Things to Do in Lakeland South

Presented in part by Dan Clark, also known as Nitro, of American Gladiator fame, the Gladiator Rock'n Run 6K pairs an obstacle-heavy running course with post-race entertainment, including beer, music, and food. Six kilometers’ worth of collective scampering awaits participants as muscle-testing obstacles impede progress to the finish line. Those prepared to race must dance through tires, army-crawl through mud, and clamber up rope ladders to avoid barrels thrown by giant apes. The roar of spectators rings throughout the course as bystanders cheer on runners to inspire strong finishes. Gladiator Rock'n Run proceeds go toward a good cause, helping to raise money for TACA (Talk About Curing Autism), an organization that provides education, support, and information to aid parents in helping their children diagnosed with autism.

Though the historical gems of a museum tend to be its artifacts, the vintage autos of the LeMay Family Collection at Marymount only tell half the story. The Marymount location opened in 1923 as a boys' military school, which became a center for English education in 1975 and eventually the home to the family's vintage automobiles. Beginning with a few vehicles gathered by Harold and Nancy LeMay in the 1960s, the collection has grown into a one-time Guinness World Record holder of more than 1,900 vehicles. Many of these classics, including a powder-blue 1950 Chrysler Windsor, rest fully restored alongside toys, antiques, and farm equipment within the year-round museum.

Bathed in the intense light of its blazing furnaces, the industrial brick walls and naked concrete floors of the hot shop at Area 253 Glassblowing belie the delicacy and beauty of their creations. Experienced artisans instruct students of all skill levels, manipulating glowing gobs of molten glass on the ends of rods to produce floating balls, bowls, and decorative shards. Pointed blue-tip flame-working torches coax glass into shiny beads and borosilicate into baubles such as pendants and swizzle sticks. The shop also rents out its amenities for visiting artists, including furnaces, torches, and garage space.