Lake Placid is known as the Caladium Capital of the World. Ninety-eight percent of the world's…read morecaladium bulbs are grown in Lake Placid. Although native to South America, caladiums are popular house plants that are easily propagated from tubers, or bulbs. Ninety-eight percent of the world's tubers are grown in Lake Placid on fourteen caladium farms. To celebrate the importance of caladiums to the Lake Placid economy, an annual festival is held late July. This year was the 34th annual Caladium Festival. I always wanted to attend so I am happy I made it happen this year. It was worth the drive to take part in this charming celebration. The festival is held over three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A car show is held in nearby Devane Park on Saturday. The main events of the Caladium Festival take place in Stuart Park. There is plenty of free parking in a field next to the park. In Stuart Park you will find artisan tents, food, live entertainment, and of course caladiums for sale along with other kinds of plants. Do not miss the Elk tent for their popular strawberry shortcake ice cream dessert. For only $6 it benefits their children's charity. The Masonic Lodge sells fried catfish and the Knights of Columbus make pulled pork. There are other tents and trucks selling every kind of food you can imagine not to mention all of the nearby cafe's, restaurants, and coffee and ice cream shops which will also have food and drinks for sale. A highlight of the festival is shopping for caladiums at the numerous tents in Stuart Park. Before this festival I really never gave much thought to caladiums but I was impressed with how pretty they are and how many different shades of pink and red they came in. They make attractive and hardy house plants and ground cover for the garden. Other items I saw for sale included tropical wine, local honey, clothes, accessories, jewelry, and art. Almost of all of the area businesses were also selling caladium themed merchandise. The festival also has a floral arrangement competition sponsored by The Lake Placid Garden Club, a Caladium Festival art competition, and the Tiny and Little Miss Caladium Festival Pageant. For $18 you can purchase a bus ticket from the Women's Club and take an hour long tour of the caladium farms. Throughout the festival there is live entertainment on the stage in Stuart Park. It was really hot throughout the day and Advent Health was on hand with free cold water, cooling towels and backpacks, and a cooling off misting area. Other stops I made during the festival which I really enjoyed were to the Lake Placid Historical Society and Museum where I took in a little town history and enjoyed a complimentary cold water and to the Caladium Arts and Crafts Cooperative where I shopped local artisans. Of course I couldn't help but admire all of the murals in the downtown that gave Lake Placid its other nickname, Town of Murals. If you are thinking about attending this festival, do it! The folks of Lake Placid are some of the friendliest you will meet in Florida.

Lake Placid, Florida is the caladium capital of the world, and every year they have a festival to…read morecelebrate. This year, 2021, was the festival's 30th year, and my first time attending. The festival ran from 9 am - 4 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am - 3 pm on Sunday. In addition to the Arts and Crafts Show and Plant Show which ran all three days, they also had a Car & Bike show on Saturday. You were encouraged to buy bus tickets at the show to tour the nearby caladium farms, but we did not do this. Parking was easy because we arrived early. The first thing we did was go the closest tent to buy caladiums. I bought a flat of 10 different caladium plants for $24, which is dirt cheap. I was thrilled that there was also cactus vendor, and ended up buying a few succulents, also at outstanding prices. I went home with a new bromeliad too - I can't say no when it comes to cool plants. The festival was much larger than I expected it to be, with a nice assortment of craft vendors selling a variety of products. When the heat became too much, we went inside a nearby building to vote on our favorite piece of caladium art, and caladium plant display. I love that the church was handing out ice water, and there was a water truck you could refill your water bottle at. There were plenty of food vendors, and the fresh fruit mix vendor was perfect for this steamy day. Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen if you go; while there were a few shade tents set up to eat at, and listen to the live assortment of musical acts, it was broiling outside. A great time was had by all, and we will definitely be back next year.

