, and a Van de Graaff machine demonstration, weather permitting.
Admission is free and open to the public. The park invites guests to bring picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs, and says concessions will be available for purchase on the lawn. Park merchandise goes to guests who show up dressed as Marty McFly or Doc Brown, which makes this a good pick for families with teenagers and for anyone who has been waiting for an excuse to wear a puffy vest in Florida. Bonnet Springs Park is at 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
A Year With Frog and Toad Kids, Winter Haven
Theatre Winter Haven closes its youth cast production of the Arnold Lobel musical with four performances this weekend on the Norman and Linda Small Stage at 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd. The theatre’s ticketing page lists curtain at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. End times are not listed.
Tickets are $15. The show follows a year in the friendship of a cheerful frog and a rather less cheerful toad, and the run time and youth cast make it one of the easier theater outings in the county for families with young children. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Just Between Friends Lakeland Fall Consignment Sale, Lakeland
The semiannual children’s and maternity consignment sale returns to Sikes Hall at the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., for three public days. The organizer lists hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, with Sunday designated as discount day.
General admission is $3, and the organizer says free tickets are available online. Parking is free. Expect clothing, toys, books, games, furniture, and baby gear, which makes this a practical stop for parents, grandparents, and anyone outfitting a nursery on a budget. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Harvest Holler Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Polk City
Harvest Holler’s fall season is underway at 950 Tavares Road in Polk City, and the farm is open all three days this weekend. Posted hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with the season running through Nov. 8.
Admission is $17 for adults ages 13 to 64, $14 for children ages 2 to 12, $14 for seniors 65 and older, and $14 for military, law enforcement, and fire personnel. Children 23 months and younger get in for free. The farm says all attractions are included with admission, among them the corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, animal demonstrations, hay mountain, tire swings, miniature golf, and a slide the farm calls Big Frank n Slide. Food is sold separately. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Learn to Make Chain Maille, Haines City
The Haines City Public Library, 111 N. Sixth St., hosts a drop-in chainmaille craft session in its Young Adult Room on Friday, Sept. 25. The city calendar lists the program as all day and does not publish a start or end time, so call the library before you drive over.
The listing does not state a cost. Chainmaille is fiddly, satisfying work with small metal rings, and it suits teens and adults who like a craft with a learning curve. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
The Haunting of River Ranch, River Ranch
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo opens its Halloween haunt this weekend at 3200 River Ranch Blvd. in the unincorporated River Ranch community. The resort lists the run as Sept. 25 through Nov. 7 on Fridays and Saturdays, with hours of 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Ticket prices are not listed on the resort’s activity page, which directs visitors to a booking link and notes that tickets may be available at the event. The attraction includes a haunted stables walkthrough, scare zones, photo opportunities and food vendors, and it is built for teenagers and adults rather than small children. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Time Traveller: The Moody Blues Tribute, Winter Haven
Theatre Winter Haven brings the tribute act Time Traveller to The Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave., at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. The theatre bills the group as North America’s leading Moody Blues tribute show. An end time is not listed.
Tickets are $35 through the theatre’s ticketing page. Downtown Winter Haven has plenty of places to eat within a few blocks of the Ritz, which makes this an easy dinner-and-a-show evening for adults. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Brett Foster Band at Swan Brewing, Lakeland
Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., hosts the Brett Foster Band at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, with Top Dog Concessions parked on site. The brewery does not list an end time or a cover charge.
Swan’s outdoor space is dog friendly and family tolerant early in the evening, and the food truck means nobody has to eat before they get there. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Grossbusters: The Monster Musical, Lake Wales
Lake Wales Little Theatre, 411 N. Third St., closes its children’s production of the Craig Hawes musical this weekend. The theatre’s ticketing page lists performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. End times are not listed.
Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for students. The story drops a wave of slime on the town of Normsville and turns an ordinary boy’s secret into monster mayhem, and the Sunday matinee is the gentlest slot for younger audiences. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
ROAR FLORIDA 5K Color Run, Lakeland
The ROAR FLORIDA 5K Color Run starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport, 3875 W. Pipkin Road. The registration page lists the course as flat and chip timed, with color stations along the way and sections that run past aircraft displays. An end time is not listed.
Registration is $50. Proceeds support ROAR FLORIDA and its work providing inclusive living and community opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wear something you do not mind ruining. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, Lakeland
The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority’s weekly market runs 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, along North Kentucky Avenue from Lemon Street north to Oak Street. September puts the market back on its 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. fall and winter schedule after the shorter summer hours and the August closure.
Admission is free, and the authority notes that parking in city lots is free all day on weekends, with the Oak Street lot, the Main Street Garage and the Heritage Plaza Garage the closest options. Vendors bring produce, plants, artisan gifts, pastries, breads, and specialty foods, and the market schedules live entertainment most Saturdays. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Fins & Fenders Cruise In, Auburndale
Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins, 361 Denton Ave., hosts its monthly cruise-in from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The resort describes a relaxed gathering of classic cars, custom builds, modern rides, trucks, and motorcycles, with no judging and no trophies.
Vehicle participation and spectator admission are both free. It is an early enough start to leave the rest of the day open, and the resort is hosting a 5K on the same property that evening, so the parking lot will be busy twice. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Mindful Movement: Flow, Walk and Connect, Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens holds a wellness morning in Camellia Glade from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1151 Tower Blvd. The gardens describe a vinyasa-based yoga flow followed by a guided mindful walk through the gardens and an optional gathering afterward.
The cost is $10 for members and $30 for non-members, and garden admission is included in the non-member price. Registration is required, and participants bring their own mats. Check-in opens 30 minutes before the session, and the gardens ask guests to arrive 10 minutes early. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Winter Haven Farmers Market, Winter Haven
The weekly market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, on Magnolia Avenue in downtown Winter Haven. The market publishes its vendor lineup by email each week, so the mix changes from Saturday to Saturday.
The market does not list an admission charge. It sits within easy walking distance of downtown Winter Haven’s shops and coffee, which makes it a reasonable first stop before the makers market a few blocks away at Central Park. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Winter Haven Saturday Market, Winter Haven
The second and fourth Saturday makers market opens its 14th season at Central Park, 469 W. Central Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Organizers describe it as being like a farmers market but much bigger, with arts, crafts, jewelry, antiques, produce, local honey, food trucks, coffee, kettle corn, ice cream and live music.
Admission is free, the market is family and pet friendly, and organizers say free parking is plentiful. The six hour window makes it the most forgiving market on the Saturday schedule for anyone who does not want to be out the door at dawn. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market, Lake Wales
Lake Wales Main Street holds its twice monthly market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Downtown Market Plaza, 20 N. Market Place. The market runs on the second and fourth Saturdays, and Sept. 26 is a fourth Saturday.
The city listing does not state a cost. Vendors bring locally grown produce and plants raised without pesticides, baked goods, cheeses, honey from a local farm, pepper sauce made from Florida grove peppers, homemade jams and jellies, barbecue sauces and rubs, natural pet treats and crafts. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Repticon Lakeland Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, Lakeland
Repticon returns to the Exhibit Hall at the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. The show brings breeders and vendors with live animals, feeders and supplies, plus seminars and handling opportunities.
A single-day ticket is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 5 to 12, with children 4 and younger free. Saturday admission after 1 p.m. drops to $10 for adults, and a two-day Super Ticket is $15 for adults and $6 for children. Repticon notes that Florida law keeps pet green iguanas and tegus out of the show. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Main Street Bartow Fall Festival, Bartow
Main Street Bartow holds its annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in downtown Bartow at 180 S. Central Ave. The organizer lists unique crafts, food, a car show, a pumpkin patch, and kids’ activities.
