A TRIBUTE TO CITRUS...WHO CARES...JUST GET ME ON THE WAVE SWINGER!

Having moved to Lakeland nearly three years ago, I had almost forgotten that this is the opening day of the Florida Citrus Festival and Polk County Fair in Winter Haven.

Of course, the Orange Dome will have the usual exhibits of citrus related merchandise and history, and the FFA and 4-H groups will be competing for ribbons. But most folks come to enjoy the carnival rides, musical shows (mostly country but one night for the young folks), and food.

In recent years, the organizers have cut back on the musical talent from B- or C- list national performers to simply local talent. But after an accident on one of the rides last year, they changed the company that was in charge of the carnival shows, and that also means some new rides for visitors to enjoy.

The only real problem with the Festival is that it is crowded into a relatively small area. Organizers tried to move it for a couple of years to an area near Auburndale, but the idea crashed and burned as attendance dropped.significantly. It improved once they moved back to the Chain of Lakes facility in Winter Haven.

But they may be moving again soon, as the City of Winter Haven wants to eventually sell the property which also includes Chain of Lakes Stadium to a developer who would likely turn the area into condos.

The Lakeland Ledger does a Lettermanesque Top 10 list of things to do at the festival.