Things to Do This Weekend in Polk County: 26 Events Oct. 2 to 4, From Lakeland First Friday to Bok Tower Gardens

Polk County opens October with one of the fullest weekends of the fall, and the calendar stretches from a five-block street party in downtown Lakeland to a cryptid expo in Homeland. Both of the county’s biggest First Friday celebrations land on Oct. 2; the fall attractions are all open for the season, and Saturday alone carries four farmers markets, two road races, a plant sale at Bok Tower Gardens, and free family festivals in three cities.

Below are 26 events we were able to verify with organizers for Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, listed in order by day and start time. Where an organizer did not publish a cost, an end time, or a venue, we say so rather than guess. Confirm before you drive.

Friday, Oct. 2

Storytime Studio, Lakeland

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, formerly the Polk Museum of Art, runs a 45-minute early literacy session for children ages 3 to 5 every Friday morning, combining stories, movement, and a hands-on art activity in the galleries. It runs from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at 800 E. Palmetto St. in Lakeland.

The session is free, but pre-registration is required, and museum admission is free year-round. This one is built for preschoolers and the adults who bring them. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Stories in Stone: Primal, Lake Wales

Bok Tower Gardens opens a new outdoor exhibit Friday, built around monumental stone balancing sculpture, exploring balance, gravity, and natural forces along the garden paths, with an immersive video component. The exhibit runs daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 3, 2027, at 1151 Tower Blvd. in Lake Wales, which means it is one of the few things on this list available all three days.

It is included with garden admission. Members enter free, non member adults pay $20, children ages 6 to 17 pay $10, and children 5 and under are free. Good for anyone who wants a slow, quiet couple of hours outdoors. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Harvest Holler Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Polk City

Harvest Holler is open for its fall season at 950 Tavares Road in Polk City, with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and farm attractions on a single all-inclusive day ticket. Weekend hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, and the season runs through Nov. 8.

Admission is $17 for ages 13 to 64 and $14 for children ages 2 to 12, seniors 65 and older, and military, law enforcement, and fire personnel. Children under 24 months get in for free. This is a straightforward family outing, and the Friday evening window is the shortest of the three. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven

LEGOLAND’s Halloween event runs all three days this weekend, with candy stations open throughout the park from 2 to 7 p.m. The lineup includes the Brick or Treat Street walk-through, the Potion Mischief Light Trail, LEGO monster meet-and-greets, and seasonal shows at 1 LEGOLAND Way in Winter Haven.

No separate ticket is required because admission to Brick or Treat is included with general park admission, which the resort advertises for children starting at $39. One note for planners: the Monster Skytacular drone show runs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, but not on Sunday. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

GRB’s Oktoberfest, Winter Haven

Grove Roots Brewing Co. turns its taproom at 302 3rd St. SW in Winter Haven into a German beer hall for three days. Polish Babki plays Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Boy Named Sous plays Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Taproom hours are noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The brewery has not published event-specific times or a cover charge. It sits a short walk from the downtown Winter Haven First Friday footprint, which makes the two easy to combine on Friday evening. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

First Friday, Winter Haven

Downtown Winter Haven stays open late on the first Friday of every month, with food and drink specials at downtown restaurants, sidewalk dining under market lights, shopping after hours, a free concert series on Central Avenue, and a car show on Magnolia Avenue. The organizer lists the hours as 5 to 8 p.m., centered on the historic district around 326 Ave. C SW.

It is free to attend and works for just about anyone, whether you want dinner, live music or a walk through downtown. Note that the City of Winter Haven community calendar shows a 5 to 9 p.m. block for the same event, so the closing hour may run later than the organizer lists. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Lights for Life Luminary Walk, Lake Wales

The Lake Wales Care Center lines the Lake Wales pathway with luminary bags purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones, raising awareness and money for its Choices Pregnancy Care program. The bags are lit through the afternoon and evening, and a brief program follows at dusk at the basketball court in Lake Wales Park.

The walk starts at 6:30 p.m., and luminary bags cost $5 each or five for $20. The Care Center has not published an end time or a street address for the gathering point, so allow a few extra minutes to find the basketball court if you have not been to Lake Wales Park before. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

First Friday: Cookie Carnival, Lakeland

Kentucky Avenue closes for five city blocks of a makers market and exhibitor booths, with live music, food, family activities, and a car show on Tennessee Avenue. October’s theme is Cookie Carnival, sponsored by Bartow Ford, and the event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. across downtown Lakeland and Munn Park.

It is free, it is the single largest gathering in the county this weekend, and it suits everyone from families with strollers to people looking for a night out. Parking fills early in the downtown garages. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Live and Loud at the Ritz, Winter Haven

The Historic Ritz Theatre at 263 W. Central Ave. hosts its monthly first Friday showcase of local and regional independent artists, produced with Punk Kid Productions. This installment features Edan Archer, The Stargazer Lilies, Local Pain and Loren Class, with doors at 6 p.m. and music running from 6:50 to 10:30 p.m.

