Benefit for Bailee
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Triple Canopy Ranch – Lake Wales
-Sky Powersports and Triple Canopy Ranch are holding an ATV weekend fundraiser to help with Bailee Kent’s medical expenses.
-The three-day event will feature live entertainment from several artists, a corn-hole tournament, activities, bonfires, raffles, prizes, and an auction along with swamp buggy rides, monster truck rides and ATV Demo rides.
-All proceeds will be donated to Bailee Kent, 18 year old Webber student who recently suffered a massive stroke.

Body Bar Women’s National Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-The 2012 Body Bar Women’s National Championships features freestyle competition for five (5) separate age groups: Girls Division I, Girls Division II, Schoolgirls, FILA Cadet and FILA Junior.
-Winners become members of the USA Wrestling Team and go on to represent the United States in the World Championship. Over 400 wrestlers are expected to compete in this tournament.

Florida Orange Blossom Table Tennis Series Spring Classic
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Saturday, May 12
Venue: Lakeland
-Sanctioned by the United States Sandpaper Table Tennis Association and the Lakeland Table Tennis Association Table Tennis.

Florida Suncoast Sports – Florida State Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
-Baseball teams from all over the state will be coming to the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale to compete in the Florida State Championship.

Freestyle Greco State Championship
Dates: Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-This state championship will consist of elite competitors from across the state of Florida coming to wrestle in two different styles: Freestyle & Greco.
-Wrestlers will compete for the chance to wrestle at Nationals.

Auburndale Hoops – Polk Pride Challenge
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13
Venues: Polk State College, Florida Southern College
-This boys basketball tournament is a YBOA sponsored event that will be played at basketball gyms across the county including Polk State College in Winter Haven and Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

Mayfaire by-the-Lake
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13; 6:30pm–8:30pm
Venue: Lakeland
-The 41st annual Polk Museum of Art MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2012. Mayfaire is a free community weekend that features children’s art activities, musical performances and food, all centered around beautiful, award-winning art.

Mayfaire Saturday Night
Date: Saturday, May 12; 5pm–11pm
Venue: Lake Mirror Promenade – Lakeland
-A free street party at the Lake Mirror Promenade featuring live music and fireworks.

Youth Summer Slam
Dates: Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13
Venue: Bartow Park
-This ISA qualifying tournament is expecting to bring in over 600 softball players to the Bartow Softball Complex.

Upcoming Events:

Ironman 70.3 Florida – May 19-May 20 (Lake Eva Park-Haines City)

Carillon Classic 5k Run/Walk – May 26 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Legends & Legacies- Reflections of Vietnam – June 8-9 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Florida’s Sunshine State Games: Polk County Festival – June 15-17 & 23-24

Red, Brick & Boom – July 4 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Polk NatureFest – October 4-7 (locations across Polk County)

Brick-or-Treat – October- Saturdays & Sundays (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Legends & Legacies- Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival – October 12-13 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Go LEGOLAND – It’s Your Birthday – October 15 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Lakeland Raiders vs. Rome Rampage
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: The Lakeland Center
-The Raiders’ 2012 season consists of seven home games at The Lakeland Center.
-Kick-off for all home games will be 7:15pm.
-Single Game Ticket Prices:
Club Level: $25 Adult, $18 Child
Side Line: $18 Adult, $9 Child
Red Zone: $12 Adult, $7 Child

Eagle Lake BBQ Festival
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Gazebo Park (off Hwy 17) – Eagle Lake
-Enjoy the best local barbeque at this pro-team /backyard BBQ competition along with all-day live music, children’s activities and free parking and admission.
-The Festival proceeds will benefit Lake Region High School Athletics.

Urban Mountain Bike Criterium & Street 2x/Speed Trials 
Date: Saturday, April 28
Venue: Downtown Lake Mirror
- Red Trail Racing Inc. brings the Urban MTB Crit & Street 2x/Speed Trials to Lakeland Saturday.
-Classes for the race are listed at CentralFloridaSports.com.
-There must be a minimum of four per class or both will combine for an open class.

