REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026 MISS HEARTLAND PAGEANTS, TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH., FOR CONTESTANTS AGES 10-19. THE PAGEANT FOCUSES ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. VISIT THE MISS HEARTLAND PAGEANTS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR APPLICATION DETAILS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. 

KIDS PARK AT AVON PARK LAKES BAPTIST CHURCH HAS SUMMER CAMPS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.TWO WEEKS AVAILABLE: JULY 27TH THROUGH JULY 31ST, AND AUGUST 3RD THROUGH THE 7TH. KIDS PARK CAMPS TRAVEL THREE DAYS OF THE WEEK TO FUN PLACES. THE COST IS $125 PER WEEK. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT APLBC.INFO/CHILDREN. 

THE SEBRING HILLS ASSOCIATION HOLDS BRIDGE EVERY MONDAY AT 1:00PM. LOCATED AT THE SEBRING HILLS ASSOCIATION CLUBHOUSE AT 200 LARK AVENUE IN SEBRING.  MEMBERS AND GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN FOR AN AFTERNOON OF CARDS AND COMMUNITY. 

THE DARTS ACADEMY IN SEBRING INVITES PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO JOIN STEEL TIP DARTS LEAGUES AT SHEILA’S PUB. WEEKLY LEAGUES RUN MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, WITH A FRIDAY NIGHT STEEL TIP DARTS BLIND DRAW FEATURING SIGN-UPS AT 7:30 P.M. AND GAMES STARTING AT 8 P.M. WHETHER YOU’RE A BEGINNER OR A SEASONED PLAYER, IT’S A GREAT PLACE TO COMPETE AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY. LOCATED AT 407 N. RIDGEWOOD DRIVE IN SEBRING. 

THE HIGHLANDS COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WILL HOST A SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM ON THURSDAY, JULY 23RD AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SEBRING. DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 PM. FOR A CANDIDATE MEET AND GREET, WITH THE FORUM BEGINNING AT 6:00 PM. THE EVENT FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING EDUCATORS AND STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION. LOCATED AT 200 E. CENTER AVENUE. 

THE 35TH ANNUAL CALADIUM FESTIVAL WILL BE JULY 24TH THROUGH THE 26TH, IN DOWNTOWN LAKE PLACID. ENJOY HUNDREDS OF VARIETIES OF CALADIUM BULBS AND PLANTS, OVER 150 CRAFT VENDORS, FOOD, LIVE MUSIC AND THE CAR & BIKE SHOW ON SATURDAY THE 25TH. FRIDAY & SATURDAY THE FESTIVAL FUN IS 9:00AM TO 4:00PM AND ON SUNDAY 10:00AM TO 3:00PM. FOR ALL THE DETAILS, VISIT WWW.CALADIUMFESTIVAL.ORG. 

BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT AND GET A HEAD START ON HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT THE CHRISTMAS IN JULY VENDOR FAIR, PRESENTED BY ADVENT HEALTH.  JOIN THEM ON JULY 25TH FROM 10:00AM TO 3:00 PM FOR AN INDOOR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT—FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. LOCATED AT THE HISTORIC CIRCLE THEATRE IN SEBRING.  

THE CALADIUMS AFTER DARK CELBRATION PRESENTED BY THE LAKE PLACID MOOSE LODGE #2374 WILL BE ON JULY 25TH AT 7:30PM, WITH A $10 COVER CHARGE. ENJOY MUSIC, FOOD, AGAMES, AND FUN, AS WELL AS A BEST 70’S ATTIRE CONTEST! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. LOCATED AT 2137 US HWY 27 S. IN LAKE PLACID. 

A TRAVELING MUSEUM CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY IS MAKING A STOP IN SEBRING NEXT WEEK. THE FLORIDA FREEDOM TOUR ARRIVES AT 10 A.M. TUESDAY, JULY 28TH, AT HIGHLANDS HAMMOCK STATE PARK. THE FREE MOBILE MUSEUM FEATURES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, MULTIMEDIA DISPLAYS, AND A CHANCE TO DIGITALLY SIGN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. WHILE ADMISSION TO THE EXHIBIT IS FREE, REGULAR STATE PARK ENTRY FEES APPLY. 

THE MILITARY SEA SERVICES MUSEUM IN SEBRING WILL CELEBRATE THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD’S BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST AT 1:00 PM. WITH THE DEDICATION OF A NEW COAST GUARD EXHIBIT HONORING LOCAL VETERAN JASON JOSEPH WALKUP. FREE AND OPEN TO ALL VETERANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. LOCATED AT 1402 ROSELAND AVENUE IN SEBRING.  

QUEEN FANS WON'T WANT TO MISS ABSOLUTE QUEEN – EXPERIENCE THE RHAPSODY AT CIRCLE THEATRE IN SEBRING ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST. THE TRIBUTE SHOW WILL FEATURE TWO PERFORMANCES AT 5:00 P.M. AND 8:00 P.M., BRINGING QUEEN'S BIGGEST HITS TO LIFE IN A HIGH-ENERGY CONCERT EXPERIENCE.  DOORS OPEN AT 4:00 P.M. LOCATED AT 202 CIRCLE PARK DRIVE IN SEBRING. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.EVENTBRITE.COM. 