Theatre Winter Haven has not published a ticket price on either its event page or its box office calendar, and walk-up tickets are listed separately at 6:30 p.m. This one is for older teens and adults who want a real rock show rather than a street festival. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

The Haunting of River Ranch, River Ranch

Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo runs its Halloween haunt on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 7, at 3200 River Ranch Blvd. in the far eastern corner of Polk County. Friday hours are 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday hours are 8 to 11 p.m. It does not operate on Sunday.

Westgate has not published an admission price for the haunt. It is a long drive from the population centers of the county, so it is worth pairing with the resort’s other Saturday offerings if you make the trip. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Florida Pro Wrestling, Bartow

Front Page Brewing Company at 190 S. Florida Ave. in downtown Bartow hosts a live professional wrestling card from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday. It is the only Friday night event we could verify in Bartow this weekend.

The promoter’s ticketing listing does not show a ticket price. Given the venue and the hour, plan on this being an event for adults and older teens. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Saturday, Oct. 3

Cars and Coffee at Bonnet Springs Park, Lakeland

Bonnet Springs Park hosts its monthly first Saturday car meet from 7 to 10 a.m. in the parking lot across from the Welcome Center at 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. It is open to every kind of vehicle, from exotics to daily drivers, and no registration is needed to display a car.

The meet is free, with coffee and breakfast items available for purchase. It is an easy early morning stop before the rest of the day fills up. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Mayor’s 5K, Haines City

Haines City’s Mayor’s 5K starts at Lake Eva Park and Community Center, 555 Ledwith Ave., runs a 3.1-mile loop around the lake, and finishes on the Great Lawn. The city’s calendar lists the event window as 7:30 to 10 a.m., and runners are expected to pass South 10th Street by roughly 7:45 a.m.

Registration is $25; every participant receives a shirt, and trophies go to the top male and female finishers. Proceeds benefit Haines City’s Relay for Life. Parks and Recreation can be reached at 863 421 3700 for late registration questions. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, Lakeland

The Curb Market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Kentucky Avenue between Lemon Street and Oak Street, with produce, plants, baked goods, artisan gifts, and a food truck court north of Bay Street. The market operates September through May, so it is firmly in season.

It is free to walk through, and it is the largest weekly market in the county. Arrive early if you want produce and parking. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Rootstock Fall Plant Sale, Lake Wales

Bok Tower Gardens holds its biannual plant sale in the Visitor Center picnic area from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing in growers from across Florida. The day also includes hayrides through the Pine Ridge Reserve from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pottery decorating from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and live acoustic music.

Members enter free. Non-member adults pay $20, and children ages 6 to 17 pay $10, with children 5 and under free; that price includes admission to the gardens for the day. This is the anchor event of the weekend for gardeners. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Winter Haven Farmers Market, Winter Haven

The Winter Haven Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 250 Magnolia Ave. SW, in the lot across from Grove Roots Brewing Co., with farmers, food trucks, artisan food vendors, plants, and local makers. Its fall season runs through Dec. 19.

There is no admission charge listed. Note that the market’s vendor platform lists the location as Third Street SW and Avenue C SW rather than Magnolia Avenue; the two are adjacent downtown, but call ahead if you are navigating to a precise address. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Birding on the Boardwalk, Lakeland

Park staff and the Lake Region Audubon Society Birding Club set up scopes and binoculars at the Blanton Family Lagoon observation deck along the Mims Family Boardwalk at Bonnet Springs Park from 10 a.m. to noon. October’s session focuses on crows and grackles.

It is free, and it is a drop-in, so no registration or equipment is needed. Beginners are the point of this one, and it pairs naturally with the Cars and Coffee meet earlier the same morning at the same park. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Fall Family Festival at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, Lakeland

The museum at 800 E. Palmetto St. opens the whole building from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a free festival with games, art activities, face painting, balloon bending, magic shows, music and gallery scavenger hunts. The museum describes it as designed for visitors of all ages.

Admission is free, as it is year-round at the museum. The three-hour window sits neatly after the Curb Market downtown, and it is the strongest free family option in Lakeland on Saturday. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Fall Fest at Golden Ridge Groves, Bartow

Golden Ridge Groves at 2129 Alturas Road in Bartow runs its Fall Fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, part of a season that runs weekends from Sept. 26 through Nov. 22, so this weekend is the second of the year. Admission is $16.54 for a single day, $31.03 for a two-day pass, and $62.08 for a season pass.

The two-day pass is worth a look if you were already thinking about a second trip, since it costs less than two single-day tickets. It is one of only two ticketed fall attractions operating in Polk County on Sunday. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Grid League Championships, Lakeland

The RP Funding Center at 701 W. Lime St. hosts the Grid League’s national championship weekend, with conference semifinals beginning at 12:15 p.m. Saturday and conference finals at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by the championship final at 4 p.m. Sunday. The weekend also carries an open American Grid Trials competition, a $1,000 cornhole open with check-in at 9 a.m. Saturday and all-levels community play sessions.

A single-day ticket is $29, a full weekend Master Pass is $43, and VIP is $191. Children 12 and under are $14.50 for the weekend, and children under 2 are free. This is a full-day spectator sport for fitness fans, and it is the largest indoor event in the county this weekend. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Multicultural Family Fest, Davenport

The City of Davenport celebrates its residents’ cultures and traditions at the Tom Fellows Event Center, 207 North Blvd. W., from 3 to 9 p.m., with live music, food, vendors, a kids zone, and family activities.