A cost is not listed on the organizer’s page, and the exact downtown footprint has not been published. Vendors can reach the organizer at 863 519 0508. This is the weekend’s biggest street-level gathering in south Polk County and the best single stop for families who want a festival rather than a ticket. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Saturday Coffee With Free and Breezy, Frostproof
Mr. Chris’ Coffee Depot, 118 E. Wall St., hosts coffee, breakfast, and live music from the duo Free and Breezy from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26. The city listing does not state a cover charge, and food and drink are ordered as usual.
Frostproof does not turn up often on countywide weekend lists, and a two-hour acoustic set over breakfast on Wall Street is a low-key way to see a downtown most Polk County residents drive past rather than into. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Golden Ridge Groves Fall Fest, Bartow
Golden Ridge Groves, 2129 Alturas Road, opens the first season of its fall festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, and runs Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 22. Daily opening and closing times are not published on the farm’s ticketing page, so check before you go.
A single-day general admission ticket is $16.54, a two-day pass is $31.03, and a season pass is $62.08. Admission covers an 8-acre corn maze, hayrides around the farm, the pumpkin patch with one free small pumpkin per ticket, a farm game zone, and select weekend entertainment. The farm market, homemade ice cream, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and food trucks are sold separately. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven
LEGOLAND Florida Resort, 1 Legoland Way, runs Brick or Treat on both Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. The resort lists candy stations open throughout the park from 2 to 7 p.m., along with a Brick or Treat Street walkthrough, seasonal shows and live entertainment.
There is no separate event ticket. The resort says Brick or Treat is included with general park admission, with children’s tickets starting at $39 and adult tickets starting at $79 depending on the date. Overall park operating hours for these dates had not been posted as of Tuesday. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
The Thirsty Dragon’s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest, Lake Wales
Lake Wales holds its second annual Oktoberfest from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in St. James Park behind The Thirsty Dragon at the corner of First Street and Orange Avenue, 126 N. First St. The city listing promises live traditional German music and food, including bratwurst, spaetzle, sauerkraut, pretzels, and potato salad, along with costumes, contests, and cold beer.
There is no admission charge. Organizers ask guests to bring a comfortable chair for the music in the park, which is the sort of detail worth reading twice before you leave the house. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Saturday Night Rodeo at Westgate River Ranch, River Ranch
The weekly rodeo at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, 3200 River Ranch Blvd., starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the resort’s covered arena. The program includes trick riding, barrel racing, and bull riding, and the resort ends the night with a tribute to the armed forces. An end time is not listed.
Westgate’s rodeo activity page lists admission at $29.95 for adult owners and $19.95 for their children, and $34.95 for adult guests and $29.95 for their children. A separate Westgate rodeo FAQ page lists different figures, so confirm the price with the resort before you drive out. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
APD’s Badge of Hope Haunted 5K, Auburndale
The Auburndale Police Department holds its second annual Halloween night race at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins, 361 Denton Ave., starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The city lists the event window as 7 to 10 p.m., with the untimed Mummy Mile stepping off at 7:03 p.m., followed by a costume contest and awards.
The chip-timed 5K is $40, and the Mummy Mile is $25, with prices rising after 8 p.m. Friday. Volunteering is free. Proceeds support local breast cancer patients and the Auburndale Police Explorers. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Lakeland Punk Rock Flea Market Vol. 13, Lakeland
Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., hosts the 13th edition of its all-ages flea market from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Organizers list more than 70 vendors and food trucks from across Central Florida selling vintage clothing, band merchandise, vinyl records, artwork, handmade jewelry and oddities.
Admission is free. Live music runs on stage through the afternoon, and the event includes a free skate area with ramps plus a kids zone with a bounce house and a photo booth. It is the strongest Sunday option on the countywide calendar this weekend. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.
