Lakeland Center Going to the Dogs (and ESPN) This Weekend

The Lakeland Center’s Jenkins Arena and Exhibit Hall will be going to the dogs this weekend as the Lakeland/Winter Haven Kennel Club holds its AKC sanctioned all breed dog show Friday through Sunday (June 6-8). The event will host 1,600 dogs and exhibitors and feature 140 different breeds of dogs. One highlight of the weekend will be the Junior Showmanship competition with as many as 40 juniors ranging in age from 10 to 16 showing their dogs and competing.  The group competition, which culminates in the Best in Show competition, will be televised on ESPN as Carson Productions will be on location Saturday and Sunday to tape the event for future airings. This will be the second time in three years that the show will be broadcast on ESPN. Air dates have not yet been determined but the show will be televised several times throughout the year on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN and ESPN2). Last year’s show was televised on ESPN seven times, including a time slot right before ESPN’s Super Bowl pregame show.  Hours for the Lakeland/Winter Haven Kennel Club all breed dog show are 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Friday and 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event is free, so come out this weekend to The Lakeland Center and be part of the telecast! Chack back here next week for photos from the event.