Things to Do This Weekend in Polk County: Oct. 9 to 11

The biggest free event in the county this weekend. Polk State College opens its Winter Haven campus for a rain-or-shine FallFest 2026, a festival with more than 100 craft and vendor booths, a Kids Zone, a pumpkin patch, a haunted house, food, music, and police and emergency services demonstrations. Proceeds benefit student organizations and the Polk State College Foundation. It runs Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Citrus Tea News will have a booth at Polk State FallFest in Winter Haven, so stop by and say hello! We will be on the right, just past the information booth!

For the kids: Plenty of costume opportunities and fun for the whole family at these kid-friendly events!

• Pinkalicious the Musical, Lakeland
• Harvest Holler Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Polk City
• Willy Wonka at Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven
• Fall Fest at Golden Ridge Groves, Bartow
• And More

For the whole family: These activities are for everyone, mostly outdoors, and the weekend’s biggest gatherings. Rain is very likely, so pack your umbrella or a rain coat!

• 21st Lakeland Cardboard Boat Challenge and Lakes Festival, Lakeland
• Bienvenido a BSP Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Lakeland

Also this weekend:

• Festival de las Américas, Fort Meade. Second year of Fort Meade’s Hispanic culture festival. Call the chamber for the location. Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Pooch-O-Ween Pet Parade and Costume Contest, Lakeland. Fourth annual Halloween dog costume contest and parade; registration benefits SPCA Florida. Saturday, 5 to 7 p.m., registration opens at 5 p.m.
• Saturday Night Rodeo at Westgate River Ranch, River Ranch. Bull riding, barrel racing and trick riding in a covered arena, every Saturday night. Saturday, 7:30 p.m., end time not listed.

Beer, live music, a late-night karaoke concert, two haunted attractions or a couple of quiet mornings in a garden.

• 19th Annual Oktoberfest, Winter Haven
• China Grove, a Tribute to The Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald, Lake Wales

Also this weekend:

• SmartMouth Live, Shades of Creme Karaoke Concert, Winter Haven
• The Haunting of River Ranch, River Ranch
• Wonder House Halloween Tours, Bartow
• GRB’s FallFest, Winter Haven
• Paint-Your-Partner Date Night, Frostproof
• Yoga in the Gardens, Lake Wales

Four farmers markets, two artisan markets, an antique fair, and the county’s only big Friday market.

Antique Fair Along Main Street, Bartow

Main Street Bartow’s monthly open-air market fills downtown with antiques, collectibles, and vintage goods on the second Saturday. It runs along East Main Street, and the chamber and Main Street Bartow list slightly different anchor points a couple of blocks apart, so expect the fair to span the street between them. It runs Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Find it on The Citrus Tea News events calendar.

Also this weekend:

• Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, Lakeland. The county’s biggest weekly farmers and artisan market, running up North Kentucky Avenue. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Winter Haven Farmers Market, Winter Haven. Weekly downtown market with farmers, food trucks, plants and local makers, rain or shine. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Winter Haven Saturday Market, Winter Haven. Hispanic Heritage Market Day. This Artisan and maker market in Central Park is a short walk from the farmers market. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market, Lake Wales. Produce, plants, local honey, jams, and crafts on the second and fourth Saturdays. Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• International Market World Weekend Market, Auburndale. Hundreds of stalls of produce, antiques, and food, and the only big market open Friday. Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Lakeside Village Makers Market, Lakeland. Local makers and artisan vendors, and the main Sunday shopping stop in Lakeland. Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

A full Polk County Farmer’s Market list lives on our farmers market page.

Free screenings, a public safety meeting, and a library program worth knowing about.

Also worth knowing:

• Alive and Well Free Health Screenings, Haines City. Free county health screenings and Polk HealthCare Plan enrollment, no appointment mentioned. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Public Safety Update and Q and A, Lake Alfred. City staff give a public safety update, then take questions from residents. Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.
• BLAST Adult Story Time, Bartow. An inclusive story time for adults with unique abilities, second Friday each month. Friday, 1 to 1:30 p.m.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest free event in Polk County this weekend?
Polk State FallFest on the Winter Haven campus, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free and rain or shine, with more than 100 craft and vendor booths, a Kids Zone, a pumpkin patch, a haunted house, food, music and public safety demonstrations.

What is there to do with young kids this weekend?
Pinkalicious plays four times at Lakeland Community Theatre and Willy Wonka has a Friday night and two matinees at Theatre Winter Haven. Two pumpkin patches are open all weekend: Harvest Holler in Polk City and Fall Fest at Golden Ridge Groves in Bartow, both working farms with one admission covering the attractions.

Where is the Winter Haven Oktoberfest actually being held?
Main Street Winter Haven’s own ticket page and Visit Central Florida name two different downtown venues. The date and time, Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., are consistent across both. Call Main Street Winter Haven at 863-295-9422 to confirm, and check our calendar entry for the address.

Which farmers markets are open in Polk County on Oct. 10?
The Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market, the Winter Haven Farmers Market, the Winter Haven Saturday Market and the Lake Wales Main Street Farmers Market. International Market World in Auburndale is open Friday through Sunday.

What is there to do in Polk County on Sunday, Oct. 11?
Sunday is the lightest day. Yoga in the Gardens at Bok Tower Gardens runs in the morning, the Lakeside Village Makers Market in Lakeland runs in the afternoon, GRB’s FallFest is at Grove Roots Brewing in Winter Haven with no posted time, and Fall Fest at Golden Ridge Groves, Harvest Holler and International Market World are all open.

Where do I find the cost and the address for these events?
Every event name links to its entry on The Citrus Tea News events calendar, and that entry carries the full street address, the admission cost, a map and a link to the organizer. You can also browse the whole weekend or the whole month at once on the calendar.

What are the big Polk County events later in October?
The Lake Mirror Classic auto festival takes over downtown Lakeland Oct. 16 to 18, Bartow holds Friday Fest Bartoberfest on Oct. 16, Bok Tower Gardens runs Boktoberfest concerts Oct. 16 to 18, the Fall Night Market fills Kentucky Avenue in Lakeland on Oct. 24, and the Lake Wales History Museum marks the 50th Pioneer Days festival on Oct. 24 and 25. Halloween week brings the Bartow Halloween Parade and the Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade in Lakeland on Oct. 29, the Lake Wales Spooktacular Halloween Bash on Oct. 30, and Rocky Horror at the Polk Theatre on Oct. 30 and 31.

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Sources: organizer pages for every event listed, each accessed Oct. 6, 2026, including Main Street Winter Haven; Visit Central Florida; Polk State College; Lakes Education Action Drive; Bonnet Springs Park; Main Street Bartow; the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce; Bok Tower Gardens; the Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce; Central Florida Event Vendors; Lakeside Village; Golden Ridge Groves; Harvest Holler; Westgate River Ranch; the Wonder House; Lakeland Community Theatre; Theatre Winter Haven; Swan Brewing; Lake Mirror Classic; the Lake Wales History Museum; the Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Grove Roots Brewing; International Market World; the Polk Theatre; RunSignup; Polk County Government; and the city calendars of Lake Alfred, Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Haines City and Polk City.