Youth Flowers for Moms
Dates: Saturday, April 28 — Sunday, April 29
Venue: Bartow 555 Complex
-This is an Independent Softball Association qualifying tournament that is expected to bring in over 500 softball players.

2012 Home School World Series
Dates: Sunday, April 29 — Sunday, May 6
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
-The Series will bring in 28 baseball teams and over 1000 spectators to Polk County.
-The Homeschool World Series Association (HWSA) is a nonprofit corporation that endeavors to promote and coordinate high school (varsity level) baseball competition among homeschool students throughout North America in a distinctly Christian environment.

NSA Summer Slam
Dates: Sunday, April 29 — Monday, April 30
Venue: Auburndale Softball Complex
-This Adult Softball Tournament is expected to bring 25 teams to the area.

Upcoming Events:

Legends & Legacies- D-Day Invasion of Normandy – May 11-12 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Ironman 70.3 Florida – May 19-May 20 (Lake Eva Park-Haines City)

Carillon Classic 5k Run/Walk – May 26 (Bok Tower Gardens-Lake Wales)

Legends & Legacies- Reflections of Vietnam – June 8-9 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Florida’s Sunshine State Games: Polk County Festival – June 15-17 & 23-24

Red, Brick & Boom – July 4 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Polk NatureFest – October 4-7 (locations across Polk County)

Brick-or-Treat – October- Saturdays & Sundays (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

Legends & Legacies- Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival – October 12-13 (Fantasy of Flight-Polk City)

Go LEGOLAND – It’s Your Birthday – October 15 (LEGOLAND® Florida – Winter Haven)

As kickoff drew nearer the fans got more and more rowdy in their Raiders T’s and rowdy towels in hand. Surely enough the crowd was pleased as the Raiders wasted no time scoring their first touchdown of the game. And this wouldn’t be the only one, the Raiders continued to score touchdown after touchdown beating their competitors 63-24.

Fans were pleased with every aspect of the show as giveaways, on field games and prizes were nothing short of plentiful to get this season started. The Raiders dominated in every aspect of the game including their offense, defense, special teams and coaching. They will be a force to be reckoned with this season!

If you want to be a part of the Lakeland Raiders insanity, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or tune into Polk County Sports Marketing’s “Sports Central” radio show every Thursday from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Lakeland’s WLKF 1430 AM for a chance to win a pack of 4 tickets each home game week!

The Lakeland Raiders vs. Mississippi Hound Dogs game begins at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 17th. We hope to see you there!

Events to look forward to throughout the day include:

• Free Raiders Inaugural Season Posters to first 1,500 Fans
• Coaches and Player pictures and autograph signings
• Fan Fest Season Ticket Specials
• Kids Zone, Games, Face Painting
• Giveaways All Day Long
• Fan Contests
• Meet and Greet with Coaches, Players and Dancers
• See Live Football Drills
• Raiders4Kids Youth Teams And Junior Dancer Sign Ups
• Drink and Food Specials
• Raiders 2012 Merchandise on Sale
• Try Out to Sing the National Anthem
• Try Out To Be The Voice of the Raiders
• 2012 Raiders Model Search Sign Ups

This event is completely free to everyone so come out and enjoy food, football, and get an inside look at the newest team in the United Indoor Football League. Don’t forget to check out the home game schedule and be the first to get your tickets at www.lakelandraiders.com.

