"Lake Wales Live" Continues to Draw Crowds to Downtown Music Series

Downtown Lake Wales was a "happening scene" Friday as the sounds of the south Florida-based "The JamBand" filled the air as they performed from a special stage in Linear Park.

Robert Connors

Bricks provided a "just-right" dance floor for this couple during a slow song during Friday evening's Lake Wales Live concert in downtown's Linear Park.

The event drew a large crowd on a beautiful spring evening who danced, clapped along, and sometimes sang with the band. Numerous vendors and a food truck catered to the crowd.

The free performance was another installation of "Lake Wales Live," a six-performance series intended to help bring more visitors to the downtown area as it undergoes a significant reconstruction period that is transforming the heart of the city.

Robert Connors

A large crowd enjoyed the evening out in the "Linear Park" lying along the course of the Florida Midland Railroad downtown, across from the Lake Wales Public Library and the Lake Wales Woman's Club auditorium.

The next show in the series will take place on Friday, April 5 as B. Haven performs on the park stage. A final performance of the series is scheduled for Friday May 3, when the Gnarbuckles will perform their unique blend of traditional American-roots music.

Robert Connors

Lake Wales resident Carol Mondello (center-right in jeans) was invited onto the stage to join south Florida's popular "The JamBand" in performing a couple of popular tunes.

The popular joint effort between the Lake Wales Arts Center, Lake Wales Main Street, and the City of Lake Wales Recreation Department has drawn growing crowds to eash of the events, a result that event co-organizer Carrie Ingley credits to the cooperation between the organizations.

"Before, everyone was operating in their own silos," she told Lake Wales News.

The performances were scheduled from early November to May to take advantage of the seasonal Florida weather. It is expected that the music series will be resumed once cooler temperatures return in the autumn.

Robert Connors

The length of Cypress Gardens Lane was filled with vendor booths offering plants, herbs, honey, jewelry, and complete dinners during the Lake Wales Live event Friday night.