Community Calendar

Embark on the thrill of the 12th Florida Poly Pi Run! Dive into the excitement and join fellow runners for an unforgettable experience.

Friends of Florida Poly, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, once you’ve secured your spot by registering, kick the adrenaline up a notch – spread the word among your friends and family!

Let’s amplify the buzz together and mark your calendars for the epic run on Wed, March 11th at 6:30 PM.

Get ready for a celebration of fitness, fun, and the unstoppable spirit of the Phoenix community!

The Florida Poly Pi Run has been held every year since 2014. Participation has steadily grown to more than 100 faculty, staff, students, and community members. The 3.14 mile course winds its way throughout Florida Poly’s campus in Lakeland.

At the end of the race, all runners get to enjoy a piece of pie. Participants will receive a Shirt (Shirt and size guaranteed if pre-registered before Feb 15, 2026), Bib, Finisher Medal.

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 28 and ends on Saturday March 14. Registration begins January 1,

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.

Polk Senior Games is an annual two-week series of 33 Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. Registration begins January 1. 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. Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling including Team Bowling, Bridge, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Golf 18 Hole Singles, Mixed Doubles & Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – 5-Stand, Pistol, Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays & Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division.

We are so glad you’ve decided to join Kappa Delta for a fun morning of family fun by Lake Hollingsworth! This 5k benefits Kappa Delta’s national philanthropy; Prevent Child Abuse America, as well as our local philanthropy and sponsor, Heartland for Children located in Polk County!

Check-in for the race is from 8:45 am to 9:15 am on March 14th – the race itself begins at 9:30 am!

Join us at Bonnet Springs Park on Saturday, March 28 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.

A donation from the 5k will benefit the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment at Bonnet Springs Park.

This event is limited to 1,200 participants.

Registration for the 2026 SUN ‘n RUN 5K at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) is now open! Come and run right through the heart of one of the largest aviation expos in the U.S., surrounded by aircraft, energy, and incredible views you can only find at SUN ‘n FUN! Mark your calendars, lace up your running shoes, and get ready for an unforgettable run!

The 2026 SUN ‘n RUN 5K takes off on April 18 at 6:45 AM, during the 52nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.

Shirt sizes are guaranteed if pre-registered before March 22, 2026. After that, shirts will be available while supplies last.

Courtesy of our partners at the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, each registered participant will receive two Saturday entry armbands to enjoy the expo after the race. There will also be an exclusive new finisher medal!

Register Early! There will be no Day-of-Race Registration! Registration ends April 17, 2026, or until race reaches capacity at 1,000 runners.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Campbell at amy.campbell@lakelandgov.net. We’ll see you at the starting line!

Celebrate 47 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.

Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland for the Leading Edge Take Heart 10K/5K! This race is more than just miles—it’s about changing lives. Every runner’s bib features the story of a student in Kenya that Take Heart Africa supports, and by scanning the QR code you can learn more and even give directly to their education.

The race includes a scenic course through downtown Lakeland, chip timing, finisher medals, overall and age group awards, and a vibrant finish line celebration on Lake Mirror. Proceeds benefit Take Heart Africa’s mission of transforming the lives of orphans and widows in rural Kenya through education and entrepreneurship.

Come run for a cause, enjoy the community, and make every step count!

The TICK TOCK ULTRA is your 12-hour and 6-hour lake-lapping challenge. You will start at 7:00 a.m. traveling along a paved walkway that frames beautiful Lake Hollingsworth as you challenge yourself to log as many 2.84-mile laps as possible before the race concludes.

HOT GRILLED FOOD @ The Runners Village! Starting with pancakes then hotdogs & hamburgers then quesadilla’s and smoked/grilled chicken! Starting about 3pm is smoked Pork Butt and Brisket! Also all the normal treats you’d see at any Ultra, soda/pop, pickles, snack bars etc!

This unique event is limited to the first 200 entrants! This is a hard cap! 200 max runners so reserve your spot by registering TODAY!
REGISTER BY SEPT 1ST 2026 TO GUARANTEE SHIRT SIZE AND HAVE YOUR NAME PRINTED ON YOUR BIB!

Want to Try It as a Team? — Register for the TickTock Ultra RELAY! For those who want the challenge and experience of participating in an 12-hour ultra marathon event, but don’t want to log the miles alone, the Tick Tock Ultra Relay allows teams of 3 to 5 to log as many laps as they can as a TEAM. One runner per team is allowed on the course at a time. Teams compete to see how many laps they can log cumulatively in 12 hours. Each member of teams completing at least 10 laps receives a Tick Tock Ultra Award. Each member of the overall winning team and 2nd place team ALSO wins a trophy. RELAY IS LIMITED TO 20 TEAMS ONLY

AWARDS:
Top 3 of the 6 & 12 Hour races male & female will receive Overall Awards
The next over 40 male & female runners will receive the Master awards
Each runner or relay team finishing 10 laps will receive finisher awards
Top 2 relay teams will receive Overall Relay Awards

Portions of every entry will go to the Pheel Good Foundation, the creators of this race!

The LRC will celebrate the 50th running of the Lake to Lake 10k in 2026.  The race has also been designated the RRCA National 10k Championship.

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.