This year was the 50th anniversary of the Bloomin' Arts Festival. The shows name comes from the…read morecolorful azaIeas blooming throughout town. There are flowers that top all of the street signs adding to the blooming theme. I always wanted to explore Bartow and the festival gave me the perfect reason to finally come to town to check historic Bartow out. The festival is held the first weekend of March every year. Main Street is shut down and tents are set up along the street. The Bloomin' Arts Festival is staged by the Bartow Art Guild and run by volunteers. The show is juried and they offer awards totaling $12,000. It attracts artists from all over the country. Surrounding the festival is free attractions including an antique car show, Bloomin' Bike Ride, flower show, a quilt show at the free history museum located in the historic courthouse, student art show, kids art/face painting tent, Sunday afternoon Free Concert, and food trucks. Parking is free. It was drizzling while I visited the show but a little rain couldn't ruin the fun. The DJ had a sense of humor as he played every song you could think of that mentioned rain in it's lyrics. I enjoyed browsing the many tents filled with paintings, glass, sculpture, jewelry, leather, mixed media, photography,  wood, ceramics, fiber, and fine crafts. I also visited the museum and enjoyed shopping at the many cute and unique shops, many of which were offering specials sales to coincide with the show. There are so many great places to eat in addition to the food trucks. A tip I learned from visiting the festival is that they set up port a potties on the street but you can use the nearby and much more pleasant restrooms at the history museum. I loved my visit to this festival and Bartow has some beautiful architecture. I adore Old Florida towns. If you missed the art festival they stage an annual sidewalk chalk festival in October.

The Lake Wales History Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. It is free to…read morethe public. The mission of the Museum is to collect , share and preserve the heritage of Lake Wales. The museum is located inside of the 1928 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station. In addition to exhibits that change periodically there are a few railroad cars and fire trucks on display. From January to May 2021 the museum will display its collection of modern quilts and artwork. There are several different opportunities to support or volunteer to assist this great cause.

Love museum featuring the history of Lake Wales. Interesting artifacts and information throughout…read morethe museum. The man at the front was very nice. It was just myself and my mother, so it was nice having the place to ourselves. Would definitely come again!!

I have wanted to go to this yard sale event along the Scenic Highway for a few years now but it is…read morequite a distance from where I live. It required the commitment of leaving my house at 5 AM to make it to the first stop closest to me, Frostproof by 8 AM. This was the year I finally made it. The sale is always held the first Saturday in November and attracts thousands of people. It takes place from 8Am to 3 PM. The sale is sponsored by Ridge Scenic Highway Corridor, Corridor Management Entity, City of Lake Wales, Frostproof Chamber of Commerce, Lake Wales Woman's Club, Lake of the Hills Community Club, Town of Lake Hamilton, Dundee Methodist Church, and the City of Frostproof. These civic, religious, and non profit groups have been working together since 2007 to promote tourism along the Lake Wales Ridge. While you shop at the sale you can also dine at local restaurants and shop at businesses. While I pretty much stuck to the sale it was hard not to get sidetracked by some of the places I have always wanted to visit. I got to visit a few on this trip in addition to reaching each of the official sale stops. The sale runs along the Lake Wales Ridge and extends 38.7 miles from its intersection with US 27 S of Frostproof to where it intersects with US 17/92 in Haines City. There are five official locations for the sale. These are downtown Frostproof, Lake Wales at the Woman's Club, Lake of the Hills at the Community Clubhouse, Dundee at the Methodist Church, and Lake Hamilton at the Town Hall grounds. In between the official stops are many other unofficial sales. It would be impossible to stop at every sale in one day. Along the route are a number of cultural and historical sites along with lakes, natural areas, citrus groves, and unique Florida attractions. The first stop in Frostproof was the perfect way to start the sale. I loved shopping among the historic buildings of Frostproof. I got coffee with Mr. Chris in a historic train depot and visited the friendly folks at the Chamber of Commerce. I love how this sale introduced me to the beautiful Lake Wales Ridge. There is still so much more I want to explore.

I just left Mary's Bead Studio and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. There is a large and…read morevaried supply of beads to select from. Everything for the novice to the advanced beader. I signed up to come back for a class. Mary helped me to select colors for my bracelet. She was extremely patient and very knowledgeable. I can't wait to go back for my class!

Nice bead store for jewelry-making enthusiasts. Full service, complete with quality beads, nice…read moreclasps & tools. Prices reasonable. Friendly, well-experienced & talented beader leaders. We left with almost $100 in goods for our long drive! They were very helpful (and we'll be very busy. ha) They have a small barking dog inside and welcomed beaders with dogs inside, a bit distracting-impedes the shopping experience for non dog-lovers and those with allergies. 7/2018. I received a private msg that the dog issues left with the former owner. However, it is a serious concern that reviews on this page are written by people related to this business, not permitted under YELP rules. Question the overall rating. They are good enough to get the ratings using the rules.

This is the sweetest little plant nursery in downtown Frostproof. I spotted it on my way to the 39…read moreMile Scenic Highway Yard Sale and it was so cute that I had to stop. I met the owners very welcoming mother outside and she ushered me in and gave me a tour. Road to Eden sells plants, containers, soil, mulch, tools, fertilizer, and accessories. They even sell live rabbits and quails. It looks like it was a former house and the rooms are invitingly set up with house plants, gifts, a fish pond, and a complimentary coffee station. I especially loved the $3 fairy pots and the $5 succulents. In the front of the house are adorable scarecrows and hay bales that would make a great photo opportunity for pictures. Road to Eden just opened and is a wonderful addition to Frostproof. They plan on adding events soon. In the back yard where I chatted with the lovely owner are larger outdoor plants for sale. You can get really personalized attention here and have all your plant questions answered. I loved my visit to this family owned business. Come check them out and support them.

Absolutely adorable organic beauty and cosmetics store hidden in the Lake Wales historic district…read more Rafa Natural is absolutely adorable and they even have their own personalized scent for Lake Wales, modeled after Bok Towers! We definitely bought some. Rafa Natural has candles, lotion, scrubs, and soaps to choose from. They also have the most adorable little trinkets and home items from mugs, weekenders, plates and jewelry holders, and cosmetics bags! This is one of the cutest stores ever. I would describe Rafa Natural as a mix between Lush and Francesca's, but it boasts local charm as it supports local artisans in the crafts and trinkets they sell. I'm aware there are other locations in Lake Worth, but I have yet to visit! I am really excited to come back here and buy gifts for my guests when they come to visit.

Love the selection. Great to browse if you have the time, or to enquire about a particular authors…read morebooks. Not as cheap as a thrift store, but it's another haven to check out if you love reading.

Absolute treasure trove of amazing books! Highly recommend to anyone who loves to read! Come here…read morebefore you head to Amazon or thriftbook for your next read.

Cute indoor museum for small kids. Each section had a good amount of things for small kids to…read moreexplore. Not only did my 10 month old love crawling around but my 17 year old son and husband enjoyed the puzzles and building areas. I enjoyed the little mini Publix area. If in the area it's a good place to escape the heat!

Great place nice people! It's temporarily in lakeshore mall…read more My kids really enjoyed themselves!