Arts & Culture in Central Florida

Bok Tower Gardens Bok Tower Gardens features flowering foliage and the spectacular seasonal color of azaleas, camellias and magnolias showcasing an ever-changing work of art.

Polk Museum of Art Featuring a gallery of pre-Columbian artifacts, an outdoor sculpture garden and galleries of rotating exhibits.

Hollis Garden Hollis Garden in Lakeland is home to more than 10,000 flowers and ornamental shrubs, shade trees and a Grand Staircase.

Florida Air Museum at SUN 'n FUN The Florida Air Museum features a dynamic display of the best examples aviation has to offer including one-of-a-kind designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques and war-birds.

Polk County History Center Housed in a 1908 courthouse, the History Center showcases the history of Polk County.

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Celebrate History, Heritage, Arts, & Cultural

Central Florida’s art scene is thriving.

One of Polk County’s best assets is its vibrant cultural arts community. Tourists and residents alike have access to more than thirty arts and cultural organizations: Community Theater, opera, symphonies, museums, art guilds, a theatre listed on the National Historic Register (Polk Theatre) and a professional dance company. On any given day, an event, exhibition, performance and/or hands-on art class is offered in almost every municipality in the County! The largest visual arts organization is the Polk Museum of Art. Located in Lakeland with nine galleries in its two story building, the Museum primarily exhibits contemporary art and houses a permanent exhibition of Pre-Columbian artifacts.

Visual arts’ lovers can also find impressive works at smaller galleries like the Lake Wales Arts Center, Arts on the Park in Lakeland, Bartow Art Guild, Ridge Art Association in Winter Haven, Frostproof Arts League & Gallery, Polk State College (PSC) and the Melvin Gallery at Florida Southern College.

Another exciting option is Platform Arts. Platform hosts two events every year that draw 600+ people for an evening of music, art, fashion and film at different locations, within the County. These parties are an exciting chance to see the cutting edge of creativity in Polk County.

Music lovers have many choices available to enjoy their passion. The Imperial Symphony Orchestra performs exciting concerts every year at The Lakeland Center. Other opportunities to hear great music are organized by Bach Festival of Central Florida, Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales,
Lakeland Choral Society”:/events/glorious, The Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual & Performing Arts in Lakeland, Citrus Lakes Chorus and Tuesday Music Club.

Broadway shows, dance performances, acrobats, nationally known comedians and jazz ensembles are just a few examples of the different stage performances one may buy tickets to attend at The Lakeland Center.

For great theatrical performances try the community theatres in Lakeland, Lake Wales, Haines City and Winter Haven. There’s always a play being performed somewhere!

Dance is well represented by Polk’s only professional dance company, Florida Dance Theatre. FDT performs its primarily modern repertoire in venues all over Florida and the eastern U.S.

For creative arts play, take your children to Explorations V Children’s Museum in Downtown Lakeland. Not only is the hands-on museum great fun, they also offer daily programs to engage children in exciting learning experiences.

Finally, don’t forget these great destinations: Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun for the aeronautical buff, Bok Tower Gardens for the nature lover and Polk County History Center for history fans. Even genealogists may discover many personal treasures through the number of historical societies operating in Polk.

With so many choices, you will find something fun, educational, relaxing and entertaining.