Which Polk County Farmers Markets Run This Weekend
Four markets operate Saturday, Sept. 26: the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Winter Haven Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Winter Haven Saturday Market at Central Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Three weekend flea markets are open as usual: International Market World in Auburndale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sunshine Flea Market in Lake Wales from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. all three days and the Silver Moon Drive In Swap Shop in Lakeland from 5 a.m. to around noon Saturday and Sunday. Our running list of every market in the county, with hours and seasons, lives on The Citrus Tea News farmers market page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest free event in Polk County this weekend?
The Main Street Bartow Fall Festival, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 180 S. Central Ave. in downtown Bartow. The organizer does not list an admission charge, and the festival includes crafts, food, a car show, a pumpkin patch, and kids’ activities.
Where can I take small children this weekend?
Theatre Winter Haven’s A Year With Frog and Toad Kids has 1 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday for $15; Harvest Holler in Polk City is open all three days; and Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort runs candy stations from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with park admission.
Which farmers markets are open Saturday, Sept. 26?
The Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, the Winter Haven Farmers Market, the Winter Haven Saturday Market at Central Park, and the Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market. The First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market and the Bartow Antique Market do not fall on this weekend
Is anything happening on Sunday?
Yes. The Lakeland Punk Rock Flea Market runs noon to 6 p.m. at Swan Brewing; Repticon’s second day runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the RP Funding Center; Grossbusters closes with a 2 p.m. matinee in Lake Wales; A Year With Frog and Toad Kids has a 1 p.m. matinee in Winter Haven, and Harvest Holler, Golden Ridge Groves and LEGOLAND are all open.
Are there corn mazes open in Polk County yet?
Two. Harvest Holler at 950 Tavares Road in Polk City is open Friday through Sunday, and Golden Ridge Groves at 2129 Alturas Road in Bartow opens its first fall season on Saturday and runs Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 22.
What can I do after dark on Saturday?
The Thirsty Dragon’s Oktoberfest runs until 10 p.m. in Lake Wales, the Badge of Hope Haunted 5K starts at 7 p.m. in Auburndale, the Saturday Night Rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. at Westgate River Ranch, The Haunting of River Ranch runs 8 to 11 p.m., and Grossbusters has a 7:30 p.m. curtain in Lake Wales.
How do I get my event into this roundup?
Send the event name, date, start and end time, venue address, cost, and a link to the organizer’s page to The Citrus Tea News, and we’ll add it to our events calendar so readers can find it all week. We also offer featured events options. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Sources: Bonnet Springs Park, Movie on the Lawn: Back to the Future (1985) event page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Theatre Winter Haven, A Year With Frog and Toad Kids event page and Arts People ticketing calendar, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Theatre Winter Haven, The Moody Blues Time Traveller event page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Just Between Friends Lakeland sale page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Harvest Holler Corn Maze home page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; City of Haines City calendar, Learn to Make Chain Maille listing, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, The Haunting of River Ranch activity page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Swan Brewing events page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Lake Wales Little Theatre shows page and Arts People ticketing page for Grossbusters, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; RunSignup, ROAR FLORIDA 5K Color Run registration page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Farmers Curb Market page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Camp Margaritaville Auburndale public events page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Bok Tower Gardens, Mindful Movement event page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Winter Haven Farmers Market home page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Central Florida Event Vendors, Downtown Winter Haven Saturday Markets page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; City of Lake Wales calendar, Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market listing, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Repticon Lakeland show page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Main Street Bartow Fall Festival page and announcements page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; City of Frostproof events calendar, Saturday Coffee With Free and Breezy listing, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Golden Ridge Groves Fall Fest 2026 ticketing page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Brick or Treat seasonal events page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; City of Lake Wales calendar, The Thirsty Dragon presents The 2nd Annual Oktoberfest listing, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo activity page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; RunSignup, APD’s Badge of Hope Haunted 5K registration page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Swan Brewing Punk Rock Flea Market page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; International Market World home page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Sunshine Flea Market home page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; Silver Moon Drive In Swap Shop page, accessed Sept. 22, 2026; City of Auburndale events calendar, accessed Sept. 22, 2026.