No admission cost is listed. You can reach the city at 863-588-1130. This is the biggest community celebration in northeast Polk County this weekend, and it runs long enough to work as either an afternoon or an evening outing. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market, Auburndale

The First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market sets up by the park in downtown Auburndale at 1 Bobby Green Place, with more than 40 local vendors offering handmade goods, local treats, and unique finds. This month it runs in the evening, from 4 to 9 p.m., sharing the park with the city’s Autumn Acoustics concert. No admission cost is listed.

The organizers take vendor inquiries at [email protected]. The evening hours make this the one market of the weekend you can browse after work, and the live music runs on the same schedule, so the two together fill a whole Saturday evening. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Autumn Acoustics, Auburndale

The City of Auburndale holds an installment of its Autumn Acoustics concert series from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Auburndale Downtown Park, 1 Bobby Green Place, with live music by Soul2Earth. This month, the concert is paired with the First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market, which sets up at the same address.

Admission cost is not listed. Because the market and the music share the park, downtown Auburndale works as a single stop on Saturday rather than two separate trips, and it is the closest live music to the northeast side of the county this weekend. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Moonlit Legends 2026, Homeland

Polk County’s cryptids expo returns to Homeland Heritage Park at 249 Church Ave. from 6 to 9 p.m., inviting visitors to walk through immersive monster realms, dig into Florida folklore and learn about legendary creatures under the moonlight. Themed activities, crafts, games, and local vendors fill the park, and a costume competition starts at 7:30 p.m.

The county has not listed an admission cost. Questions go to 863 534 6911. This is the standout county run family event of the weekend, and the costume contest makes it worth arriving before 7:30 p.m. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Run For the Boolies 5K, Lakeland

The Run For the Boolies 5K steps off at 6 p.m. Saturday from the path at Jonila Avenue near Lake Hollingsworth, at 929 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, with packet pickup for registered runners from 5 to 5:45 p.m. The race benefits the Polk County Bully Project.

In-person registration is sold out. Only the virtual option remains, at $40, and it stays open until 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. If you did not get a spot, the Lake Hollingsworth loop is still a good place to be at 6 p.m. Saturday to cheer the field through the finish. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Sunday, Oct. 4

Heritage Harvest Market, Kathleen

The Heritage Harvest Market sets up on the first Sunday of each month at the Kathleen Area Historical Society Heritage Park, 8950 N. Campbell Road in Lakeland, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with local vendors and goods on the historical society grounds.

No admission cost is listed. It is the only dedicated market operating anywhere in Polk County on Sunday, which makes it the natural anchor for a slow last day of the weekend. Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Farmers markets this weekend

Four markets operate across the county this weekend, and two regulars do not. Running Saturday are 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. and the First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market from 4 to 9 p.m., followed Sunday by the Heritage Harvest Market in Kathleen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not running this weekend are the Winter Haven Saturday Market in Central Park, whose organizers list its next October dates as Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, and the Lake Wales Downtown Market, which operates on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month and therefore skips Oct. 3. For the full rundown of who sells what and when across all 17 municipalities, see our Polk County farmers market page.

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Sources: Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, First Friday event page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; City of Winter Haven community calendar, First Friday listing 214177, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Destroyer Media and Marketing, Winter Haven First Friday organizer page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Theatre Winter Haven, Live and Loud event page for Oct. 2, 2026, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Lake Wales Care Center, News and Events page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; City of Lake Wales homepage calendar, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Bok Tower Gardens, Stories in Stone: Primal exhibit page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Bok Tower Gardens, Rootstock Fall Plant Sale event page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Harvest Holler Corn Maze, season hours and admission page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Brick or Treat seasonal events page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Grove Roots Brewing Co., events calendar, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo, Haunting of River Ranch activity page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Humanitix, Florida Pro Wrestling Bartow Oct. 2, 2026 listing, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Bonnet Springs Park, Cars and Coffee Oct. 3, 2026 event page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Bonnet Springs Park, Birding on the Boardwalk Oct. 3, 2026 event page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; City of Haines City, Mayor’s 5K page and municipal calendar feed, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, events listing and Fall Family Festival page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Golden Ridge Groves, Fall Fest 2026 ticketing page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; United Grid League, 2026 Championship page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce calendar, City of Davenport Multicultural Family Fest listing, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; City of Auburndale, Autumn Acoustics event page and October 2026 calendar, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; Polk County Government, Moonlit Legends 2026 event page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; RunSignup, Run For the Boolies race page, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; MarketSpread, Winter Haven Farmers Market season listing, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; The Citrus Tea News events calendar, Oct. 2 to 4, 2026 list views, accessed Sept. 29, 2026; organizer updates supplied to The Citrus Tea News, Sept. 29, 2026, for the Lights for Life Luminary Walk, Autumn Acoustics, the First Saturday Downtown Auburndale Market, the Run For the Boolies 5K, the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art Fall Family Festival and Golden Ridge Groves Fall Fest.