Get into the holiday spirit at the Holly Jolly Cocoa Party — a festive event designed for families with young children! Enjoy a cozy celebration filled with holiday-themed activities, warm cocoa, cheerful music and joyful memories. It’s the perfect way to kick off the season with laughter, love and a little holiday magic.
Free Event, pre-registration required Limited to 50 participants
The holiday season kicks off in festive fashion this Friday as the Plant City Christmas Parade returns to downtown at 7:00 p.m. Families, friends, and visitors are invited to line the streets and enjoy one of the community’s most cherished annual traditions.
This year’s parade will feature a modified route for 2025 due to the ongoing sewer replacement project at W. Reynolds Street and Palmer Street. The updated path begins on S. Collins Street at W. Ball Street, travels north on S. Collins to W. Reynolds Street, turns west toward N. Wheeler Street, and then heads south to W. Drane Street.
Road closures in the parade area will begin as early as 3:00 p.m., and the Plant City Police Department will be on-site throughout the evening to manage traffic and ensure public safety.
Organized and managed by Plant City Christmas Parade Inc., the event promises a joyful night of floats, music, lights, and holiday spirit for the entire community.
One Movie Later: Zootopia 2 Was a Pretty Good Sequel
by James Coulter
Nearly ten years ago, Disney released Zootopia, an animated standout of the 2010s and one of my personal favorites. It blended a sharp, funny buddy‑cop story with surprisingly serious themes such as systemic prejudice, scapegoating, and political corruption while remaining family-friendly.
At the time, Zootopia felt unusually prescient, arguing for diversity and warning how opportunistic politicians exploit fear for gain. Now, almost a decade later, Disney has returned to that world of furry socio-political allegory with Zootopia 2. But will it become as un-fur-getable as the original movie? Or will it be yet another run-of-the-mill sequel that will be long fur-gotten?
Set several years after the original film, Zootopia 2 reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Nick has graduated from the academy and now works with Judy, but their partnership is strained: Judy wants to leap into danger to solve a case while Nick prefers to keep them both out of danger.
Soon, a case about a smuggled snake—an animal banned from Zootopia after a century-old incident—unfolds into a plot to steal the city founder’s journal. What starts as a routine theft soon hints at a much deeper conspiracy tied to Zootopia’s origins. Are things as they seem? And how deep is this conspiracy?
Disney animated films have a lackluster track record with sequels. Either they’re a re-tread of the original (Moana 2), a chaotic mess (Ralph Breaks the Internet), or a lackluster follow-up (Frozen 2). Zootopia 2, thankfully, bucks this trend. While the sequel doesn’t surpass the original, it stands on its own as a solid follow-up that expands the world and themes audiences loved.
Zootopia 2 continues the franchise’s interest in tackling socio‑political issues. Where the first film focused on systemic prejudice and corruption, this one explores immigration, colonization, and revisionist histories. The film delivers its message clearly without becoming heavy‑handed, keeping the story family‑friendly while remaining relevant to contemporary debates.
The movie’s strongest asset is the development of its main character. Judy and Nick’s push‑and‑pull dynamic from the original movie remains central: Judy’s impulsive idealism clashes with Nick’s cautious pragmatism, creating believable friction and emotional stakes that drive the film.
The sequel brings back familiar faces and adds a colorful supporting cast of crazy characters: an eccentric beaver podcaster, a theatrical horse‑turned‑politician, two zebra officers with an almost bro-amntic relationship, and a rough‑around‑the‑edges iguana who runs a speakeasy. Each new character is given enough screen time to be memorable without overstaying their welcome.
The central conspiracy is intriguing but becomes predictable once the setup is established in the first act. Still, the film compensates with twists, character reveals, and high‑energy action, and the third act delivers a satisfying, extended climax that keeps momentum until the end. Just when one climacticscene reaches its end, you realize there’s still more movie to go.
Another big problem is one that commonly plagues sequels: the incessant need for the sequel to remind you of the original movie. The sequel leans on callbacks to the original, which can feel like nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. That said, it balances familiar beats with fresh ideas enough to feel like a meaningful continuation rather than a mere retread.
