Lakeland 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.
Lakeland First Friday
Downtown shops and restaurants will be open late. Don’t miss the Makers Market, featuring local artists and creators, on North Kentucky Avenue north of the railroad tracks and the Classy Car Show now on Main St.! (Car show hours are 5:30-8:30pm)
Monthly Celebrations
- August 1, 2025 –Back to School
- September 5, 2025 –TBA
- October 3, 2025 –Cookie Carnival
- November 7, 2025–USO Dancing Under the Stars, sponsored by Just Cares, Inc.
Parking in all permitted and metered locations is free after 5:00 p.m. and all day on the weekends. Event parking is limited, so please carpool with friends and neighbors! LDDA offers free valet on the corner of Lemon St. and Tennessee Ave. on First Fridays.
Every month, Downtown Lakeland shuts down the streets for our First Friday events. We cancelled the event from April 2020-October 2020 and January-March 2021 due to the pandemic. We plan to resume the event in April 2021. Thousands of visitors every month enjoy a Classy Car Show, a Makers Market with crafters and artisans, and over 60 First Friday Exhibitors with goodies, giveaways, and special deals. However, our themes change from month to month, and sometimes we have special sponsors or special activities in Munn Park.
See below for the tentative upcoming themes:
July 2, 2021- Bike Night, sponsored by Harley Davidson
August 6, 2021–Back to School, sponsored by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
September 3, 2021–Dog Days Downtown
October 1, 2021–Cookie Carnival
November 5, 2021– Buffalo Soldiers Night, in partnership with Platform Art
December 3, 2021 –Hometown Holiday, sponsored by Burnetti, P.A.
January 7, 2022 — Theme TBD
February 4, 2022 – Mardi Gras in Munn Park, Sponsored by Catholic Charities
March 4, 2022 – Foodie Fest
April 2, 2022 – SUN ‘n FUN Flight Night, sponsored by the Aerospace Center for Excellence
May 7, 2022 – Theme TBD
June 4, 2022 – Family Fun Night, sponsored by Lakeland Moon Walk