THE HIGHLANDS REPUBLICAN FEDERATED WOMEN WILL HOST A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9 CANDIDATE FORUM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH AT THE JACK STROUP CIVIC CENTER. DOORS OPEN AT 12:30 P.M. FOR A MEET AND GREET WITH CANDIDATES AND THE FORUM BEGINS AT 1:00PM. THE FORUM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND; BEVERAGES AND LIGHT SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED. PLEASE RSVP BY CALLING 561-715-8058.  

JOURNEY FANS CAN RELIVE THE CLASSIC ROCK HITS OF A GENERATION WHEN ABSOLUTE JOURNEY, A PREMIER JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND, TAKES THE STAGE AT CIRCLE THEATRE IN SEBRING ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH. THE GROUP WILL PERFORM TWO SHOWS AT 5:00 PM. AND 8:00 PM. DOORS OPEN AT 4:00 P.M. LOCATED AT 202 CIRCLE PARK DRIVE IN SEBRING. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.EVENTBRITE.COM. 

HIGHLANDS COUNTY’S FIRST-EVER GARDEN WEEK WILL TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 8TH THROUGH 13TH, HIGHLIGHTING GARDENS, NATURE, AGRICULTURE, AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES ACROSS SEBRING, AVON PARK, AND LAKE PLACID. THE WEEK WILL INCLUDE CLASSIC CALADIUMS’ ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH-12TH. 

JOIN KNOTTY GIRL FOUNDATION FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL LIGHT THE CIRCLE PINK COMMUNITY EVENT, OCTOBER 3RD, FROM 4:00PM-8:00PM IN DOWNTOWN SEBRING. PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY PINK STRUT, CAR & TRUCK SHOW, AND CIRCLE PARADE OF LIGHTS, AS WELL AS ENJOY FOOD, MUSIC, LOCAL VENDORS AND MORE AS THEY KICK OFF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. TO REGISTER OR TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WWW.LIGHTTHECIRCLEPINK.COM. 

THE 5TH ANNUAL CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR IS COMING TO SEBRING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. HOSTED BY THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE HIGHLANDS, THE EVENT GIVES YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS A CHANCE TO CREATE A BUSINESS, SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES, AND SELL TO CUSTOMERS. KIDS CAN APPLY FOR A BOOTH, AND SHOPPERS CAN RSVP THROUGH WWW.CHILDRENSBUSINESSFAIR.ORG. THE EVENT RUNS FROM NOON TO 4 P.M. AT 219 NORTH RIDGEWOOD DRIVE.   

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) IS HERE TO HELP THOSE IN HIGHLANDS, POLK, AND HARDEE COUNTIES ON THEIR JOURNEY TO RECOVERY. MEETINGS AND SUPPORT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE SEEKING HELP WITH ALCOHOL USE. FOR ASSISTANCE OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE AT 863-687-9275. AA IS COMMITTED TO HELPING MEMBERS BUILD A SOBER, HEALTHY, AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. 

THERE WILL BE A NEW BEGINNER AND UPPER BEGINNER LINE DANCE CLASSES AT THE HIGHLANDS COUNTY FAMILY YMCA EACH MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY FROM 10:30AM-11:30AM YEAR-ROUND. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL DEE AT 863-257-6543 OR THE YMCA AT 863-382-9622.  

CHAIR YOGA AND LINE DANCE CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED AT THE SEBRING RECREATION CENTER. CHAIR YOGA IS ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 10:00AM-11:00AM AND LINE DANCE CLASSES ARE ON MONDAYS FROM 11:30AM-12:30PM. COME AND CHECK IT OUT. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL MARY AT 863-273-4495. LOCATED AT 333 POMEGRANATE AVENUE IN DOWTOWN SEBRING.   

LAKE PLACID ELKS LODGE #2661 HOSTS BINGO EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT FROM 6PM-9PM AT 200 CR 621 IN LAKE PLACID. ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING TO THE ELKS CHILDREN'S THERAPY SERVICE AND THE ELKS YOUTH CAMP FOR FLORIDA KIDS.   

HANDS FOR THE HOMELESS HOSTS THE FEEDING TAMPA BAY FOOD BANK IN AVON PARK EVERY FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH IN AVON PARK. FOOD DISTRIBUTION BEGINS AT 10AM AT THE UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT 107 JIM ROGERS AVENUE AND GOES TILL NOON OR THE FOOD RUNS OUT.   

PLAY BINGO WITH THE SEBRING HILLS ASSOCIATION EVERY THURSDAY FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. THE GAMES BEGIN AT 6PM AND THE DOORS OPEN AT 4:30PM FOR CONCESSIONS AND SNACKS. CARDS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT 5:00PM. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT THE CLUBHOUSE LOCATED AT 200 LARK AVENUE IN SEBRING.   

PLAY BINGO FOR CHARITY AT THE SEBRING ELKS LODGE EVERY MONDAY NIGHT! DOORS OPEN AT 4:45PM, EARLY BIRDS START AT 6:00PM. PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY AND A LOW, $6 MINIMUM TO PLAY.