Join us on September 6th from 6pm to 9pm for our next First Friday event Dog Days Downtown, sponsored by Audi Lakeland—which has cars for every budget! All proceeds from the event benefit Zelda’s K9 Rescue. Dog Days Downtown will feature canine caricatures, canine educational speakers, agility demonstrations and an agility course, a pet parade (bring your leashed pets), a pet lookalike contest, Audi selfies, face painting, balloon animals, a DJ, and a 50/50 Raffle! Advance tickets for the 50/50 raffle are available at the Audi Lakeland Dealership–call 863-284-0880 for more details. Downtown shops and restaurants will be open late. Don’t miss the Makers Market, featuring local artists and creators, on North Kentucky Avenue and the Classy Car Show on Tennessee Avenue. Streets are closed to vehicles, so come prepared to walk about! First Friday is a family-friendly event held in the streets of Downtown Lakeland between Lemon Street and Oak Street along Kentucky and Tennessee Avenues. On-street parking begins to close in the event area at 3pm to allow us to clear the streets and set up the exhibitors and vendors. Parking in all permitted and metered locations is free after 5pm and all day on the weekends. Event parking is limited, so please carpool with friends and neighbors! We also offer free valet on the corner of Lemon St. and Tennessee Ave. on First Fridays. Parking lots available: Trinity Presbyterian Parking Lot – corner of Tennessee and Bay Oak Street Parking Lot – corner of Oak and Kentucky Main Street garage – all day public access from Cedar Street; after 5pm public parking from Main Street City Permit Only Lots – all free after 5pm and all day weekends Massachusetts between Lime Street and Orange Street Tennessee Avenue between Walnut and Lime Street Parking lot north of BB&T Bank along the railroad tracks (access off of S. Florida Ave) First Friday is supported by our Downtown Champions:
- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
- Audi Lakeland
- Burnetti, P.A.
- Just Cares, Inc.
- Catholic Charities, Polk County Ministries
- Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Experience/Aerospace Center for Excellence
- City of Lakeland
- The Ledger Media Group
Interested in becoming a First Friday exhibitor? CLICK HERE. Interested in becoming a Makers Market vendor? CLICK HERE. Interested in registering for the Classy Car Show? CLICK HERE.