I can't believe I missed reviewing this place! Several years ago, I moved down to Florida to take…read morecare of my elderly mother. About once a month she would decree she wanted to play Bingo so off we went to this joint with the dutiful son pushing the wheelchair! Arriving- They are on Main Street in a tiny plaza 200 yards off US 27 North. On popular days attendees monopolize all the parking places much to the dismay of the neighboring pizza place! On those days, parking can be a challenge! They are open most every day. Ambience- Wild and crazy, mostly elderly folks having a great time and occasionally screaming BINGO like they just won a new lease on life. A sprinkling of sons and daughters like me looking like they'd rather be sent to the 7th level of hell or maybe they were there already! They don't call it a Bingo Hall for nothing because it's just a big room with tables and chairs and of course the caller's station. There is a kitchen with food, mostly fried, and drinks available for purchase. It's strictly non-smoking and every so often they call a smoke break where the addicted stagger outside for their fix. Cost- It's hard to tell. It's like a casino. There are all kinds of different Bingo games, single and multiple jackpots, progressive games, games with crazy rules etc. I'd make sure my mother had $25 cash in her purse, and she could play for hours and have the occasional drink and snack without taking out a 2nd mortgage! Customer Service- Sometimes the elderly need a little help, especially the games with non-standard rules. These folks were wonderful! It is what it is. Some people will yell that it's gambling and treat it like it's an illegal drug, but I say it's a wonderful diversion for folks that are finishing up their life. Sadly, my mother passed away but wherever she is, maybe there is a Bingo Hall!

Great place to play bingo for an afternoon or evening. They play paper and have computer machines…read more We played both, being from Lakeland, didn't want to drive home at night so played the matinee game on Sunday. We had fun, won a little, great people. If we were to go again we'd go for the evening game. I think they are closed on Monday, but open rest of week with matinee on Wednesday and Sunday.

Even though I was the only customer at the bar today, this was a very pleasant stop on my way to…read moreSebring. There's a laid back vibe, set back from the road and we're out in the middle of nowhere, a dozen miles from Sebring and/or Lake Placid. But don't fret! Distilling their own rum, vodka, gin and moonshine, there's something here for anyone who enjoys a boozy drink. They have a nice wrap around bar and a music stage with plenty of parking. I let the bartender make a recommendation and I ended up with a big cup of their "electric lemonade" which was a mix of their lemon-flavored vodka and lemonade. A perfect drink on a warm and sunny spring afternoon. Look out for the house cats. The grey one wanted all of my attention. [Round number review 2100 in Florida - 457 of 2025 - 24019 overall]

My wife and I visited last week during a dj event and it was enjoyable. They had karaoke during…read morethis time as well and there were the same regulars singing their hearts out. Tina and another girl, who would not give us her name, and who really was a snooty type, were at the outside bar. Tina was very informative about the product, seemed knowledgeable and interested in selling the product. We tasted a few of the distillery offerings but nothing really stood out for me to bring home with me. The outside venue was nice, had a heater going since it was a bit cool, and seeing a lot of the same folks out and about is always a nice treat. Personally I would not drive further than I had to visit the place, but it is a local distillery and supporting locals is really a good thing

This was a first visit for my son and myself. Seats were good, acoustic's were great, we loved the…read moresnacks and drinks, and the event staff were friendly. 11.03.2025

We love the rodeo!!! This is our second time attending Arcadia Rodeos. We highly recommend coming…read moreout to see these talented individuals.

While it may seem like a quaint old hotel, it is desperate need of some work. We were told at…read morecheck in that half the hotel are college dorm rooms and the other hotel rooms. The rooms are old, outdated, and dirty. The bathroom was absolutely disgusting. The elevator can only be run by the hotel staff. The closet appeared to be shared by adjacent room. I guess that is why it had a lock on it. No TV in the bedroom and very limited outlets.

