Libraries in Lakeland and Polk County provide FREE summer activities to keep kids and families engaged all summer long. Summer library programs include a variety of hands-on activities, storytimes, movies, performances, guest speakers, musicians, and more. You can have fun and learn something new, all at the same time at summer library progams near you. All library programs are FREE!
Below you’ll find a list of in-person library activities and story times for Summer 2025. Check directly with your local library for other things to do this summer including Summer Reading Programs, reading rewards, take-home craft kits, and more.
Many library activities have limited space and cannot accommodate daycares, summer camps, or groups. Details are provided below, check directly with the library for any registration requirements. You can also find library programs on our calendar, along with year-round kids and teen activities.
Don’t miss our full list of Summer Reading Programs to learn how kids can earn prizes for tracking their summer reading. We’ve also got a list of 15 places to find free books for kids and adults, and a year round list of Library Storytimes near you.
Summer Library Programs in Polk County:
Hero of Your Story – Polk County Library Cooperative
Join the county-wide “Hero of your Story” scavenger hunt adventure! Complete a heroic challenge to earn a sticker on your adventure map. Collect all 15 stickers to be entered in a raffle for one of 3 Prize Gift Baskets that include tickets to local entertainment and attractions. Pick up an adventure map with instructions at the closest participating library.
Lakeland Public Library – Main Branch
Celebrate summer the Florida way, with sunshine, creativity, and endless fun! Head to the Lakeland Public Library for a variety of summer fun from babies to adults. For a full list of events and to confirm dates/times, visit the Lakeland Library Website.
*Due to limited space and the nature of the events, summer camps, daycares and groups cannot be accommodated.
Summer Kick Off – Friday, May 30 at 10am – Kick off summer with us! Come see Jiggleman perform and pick up your summer reading log. All ages are welcome.
Preschool Storytime (ages 2-5) – Wednesdays at 10am – Lively interactive storytime featuring books, songs, rhymes, crafts and more. For children ages 2-5 and their grown-ups.
Summer STEAM (ages 6-12) – Wednesdays at 3:30pm
Beakers & Books – June 4 & July 2
Wonder Robotics – June 11 & July 9
Kids’ Corner Art – June 18 & July 16
Tech-Know Time – June 25 & July 23
Registration is required and will open one week before the event.
Baby Storytime (ages 2 & under) – Thursdays at 11am (except June 19) – Infant lapsit program featuring books, bounces, rhymes, and fingerplays. Baby Storytime is intended for babies birth-2 years old and their grown-ups.
Florida Fridays – This summer, come get to know the Sunshine State with our Florida Friday events! Each Friday from 10 AM to 12 PM, join us at the Lakeland Public Library for a Florida-themed craft and a variety of fun activities that capture Florida’s vibrant flair:
- June 6: Destination: Space Coast
- June 13: Destination: Daytona International Speedway
- June 20: Destination: St. Augustine
- June 27: Destination: Weeki Wachee
- July 11: Destination: Beaches
- July 18: Destination: Everglades
- July 25: Destination: Theme Parks
Youth Sewing Camp – Spools Out for the Summer (ages 9-13 and 13-17) – multiple sessions – Advance Registration is required.
Lakeland Public Library
100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
Website / Facebook / (863) 834-4280
Larry R. Jackson Branch Library – Lakeland
For a full list of events and to confirm dates/times, visit the Lakeland Library Website.
Touch-A-Truck & Summer Kick-Off Party – Saturday, May 31 from 10am-12pm – Kick-off the summer adventure at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library with unique vehicles including a garbage truck, LFD fire truck, Citrus Connection bus, and PCLC Bookmobile! Enjoy crafts, activities, snacks, and pick up your summer reading log! All ages are welcome.
Monday Fun Days – Let’s have some Florida fun! Join us each Monday at 10 AM at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library as we enjoy crafts and activities themed around the great destinations and landmarks of Florida. Some crafts may get messy, so please wear appropriate clothing! Monday Fun Day is recommended for kids ages 5-13 and their grown-ups:
- June 2: Destination: Space Coast! Meet our friends from the Imperial Polk Astronomical Society
- June 9: Destination: Daytona International Speedway! Meet our friends from City Garage Motorsports
- June 16: Destination: St. Augustine! Meet our friends from Homeland Heritage Park
- June 23: Destination: Weeki Wachee! Meet our friends from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and get your face painted by Princesses and Pirates Face Painting
- June 30: Destination: Dry Tortugas! Meet our friends from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- July 7: Destination: Beaches!
- July 14: Destination: Everglades! Meet our friends from Se7en Wetlands
- July 21: Destination: Theme Parks! Meet your favorite characters with our friends from Costumers with a Cause
Film Fridays – Every Friday from 2-4pm all summer long, enjoy a movie with snacks at the library, each based around our weekly theme. All ages are welcome, no registration required.