Independent Softball Association (ISA) Adult D State Champions
Dates: 7/24 – 7/25
Venue: Diamond Plex – Winter Haven, Auburndale Softball Complex – Auburndale
- The ISA Adult D State Champions will bring in over 200 participants and over 400 spectators to Polk County.
- For more information on this event check out www.isasofbtall.com or visit www.centralfloridasports.com

United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) – Baseball
Date: 7/7 – 7/11
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
- This USSSA Baseball event will host 25 teams and will bring in over 350 spectators to Polk County.
- For more information on this event check out www.centralfloridasports.com www.usssabaseball.org 

US Chung Do Kwan National Championships – Martial Arts
Dates: 7/8 – 7/10
Venue: Lake Eva, Haines City
- The US Chung Do Kwan National Championships will bring into Polk County 500 participants and 700 spectators.
- For more information please visit www.uscdka.com or www.centralfloridasports.com

Southern Trophy Hunters Big Buck Expo
Dates: 7/9 – 7/11
Venue: The Lakeland Center – Lakeland
- The Southern Trophy Hunters Expo will host show features such as Equip 2 Conceal Firearms Courses, Hunt Church with Randall Myers, Flint Knapping & Primitive Archery with Billy Berger, and Muzzy Hunting Camp Backwoods Adventures. The event will bring in over 550 participants and over 3500 spectators to Polk County.
- For more information please visit www.thelakelandcenter.com  and for local sporting events and news check out www.centralfloridasports.com

Independent Softball Association (ISA) Youth World Warm Up
Dates: 7/10 – 7/11
Venue: Christina Park – Lakeland
- The Youth World Warm Up will bring in over 600 participants and 250 spectators to Polk County for a two day event.
- For more information on this event please visit www.isasofbtall.com or check out www.centralfloridasports.com

Five Star Girls Team Classic – Basketball
Dates: 6/18 – 6/20
Venue: Polk State College – Winter Haven
- This event will bring in over 500 participants and 300 spectators to Polk County.
- For more information check out www.centralfloridasports.com  www.five-stargirlsbasketball.com

The rodeo will also take to the streets of downtown Lakeland once again with a parade that will feature cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle and decorated floats parading through the streets of downtown Lakeland starting at the corner of Bay Street and Tennessee Avenue continuing south on Tennessee to Lemon Street, turning right (west), crossing South Florida Avenue and arriving at rodeo headquarters, The Lakeland Center. Sheriff Grady Judd will be the Grand Marshall. Parade attendees are invited to The Lakeland Center Box Office immediately following the parade for a free Rootin’ Tootin’ Root Beer Festival with refreshments and family fun from 11am-1pm. Ticket purchasers will receive a special Buy One/Get One Free ticket discount from 11am-1pm. The Box Office will be open for ticket purchases from 10:00am-1:00pm.

To find out more about all the rodeo weekend happenings or to get tickets, check out The Lakeland Center website.

Florida Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Fall Classic – Baseball
Dates: 11/20 – 11/22
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Complex
- AAU will be hosting 30 teams for this two day baseball tournament. Teams ranging from 13 – 18 years old will complete in this fall classic
- For more information on this events please visit www.sunshinesports.net and for local sporting events and news check out www.centralfloridasports.com

Independent Softball Association (ISA) Miken Fall Classic
Dates: 11/21 – 11/22
Venue: Auburndale Softball Complex
- ISA softball will bring 25 teams to the Polk County for this two day tournament
- For more information on this event or other ISA events please visit www.isaflorida.com and for local sporting events and news please visit www.centralfloridasports.com

Florida United Lacrosse Cup Championships
Dates: 11/21 – 11/22
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Complex
- This event will bring 30 teams from across the state for the Florida United Lacrosse Cup Championships. Teams will compete in two days of Lacrosse action
- For more information on this events and other Florida United Lacrosse events please visit www.flunitedlax.com and for local events and sporting news check out www.centralfloridasports.com

ISA Adult D States
Dates: 7/17 – 7/19
Venue: Bartow 555 Softball Complex
- The ISA event will bring 750 participants and over 400 spectators to Polk County
- For more information on ISA events check out www.isasoftball.com and www.centralfloridasports.com

Chung Do Kwan National Championships
Dates: 7/18 – 7/19
Venue: Lakeland Center
- The Chung Do Kwan National Championships will bring in 500 competitors and their families for this two day martial arts event
- For more information on Chung Do Kwan check out www.uscdka.com and www.centralfloridasports.com