May 14 will be a big day in Lakeland with its popular annual festival and its first year of the city’s bike race, Tour de Lakeland.
Festival
The festival will be at the Delta Blues Winery, 6585 Stewart Road. Attractions will include hot-air balloon rides, livemusic with Ted Horrell and the Monday Night Card, food trucks, hay rides, face painting and more. The event also will be held in conjunction with the Tour de Lakeland bike race.
The balloon rides will be offered for $15 per person (or $45 for four people) from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The rides are tethered at 50 feet, and the basket is wheelchair accessible. Children must be at least five. Prepayment by May 7 is encouraged to reserve a time slot. Make reservations at bit.ly/LAK-balloon-rides-2016.
Tour de Lakeland bike race
Lakeland will kick off its inaugural Tour de Lakeland Bike Ride on May 14 in conjunction with the Lakeland Spring Festival.
The start and finish will be at the Delta Blues Winery in north Lakeland.
Competitive cyclists, recreational cyclists, need-to-be cyclists, and even children and grandparents can choose from three rides (a five-mile fun ride, a 25-mile ride, and a 45-mile ride). Tour landmarks will include the covered bridge at ChrisLeigh farms, Trinity Farms Equestrian Center, Garner Lake, the I.H. Clubhouse and Pavilion, Lakeland Leather Works, Memphis Propbusters (hobby aircraft flying center), Lakeland Elementary School, the future site of Lakeland Middle School, and scenic back roads and farms of north Lakeland.
The bike ride starts at 9 a.m. and events last until 2 p.m.
