Community Calendar

Join us for a scenic twilight run around beautiful Lake Hollingsworth and then up Buckingham Avenue to finish next to Common Ground Playground (our beneficiary).

Wider start-the first mile will be run in the street before moving onto the Lake Hollingsworth trail. Finisher medals to the first 400. M/F age groups are “under 10”, “over 80”, and all five year groups in between. M/F overall, masters and grandmasters plaques.

Bib chip timing by FitNiche Events. Long-sleeved ladies, unisex and youth tech shirts. Kids fun zone, fun dashes with glo-stick bracelets and more.

Join the Fun at the Annual 2025 Lake Wales Mardi Gras 5K Glow Run 🏃‍♀️ Lace up your sneakers and kick off Mardi Gras in style! With double the age groups this year, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 🎭 Dress in your Mardi Gras best and shine bright as you run or walk through the glowing course. Every participant gets: 👕 A commemorative T-shirt 🍹 A free drink ticket 🏅 Awards to follow the race! 💰 Sign up now and save! Prices go up soon, so don’t miss out on the fun. ✨ Let’s make this a night to remember! See you at the starting line.

Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center Promise Run Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center Promise Run is inspired by people who believe that a community can come together to conquer cancer. It’s a celebration of the lives of loved ones touched by cancer and a Promise to strengthen the health of everyone around us.

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Polk Senior Games is a non-profit organization that presents an annual two-week series of Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. The Games inspire an active lifestyle, combine an interest in sports and games with fun and fellowship, promote a positive image of seniors and recognize their efforts and achievements, and encourage volunteerism. Polk Senior Games begins on Saturday February 22 and ends on Saturday March 8. Registration begins January 1 and ends February 8.

Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Road Race 5K, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division. $12 for first event; $5 for each additional event up to a maximum $35. Some events have extra facility fees.

Call 863-533-0055 for the entry booklet to be mailed the first week of January.

Join us to run/walk the beautiful course around Lake Hunter! The FCA Lead The Way 5K will benefit students who are participating in the FCA Emerging Leader Experience. These students meet monthly to receive world-class Biblical leadership training that culminates in a four- day intensive with Student Leadership University.

Your participation in this race will help these students reach their funding goals. Join us as we push back against poverty of vision, spirit, and opportunity in the lives of the next generation! The course will have a wide start line that measures over 300 feet with course changes in elevation and partially covered and well-paved sidewalks and roads.

Police will be present to ensure safe crossings when indicated on race map. Participants will receive a race packet, a shirt and finisher medal once they cross the finish line. Awards: Male and Female: Overall, Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+) & 3 deep in the standard 5 year age groups: (9 & Under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+)

Join us at Bonnet Springs Park on Saturday, March 29 for a sunrise 5k that showcases the natural beauty of towering oak trees and the rolling terrain of Florida’s Best Free Natural Attraction. Bonnet Springs is a beautiful blend of urban amenities in a natural setting. Race with us and then stay to explore all there is to offer in the 168-acre park.

A quarter-mile kids fun run will be held following the 5k. All kids fun run participants need to be onsite by 8:30 AM.

Walkers are welcome at this event. The Bonnet Springs Park 5k is held on a USATF-certified course (FL23012JK). The race is chip-timed.

Thank you to Valiant Products for their generous support; a donation from the 5k will benefit the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment at Bonnet Springs Park.

This event is limited to 1,000 participants.

Road race at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) during the 51st annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo on Saturday, April 5th at 7am. New and improved race route will be announced soon!

Celebrate 46 years of the Mayfaire 5k Road Race and Walk with an evening run or walk on residential streets from downtown Lakeland through the historic Lake Morton district. This event is held in conjunction with the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College’s annual Mayfaire by-the-lake art festival and the event shirt showcases the work of the festival’s featured artist.

Walkers are welcome at this event. The Mayfaire 5k is held on a USATF-certified course (FL22015JK). The race is chip-timed.

The first Mayfaire 5k was held May 5, 1980.

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

Proceeds from the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series goes towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. The Lakeland Runners Club has contributed to the PEF since 2012 – the list of scholarship recipients is available on the LRC website.

The Summer Sunrise Watermelon Race Series was born out of a desire to have low-cost local races during the hot summer months when it can be hard to stay motivated. The series has become an established venue for competition and an annual celebration of fitness. It continues to be popular with both experienced and casual runners alike. Many of the local high school cross country teams use it as a tune-up for their season. The series is comprised of three 5K (3.1 mile) races, each race hotter than the last.  All are run around Lake Hollingsworth, which is flat and conducive to fast times.

The Summer Watermelon 5k is run on a certified course. All races are chip timed.  Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results.

The first series was run in 1996.

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

Proceeds from the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series goes towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. The Lakeland Runners Club has contributed to the PEF since 2012 – the list of scholarship recipients is available on the LRC website.

The Summer Sunrise Watermelon Race Series was born out of a desire to have low-cost local races during the hot summer months when it can be hard to stay motivated. The series has become an established venue for competition and an annual celebration of fitness. It continues to be popular with both experienced and casual runners alike. Many of the local high school cross country teams use it as a tune-up for their season. The series is comprised of three 5K (3.1 mile) races, each race hotter than the last.  All are run around Lake Hollingsworth, which is flat and conducive to fast times.

The Summer Watermelon 5k is run on a certified course.  All races are chip timed.  Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results.

The first series was run in 1996.

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

Proceeds from the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series goes towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. The Lakeland Runners Club has contributed to the PEF since 2012 – the list of scholarship recipients is available on the LRC website.

The Summer Sunrise Watermelon Race Series was born out of a desire to have low-cost local races during the hot summer months when it can be hard to stay motivated. The series has become an established venue for competition and an annual celebration of fitness. It continues to be popular with both experienced and casual runners alike. Many of the local high school cross country teams use it as a tune-up for their season. The series is comprised of three 5K (3.1 mile) races, each race hotter than the last.  All are run around Lake Hollingsworth, which is flat and conducive to fast times.

The Summer Watermelon 5k is run on a certified course.  All races are chip timed.  Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results.

The first series was run in 1996.

The 10k is the oldest annual race in Polk County and runs through the Lakeland chain of lakes and historic Lake Morton district, encompassing three lakes during the course. The Lake to Lake 10k is run on a certified course (FL19044TY).  The race will be chip timed.

The Lake to Lake 10k was founded in 1977.