The much-anticipated Lakeland Haunted Trail is officially scheduled for October 21st from 6pm to 9pm at International Harvester (IH) Park located on 4523 Canada Road. This is the first year for a haunted trail in Lakeland and the cost will be $10 which can be purchased here. The event is organized by the Lakeland Education Foundation (LEF) and LPS HS Basketball cheerleaders. According to the LEF the trail will be 1/2 mile long and will be “filled with thrills and chills.” It is suggested to bring a flashlight to the haunted trail event.
Before the haunted trail begins, another popular event, The Lakeland Harvest Festival, will be held at IH park from 3pm to 5pm. The harvest festival is sponsored by the Lakeland Lions Club. In addition to local businesses and organizations coming to serve as Treat-or-Treat stations at the harvest festival, there will be face painting, balloon art, inflatables, games, and lots of prizes. There is also a pumpkin eating contest, pumpkin carving contest, and the newly added germ-free bobbing for apples contest where participants bobbing for apples will have their own bucket of apples.
The popular costume contest makes its return at the harvest festival with the following age categories:
2 and under – 3:15 to 3:30
3-6 yrs. olds – 3:35 to 3:50
7-9 yrs. olds – 3:55 to 4:10
10-13 yr. olds – 4:15 to 4:30
14-18 yr. olds – 4:35 to 4:50
Family Category – 4:55 to 5:00
Organizers did stress the times are approximate so please be a little early. According to the city of Lakeland website registration is not required for the costume contest, however, registration is required for the pie eating contest and bobbing for apples. Participants can register that day at a registration table on site. According to Lakeland, if rain occurs, the harvest festival events will be moved indoors.
As always, parking is available at IH Park and Lakeland First Baptist Church which is located directly across the street from IH Park. There will also be a shuttle bus service from Lakeland Prep located at 5020 Lions Crest Dr., however, the last run will be at 6pm.