LEGO Club (ages 5-17) – We’re kicking LEGO Club into high gear, offering it every Tuesday throughout the summer. Kids and teens ages 5-17 are welcome to take our weekly build challenge and see their creations on display in the library. Either 2 – 4:30 pm or 5 – 6:30pm each week, check calendar for weekly times.
Storytime (ages 2-5) – Thursdays at 10am (June 5, 12, July 3, 10, 17, 24) – Join us for a lively interactive storytime featuring books, songs, rhymes, crafts and more! Storytime is intended for children ages 2-5 and their grown-ups.
Youth Sewing Camp – Spools Out for the Summer (ages 9-13) – multiple sessions – Advance Registration is required.
Jackson Branch Library
1700 N Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33805
Website / Facebook / (863) 834-4288
Kelly Branch Library – Lakeland
Storytime – Join us for a lively interactive storytime featuring books, songs, rhymes, crafts and more! Storytime is intended for children ages 2-5 and their grown-ups. Tuesdays – June 3, 17, July 1, 15 from 10:15-10:45 am.
Kelly Branch Library – Lakeland
404 Imperial Boulevard, Lakeland, Florida 33803
Website / Facebook
Florida Air Museum
While this isn’t a library, the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland hosts an interactive storytime each week during the year and two days a week during the summer – Mondays OR Tuesdays from 10-11am! Each week they dive into interactive learning experiences and bring stories to life for our junior ACEs. Everyone is welcome, though the content is targeted towards our younger aviators, ages 2-5.
Florida Air Museum
4175 Medulla Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811
Website / Facebook
Auburndale Public Library
Weekly events:
Elementary program: Every Wednesday from 10:15 am to 11:30 am
Preschool program: Every Thursday starting at 10:30 am
Teen program (ages 11-17): Every Tuesday starting at 1:00 pm
Special events:
Thursday, June 19, 2:00 pm – Menestrelli Circus Dog Show
Thursday, July 10, 2:00 pm – Mr. Tommy’s & Gigi’s Musical Show
Thursday, July 17, 2:00 pm – Big Idea Entertainment Magic Show
All special events are hosted at the Auburndale Civic Center.
Check with the library for details on summer programs.
Auburndale Public Library
100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
Website / (863) 965-5548
Bartow Public Library
Super Summer Shows – Bartow Civic Center Auditorium, 10 AM:
- Comedy Magician Cesar Domico – Wednesday, June 11
- Reactory Factory – Wednesday, June 25
- GiGi the Clown – Wednesday, July 9
- Orisirisi African Folklore – Wednesday, July 23
More Summer Fun:
- Summer at the Library Kick Off Party – Thursday, June 5th, 2 to 3 PM
- Touch-a-Plane + Aviation Storytime – Wednesday, June 18, 10-11 AM
- Family Escape Room: Experiment 626 – Saturday, June 21, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM (Registration required)
- Peter Raymundo, Author & Illustrator – Wednesday, July 16, 10 AM-12 PM (Bartow Civic Center)
- Family Escape Room: Night at the Art Museum – Friday, July 25, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM (Registration required)
- Goodbye Summer Party – Saturday, August 2, 2-3 PM
Summer Storytime beginning June 5:
- Ages 18 months – 2 years on Thursdays from 10 – 10:30 AM. Book Babies includes Nursery Rhymes, music, fingerplays and bubbles.
- Ages 3-5 on Thursdays at 11am. Stories, music, fingerplays, and short film adaptions of children’s books.
Plus other single day programs throughout the summer. Check the Bartow Library website for a full list of summer events!
Bartow Public Library
2150 S. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
Website / Facebook / 863-534-0131
Davenport – Polk County Library Cooperative
Check with the library for summer programs.
Peter Rust Civic Center
5 S Allapaha Ave, Davenport, FL 33837
Website
Dundee Public Library
Check with the library for summer programs.
Dundee Public Library
202 E. Main Street, Dundee, FL 33838
Website / 863-439-9424
Latt Maxcy Memorial Library – Frostproof
Check with the library for summer programs.
Latt Maxcy Memorial Library
15 N. Magnolia Avenue, Frostproof, FL 33843
Facebook / (863) 635-7857
Haines City Public Library
Programs include Storytime, Toddler Time, Elementary activities, Teen Movies and Teens Video Games, and more. Check the calendar for a full list of events.
**The Lake Eva Water Park in Haines City opens at noon – make a day of it and attend a library program then head to the pool.**
Haines City Public Library
111 North 6th Street, Haines City, FL 33844
Website / Facebook / 863-421-3633
Lake Alfred Public Library
Check with the Lake Alfred Library for summer programs.