This is a review of the locally famous ACE weekday lunch buffet. Other aspects of the hotel are…read morecovered in other reviews. If you enjoy a great buffet lunch, read on! Arriving- The Jacaranda is on Main Street so finding it is a snap. There is street parking in the front and a large parking lot behind the hotel. Availability- The ACE lunch buffet is only weekdays and only when the snowbirds are here. The remainder of the year, lunch reverts to menu-based. Check the website for availability if you're worried. Ambience- Very, very, very nice. Some folks say elegant. Two large dining rooms. See my picture. It's so nice you might worry about the $$ but don't fret! More about that later. Adult Libations- Sorry, not here. If you are dying for an adult drink, there is a great bar seconds away. Have a great lunch here and then head over as many folks do. Just Yelp it. Customer Service- I've visited many times and never had a problem. They serve most drinks by the carafe here and leave it on the table which is much appreciated by many folks. You pay on your way out at a desk in the hotel lobby. Pricing- It's currently $17.50 for soup, salad, multiple hot entrees, dessert, and drinks. And of course it's ACE. Food- The food is stick to your ribs comfort food. There are basically five stations. 1. Pick up your warm rolls and butter here. 2. Today's homemade soup which varies, and I love most of them. 3. A fresh, beautifully maintained salad bar. See my picture. 4. Hot entrees and sides which are different every day. On my last visit I zeroed in on sliced pork tenderloin which was excellent. Note that they almost always have fried chicken as one of the entrees. 5. Dessert. There is a substantial display, but I never make it there as I'm already stuffed! So a four star, sit down, ACE lunch in a beautiful atmosphere for less than twenty bucks! Sound good? You bet!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read two reviews. Read Ariel W's and especially…read moreperuse her photos. As a five-year resident of this teeny tiny town, I'll add to hers and here are my additions- * The pavilions are a big draw as they have nice big canopies for shade and sturdy picnic tables. Each has its own trash bin a few feet away. That's nice but they are fly and hornet magnets! Just sayin- * Because of the adjacent playground, birthday parties are common. Expect a bunch of rug rats to be running around. * This is a no pets park except for service animals of course. There is minimal chance you will step in something horrendous with your bare feet. * It's nicely lit at night so it's a nice place to enjoy the cool of the evening. * If you enjoy alcohol, as long as you wrap your can, you know what I mean, nobody with bother you. * This is rural Florida and everyone with half a brain knows every lake has gators! The beach is nice and if you swim during the day the chances of even seeing one is minuscule! If you decide to take a swim at night with an open wound, well, you didn't really need four appendages, did you?

Donaldson Park is located on East Main Street close to downtown. There are shady oaks, picnic…read morepavilions with tables, and a playground. During my visit there was birthday party in one of the pavilions. Donaldson Park sits on the shores of Lake Verona and there is a beach for swimming. I have always heard that if you swim in lakes in Florida you can get the brain eating Naegleria fowleri amoeba. When water gets up your nose it travels to your brain which is almost always fatal. There have been 37 reported cases in Florida since 1962. Peak times to get it are July through September. I am not sure if they test the water here or if people are just careful not to submerge their heads in the water. Although I grew up swimming in lakes in New Jersey, this is the first time I have seen a swimming beach on a Florida lake. Also noteworthy is the dinosaur skeleton on the beach. It features heavily in promotional pictures for Avon Park. The park is used by the City of Avon Park for events like the Blueberry Festival and Christmas in the Park. The beach looked inviting but I am just not sure how safe it is to swim here.

Really very nice museum. It's small but still lots to see. Has two parts, baseball and then old…read morehistory. Local stuff and famous.

There are thousands of little museums like this across the country and each one is designed to give…read moreyou a taste of life in the past of whatever little town it is in! I stopped in and found it was staffed by three wonderful ladies whose average age seemed like 150. LOL! Of course, this was by design as they were all born in my little town and had lived much of the history! They were fountains of knowledge and a pleasure to chat with. I spent a pleasant hour perusing the displays and learning about the past. Who knew that in the late 1800s my little town was known for its pineapple production! That's right, pineapples growing commercially in Central Florida. Go figure! This is a free museum with limited hours Wednesday through Friday! If you are a history buff or just want to while away an hour in the heat of a Florida day, this can be a pleasant little excursion.

I cannot begin to express the beauty of Florida Barn Wedding and Events! Pictures do NOT do justice…read moreto this Florida gem. The owners Betsy and Randall are PHENOMENAL to say the least. From the moment we arrived to begin set up for rehearsal they were so gracious and accommodating. We almost got rained out by a tropical storm and they helped us find every option on the planet to accommodate our brides dream wedding. They were never intrusive and bent over backwards to help us realize our vision. The venue is stunning! From the amazing bridal suite to the grooms area and overnight guest rooms upstairs, the sprawling oaks, horses in the background, barn stalls for our catering and bar, massive covered reception area, fully landscaped cocktail hour and dance area, I could go on and on. This area is so blessed to have this hidden treasure located in the tri county area with such amazing hosts. We cannot thank you or rave about this place enough!! I traveled all the way from Atlanta and was blown away by the beauty and grace of this venue.The owner's kindness and generosity to helping our families dream wedding come to fruition was top notch to say the least!