Lakeland FL

One of Florida's strangest and most beloved historic homes is in Polk County – and open for the holidays. FOX 13 Photojournalist Mike Hughes reports.

TAMPA, Fla. – Residents waking up to gifts under the tree this morning are getting an extra present from Mother Nature: a picture-perfect Christmas forecast that feels more like spring than winter. According to the National Weather Service, Christmas Day in the Tampa Bay area will be sunny with...

Merry Christmas, Poinciana! Let’s talk about the next religious holiday!. Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, is a holiday celebrating the day the Three Wise Men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. Join the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Three Kings Day Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 from 12-2...

An artist uses molten glass and fire to shape ideas into reality. FOX 13 Photojournalist Barry Wong.

John Hosegood’s Fit Body Boot Camp in Winter Haven Trains the Mind as Hard as the Body. John Hosegood may thrive when he’s rallying members of his gym to deliver just one more rep, but don’t be fooled: The owner of Fit Body Boot Camp in Winter Haven is interested in more than just physical fitness. He believes mental...

TAMPA - Christmas Day got underway early at Metropolitan Ministries. Before sunrise, staff and volunteers filled the kitchen at the nonprofit’s Tampa campus, preparing 1,000 hot Christmas meals for people experiencing homelessness. Those meals will be served throughout the day at community locations in Hillsborough,...

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)—Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening four new locations in Tampa Bay throughout December. The four new locations are: All four locations are open 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The restaurants are hiring in all four locations. There are around 30 jobs per location, Chipotle said. For more...

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – An unidentified man was killed late Wednesday afternoon after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a utility pole along State Road 574. The fatal wreck occurred around 5:04 p.m. on Christmas Eve, just west of Falkenburg Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol,...

The Polk County Commission took another step toward preservation of the county’s natural resources with the approvals of two land purchase agreements with Preservation of Natural Florida Inc. Under the agreements, Polk County is to acquire environmental sites that were recommended by the Conservation Land Acquisition...

Justin Surrency and his friends remember how important it was to have a bike as kids. “Having a bike as a kid was a big deal,” Surrency said. “It gave us a sense of independence.”. Surrency is the owner of FastKicks Academy in Seffner, and for the...