Overall, while not as groundbreaking as the original, Zootopia 2 is a thoughtful, entertaining sequel that deepens the franchise’s themes, strengthens its central relationship, develops old characters while introducing new ones, and offers poignant socio-political commentary through talking animals.
Welcome, World Travelers! Check Out Olaf and Other Next-Generation Robotic Characters Being Created by Disney
by James Coulter
Chances are, you’re familiar with Olaf from Disney’s Frozen. Perhaps you’ve seen him in the hit Disney animated movie. Or maybe you’ve even met him in person as a meet-and-greet character at Disney Parks. Soon, you might be able to meet the loveable snowman as a walking animatronic.
Recently, the beloved snowman from Disney’s Frozen was introduced as a next-generation robotic character at Disneyland Park, accompanied by Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, and Natacha Rafalski, Présidente of Disneyland Paris.
Created using state-of-the-art technology developed by Disney Imagineering, the robot character has been described as “one of the most expressive and true-to-life characters built.” Not only does he walk and talk like an animated character brought to life, but his iridescent fibers make him look as if her were made from actual snow.
“This debut marks a new chapter in Disney character innovation, one where technology, storytelling, and collaboration come together to bring screen to reality,” Kyle Laughlin, SVP R&D Technology & Engineering, Walt Disney Imagineering. “From the way he moves to the way he looks, every gesture and detail is crafted to reflect the Olaf audiences have seen in the film — alive, curious, and unmistakably himself.”
To make his movements appear life-like, Disney Imagineers worked closely with Disney animators “to ensure every gesture felt true to the character.” The robotic character was programmed using cutting-edge artificial intelligence called “reinforcement learning”, which allows it to learn how to walk and move.
“Deep reinforcement learning helps him acquire these skills in a fraction of the time,” wrote Laughlin. “He [Olaf] can fully articulate his mouth, eyes, and removable carrot nose and arms. Most importantly, Olaf can speak and engage in conversations, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience.”
Olaf was not the only Disney character to demonstrate this new technology. Several other robotic characters were showcased during a recent episode of “We Call It Imagineering” on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel.
The episode featured two other “free-roaming animatronic” figures: one being a female-coded mouse-eared character dancing a pirouette, and another being a raccoon-designed character jumping on a table. These characters, while only exhibited with their skeletal frameworks, were speculated by Attractions Magazine as potentially being Minnie Mouse and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Rocket Raccoon, respectively.
The Olaf character is expected to make his debut at the Frozen-themed area at Disney Adventure World (formerly Disney Parks Studios) at Disneyland Paris, scheduled to open on March 29, 2026.
Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) is gearing up for an exciting new chapter as major improvements are underway at its training facilities. Recent photos from the current training center highlight the progress taking place and offer a glimpse into the future of firefighter education in the county.
A brand-new, state-of-the-art training center is set to open in 2026—designed to enhance hands-on learning, strengthen emergency response skills, and provide firefighters with the tools they need to serve the community safely and effectively.
PCFR is actively recruiting, and new hires will have the opportunity to be among the first to train in this modern facility. Along with the upgraded center, PCFR has several other positive changes coming, including the addition of Kelly Days and expanded in-house EMS training.
Polk County, Florida – A stretch of Central Florida that many families have called home for years now sits at the center of one of the region’s largest proposed transportation projects. Thirty eight homes and five businesses, some situated along clay roads and citrus groves, lie in the path of the newly selected route for the Central Polk Parkway East, also known as the CPPE.
State officials presented the findings of their PD and E study during a December 2 virtual hearing, outlining the route, design concepts and anticipated impacts. The fuller, face to face discussion will take place later this week at an in person public hearing on Thursday, December 4 at the Tom Fellows Community Center in Davenport. The open house begins at 5:30 p.m. and the formal presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.
Proposed Route
For many residents, this hearing is more than a routine step in the process. It is the first opportunity to see how the lines drawn on planning maps may shape the land they live on, work on and travel through each day. Many of the affected parcels hold homes, small businesses, groves and workshops that have been maintained for decades.
Polk County continues to rank among the fastest growing counties in the nation. Anyone who has driven US 17 92 during peak hours has witnessed the strain. Traffic has risen nearly 40 percent as new neighborhoods and commercial projects continue to build out across Davenport, Haines City and Poinciana.