Lake Alfred Public Library
245 N. Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL 33850
Website / 863-291-5378
Lake Wales Public Library
Summer Reading Kickoff Party – Florida Foam Factory – June 12, 2025, 10:30 AM
Park across the street from the library (at the gazebo). Wear clothes you can get wet + bring a towel. Pick up your summer reading log
Arts Color Our World – The Lake Wales Library will host Summer Programs on Thursdays at 10:30am at Candlelight Christian Academy – 209 E Sessoms Ave:
- June 12 – Florida Foam Factory
- June 19 – Gatorland
- June 26 – Storyteller Tamara Green
- July 3 – Giving Tree Drums
- July 10 – Mad Science of Central Florida
- July 17 – Touch a Truck with Kona Ice + Book Bridge Bus (10:30–11:30 AM)
More Library Events (held at Lake Wales Public Library)
- Family Night – Tuesday, June 17, 5:00–6:30 PM (Lake Wales Arts Center)
- Toddler Rave – Monday, June 23, 5:00–6:30 PM (Ages 3–4)
- Baby Rave – Tuesday, June 24, 10:00–11:30 AM (Ages 0–3)
- Family Game Day – Mondays (All Day)
- Pokémon Card Game Play & Trading – Tuesdays, 4:00–5:00 PM (Ages 12 and under)
- Wiggles & Giggles Toddler Storytime – Tuesdays, 11:00 AM
- Library Day at the Lake Wales Little Theatre – Saturday, July 12, 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Visit the Library’s Website or Facebook Page for a full list of summer events including teen programming.
Lake Wales Public Library
290 Cypress Garden Lane, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Website / Facebook / (863) 678-4004
Mulberry Public Library
- Summer Programs – Join the Mulberry Library on Thursdays at 10:30amam for interactive, fun filled programs designed for elementary-age kids. Programs are held in the Mulberry Civic Center, located in the same building as the library. A description of each week’s activity can be found on the Mulberry Library calendar.
- Summer Events for Tweens and Teens – Tuesdays at 10am and Wednesdays at 1:30 PM – see calendar for events
- Preschool Story Time – Every Wednesday at 10 AM. Fun Stories, Songs, and More! Ages 5 and under. FREE Program, no registration required. Held in the Mulberry Civic Center upstairs from the library.
All events are first come, first served – no registration required but seating may be limited. The Mulberry Library also hosts activities for teens and tweens, Pokemon Club, and more. Check the calendar for upcoming events.
Mulberry Public Library
905 NE 5th, Mulberry, FL 33860
Website / Facebook / 863-425-3246
Polk City Community Library
Join the Polk City Community Library for summer events and reading programs! Six weeks of awesome performers, movies, crafts, and activities. Check the Facebook page for updates or stop by the library for a summer schedule.
Polk City Community Library
215 S. Bougainvillea Avenue, Polk City, FL 33868
Website / Facebook / 863 984-4340
Winter Haven Public Library
Little Sprouts Summer Story Time – Ages 2–6
Tuesdays: 9:00 and 10:30 AM
Wednesdays: 10:30 AM
Registration opens every Thursday for the upcoming week
No camps or groups
STEAM Fridays at 2pm – Ages 7–12:
- June 6 – Adventure of the Missing Color
- June 13 – Light and Color Experiments
- June 20 – Juggling and Illusions
- June 27 – Coding with Dot and Dash
- July 11 – Tie-Dye with Kitchen Scraps
- July 18 – Watercolor Painting
- July 25 – Ice Cream Science
Registration opens at 2 PM the Friday before each program
No camps or groups
Curated Summer Events:
- June 7 – Art Heist Escape Room (Ages 8+, 10 AM to 4 PM time slots)
- June 9 or June 27 – Family Mystery Bag Challenge, 10 AM
- June 16 and July 21 – Career Cosplay: The Arts (Ages 10 to 14), 4 PM
- July 25 – Kid Rave – Ages 5 and under: 10 AM / Ages 6 and up: 11 AM
- Thursdays in July, 2 PM – Teen Photography Class (Ages 13+)
Registration required (typically 1 week prior – visit library website for details)
Visit the library calendar or FB Page for additional summer events.
Winter Haven Public Library
325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Website / Facebook / 863-291-5880
Library Programs by Date
TIP – Use the filter button to see events at a specific library. Use the arrow to see next month.
Please keep in mind that we may not have all library events listed on our calendar, check directly with your library for a full list of upcoming events.
Summer Fun Guide
Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Summer Fun for Summer Camps, Things to Do Around Lakeland, Things to Do at Home, Open Playgrounds, Places to Play Outdoors, FREE Bowling, Swim Lessons, 4th of July Events, Reading programs, Online Camps, and much more!
