Step into a tropical dream at Orchid Fever, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, for a celebration of one of nature’s most exotic and captivating blooms combined with music and delight in the flavors of Latin America! This event invites flower lovers and curious wanderers alike to experience exotic orchid varieties from around the world and much more. 

Speaker Schedule
9:00 am – 10:00 am Orchids 101 with Dina and Keith Emig (Winter Haven Orchid Nursery)
10:00 am – 11:00 am Dendrobiums with Bret and Ruth Ullery (Accent Orchids)
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Orchids 101 with Dina and Keith Emig (Winter Haven Orchid Nursery)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Repotting Your Orchids with Bret and Ruth Ullery (Accent Orchids)

Vendors
OFE Orchid Supplies
Springwater Orchids
Orchids & Tropical Plants
Sharon Garrett’s The Habitat
SO Orchids
Bret & Ruth Ullery
Dina Emig

Play Loteria on The Terrace to Win an Orchid!
1:30 pm until all prizes are awarded
Play a round of Loteria (a Latin American game of chance similar to bingo) for a chance to win a beautiful orchid!

Live Music on The Terrace
Orlando Latin Sound Band
11 am – 1 pm
Get ready to dance the day away with Orlando Latin Sound as they bring the energy and excitement to Orchid Fever! Enjoy an unforgettable performance featuring sizzling salsa, lively merengue, romantic bachata, upbeat Latin pop, and crowd-favorite reggaeton.

Whether you’re dancing, singing along, or simply soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, Orlando Latin Sound delivers the perfect soundtrack for a fun-filled day surrounded by beautiful orchids. Bring your friends, your dancing shoes, and your love of Latin music—this is a performance you won’t want to miss!

 Take your taste buds on a tropical adventure with the Blue Palmetto Café team’s favorite authentic flavors! Savor Chef Matt’s Authentic Al Pastor Pork Tacos, slow-roasted on the spit for incredible flavor, bite into delicious Beef Empanadas bursting with tropical-inspired goodness, or enjoy comforting Chicken or Potato Enchiladas made with authentic recipes.

Every dish is AUTHENTIC, incredibly tasty, and the perfect way to spice up your day with a little tropical flair. Come hungry and discover why these are the Blue Palmetto Café team’s top picks!

Event Date & Time
Saturday, August 15, 2026

Price
Free for members / $20 for non-member adults / $10 for non-member children ages 6 – 17 / Free for children 5 and under (Includes Admission)

https://boktowergardens.org/event/orchidfever/

Registration is not required

Please Note:

To assist Bok Tower Gardens with the rising costs of online transactions, a small processing fee is required for to confirm your registration.

Ticket price includes general admission to the Gardens. Tickets are available for purchase at boktower.org, in person at the Visitor Center or by phone at 863-734-1222. All programs and classes promptly begin at stated time and visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes before class begins for check-in. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to the class start time. Culinary events are demonstration based and late arrivals may not be accommodated. For classes held after 5 pm, the entrance gate will stay open for an additional 30 minutes after the start time. Once the gate closes, late arrivals will not be admitted. Due to the nature of culinary events held at the Outdoor Kitchen, Bok Tower Garden may attempt, but cannot guarantee, to accommodate food allergies. Dogs are not permitted at any educational program.

Special to T&T Magazine

Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is far more than a traditional concert—it's a theatrical, immersive production that transforms some of the greatest rock anthems of all time into a breathtaking orchestral experience. Audiences can expect powerful interpretations of music made famous by legendary artists such as Led Zeppelin, Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Linkin Park, Evanescence, Nirvana, Aerosmith, The Cranberries, and many more. From soaring power ballads and classic rock favorites to hard rock and symphonic metal, the program spans decades of iconic music, giving each song a fresh, cinematic sound while preserving the energy and emotion that made it unforgettable.

Adding to the experience is the show's striking visual production. Performed beneath the warm glow of hundreds of candles, the musicians appear in dramatic gothic-inspired costumes that complement the atmosphere and theatrical style of the performance. Carefully choreographed lighting, dynamic visual effects, and the interplay between darkness and candlelight create an intimate yet epic setting, enhancing every musical moment. The result is a captivating fusion of rock, classical music, and theatrical artistry that surrounds the audience with unforgettable sights, sounds, and emotion from the opening note to the final encore.

Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns N' Roses
Dream On – Aerosmith
Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones
Back in Black – AC/DC
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Numb – Linkin Park
Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
Toxicity – System of a Down
Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
Freak on a Leash – Korn
Take Me to Church – Hozier
Zombie – The Cranberries ... and many more!

Prepare for an evening that's bold, emotional, and truly unforgettable.

Don't wait—secure your seats early and be among the first to experience this extraordinary concert event!

Event Details:

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The RP Funding Center is conveniently located minutes between Orlando and Tampa in Lakeland, Florida off I-4 on Lime Street; the RP Funding Center is a short drive from anywhere in Central Florida. Regular box office hours are Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. For ticket information, call the Box Office at (863) 834-8111 or visit our website at www.rpfundingcenter.com.

New Signature Event to Showcase Local Restaurants, Food Vendors, and Culinary Experiences from Across Polk County

BARTOW, Florida – The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural Bartow's Taste of Polk on Monday, August 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Bartow Civic Center.

Presented by Bartow Ford, this new signature Chamber event will bring together restaurants, caterers, bakeries, food trucks, beverage vendors, and specialty food businesses from across Polk County for an evening celebrating the region's diverse culinary scene.

Guests will have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of dishes while discovering local favorites and meeting the businesses behind them. Designed to highlight the restaurants and food-focused businesses that help make Polk County unique, the event offers attendees the chance to experience dozens of local flavors in one location.

In addition to food tastings, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and vote for their favorite vendors throughout the evening. "Bartow's Taste of Polk is a celebration of the restaurants, chefs, caterers, and food entrepreneurs who help make our community such a vibrant place to live and work," said Michelle Helms, President & CEO of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. "We're excited to introduce this event as a new Chamber tradition that supports local businesses while giving the community an opportunity to experience the best of Polk County's culinary talent." Bartow's Taste of Polk is open to the public. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available through the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. Registration information is available on the Bartow Chamber of Commerce website.

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The Bartow Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice of business in the Bartow area, advocating for economic growth, community development, and a strong local business environment. Through networking opportunities, educational programs, leadership development, and community partnerships, the Chamber works to strengthen and support businesses of all sizes while enhancing the quality of life throughout the region.

For more information about Bartow's Taste of Polk, please contact the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce at 863-533-7125 or visit the Chamber's website:

https://bartowchamber.com/bartows-taste-of-polk/Contact: Rachel Meinke
Phone: 863-533-7125
Email: rachel@bartowchamber.com

Wawa and Bok Tower Gardens are teaming up again to offer Wawa Summer Fun Days featuring complimentary admission on the last Thursday and Friday of May through August.

The 2025 Wawa Summer Fun Days will continue June 25-26, July 30-31, and August 27-28.

Pre-registration is requested for this complimentary offer. Visitors can register at https://boktowergardens.org/wawa-summer-fun-days-2026/

The extremely popular seek & find game "Where's Wally" will be back again adding another level of fun to this family day in the Gardnes.

The partnership began in 2021 with the launch of Wawa Summer Fun Days, and the offer was expanded in 2022. Since the program began, nearly 100,000 participants have received complimentary admission.

Committed to the communities they serve, Wawa is keeping Bok Tower Gardens growing with their generous support.

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 in Pennsylvania as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. with 1,200 locations to date. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, Sizzli hot breakfast sandwiches, hand-crafted specialty beverages, a dinner menu including burgers and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.

About Bok Tower Gardens

Voted one of America’s best gardens, Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark located 10 miles from LEGOLAND Florida, 55 miles southwest of Orlando and 60 miles east of Tampa near Lake Wales in Central Florida’s rolling hills of citrus. Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Visitor Center, Blue Palmetto Café and The Shop at Bok are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for ages 6-17. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. For more information contact Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales FL 33853; 863-676-1408 or visit www.boktowergardens.org.