The CPPE is intended to ease that pressure. The proposed route would connect US 17 92, just south of the Powerline Road extension near James Street, to the future Poinciana Connector, also known as State Road 538. A second segment that would extend south of James Street to Highway 60 in Lake Wales will be discussed during the week of December 15.
The total estimated cost of the project is approximately 1.4 billion dollars. This includes 66 million dollars for design, 119 million dollars for roadway right of way, 39 million dollars for stormwater and floodplain acquisition, 109 million dollars for engineering and inspection and roughly 1.1 billion dollars for construction.
Right of way and construction funding are not yet available. The project will move into design as funding becomes available.
If ultimately constructed, the Parkway could reduce traffic on US 17 92 by more than half in the morning and nearly three quarters in the evening. Travel times could drop by roughly one third to nearly one half during peak hours. For thousands of commuters, that would represent meaningful time regained.
An important portion of the land identified along the route contains existing homes, established businesses and groves that reflect how people live and work in this part of Polk County.
Thursday’s meeting gives residents the opportunity to see the project up close, understand how the alignment affects their area and ask questions directly to officials with Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise.
For more information or to review project materials, visit CentralPolkParkwayEast.com.
LAKELAND, FL|The magic of the holiday season returns as the City of Lakeland proudly presents the 45th Annual Snowfest, one of our community’s most beloved winter traditions. Join us on Saturday, December 6, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror for an evening packed with snow, sparkle, and holiday cheer.
Hosted by the City of Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department, Snowfest allows families to step into a festive winter wonderland right here in sunny Florida. Guests can enjoy a shimmering landscape of man-made snow, twinkling lights, seasonal décor, and joyful holiday music that brings the spirit of the season to life.
Admission is free with a canned food donation.This year, Snowfest continues its longstanding tradition of giving back by supporting Senior Orphans and Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE). Both organizations provide essential services to elderly residents throughout Lakeland. Canned goods will be collected on-site, helping spread holiday joy to seniors in need this season.
Snowfest 2025 will also feature a full lineup of family-friendly activities and attractions, including:
Santa and Mrs. Claus– ready for photos and holiday fun.
Santa’s Workshop– offering sweet treats and hands-on holiday crafts.
A book giveawaysponsored by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland.
An artisan marketfeaturing local arts and crafts vendors.
Delicious food trucks serving festive bites and seasonal treats.
Free train ridesfor kids throughout the evening.
Bring your family, bring your canned goods, and get ready to celebrate 45 years of snowy holiday magic in Lakeland!
The following is a social media post from Melbourne Main Street:
“WANTED: TWO MISSING GIANT CHRISTMAS BULBS 🎄🌟 Reward: The Return of Holiday Cheer
STOLEN FROM (this is NOT a joke): Downtown Melbourne’s holiday display
TIMEFRAME: Sometime between “Wow, these look amazing!” and “Wait… where did they go?”
DESCRIPTION OF MISSING ITEMS
1️⃣ ORANGE BULB
Giant. Happy. Impossible to hide under a jacket.
Last seen spreading joy and warm holiday vibes at the corner of New Haven Avenue and Livingston.
2️⃣ BLUE BULB
Also giant. Also spreading cheer to all who pass by.
Known to bring calm, joyful, wintery cheer.
Both are festive, friendly, and dearly missed.
CRIME: Stealing holiday spirit from an entire community. (Yes… someone actually took two enormous ornaments. That really happened.)
💬 IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION: Send us a private message — anonymous tips welcome. If the bulbs “mysteriously reappear” overnight… we’ll call that a holiday miracle. No questions asked.
📣 PLEASE SHARE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW The more eyes that see this, the faster we can bring these two holiday heroes home.
Let’s get our bulbs back, Melbourne. ✨ The season needs them — and so do we. ✨
Let’s Go Dreaming Inspires Children to Follow Their Dreams as They Drift off into Dreamland by James Coulter
If you want to give your children the gift of reading this holiday season, consider giving them a storybook from the “Let’s Go Dreaming” series—especially the newest book: “The Missing Caterpillar.”
“Let’s Go Dreaming” follows the adventures of young Ari and her talking dog Pepper as they venture into the world of dreams and learn how to make their own dreams come true.
In their latest book, “The Missing Caterpillar”, Ari and Pepper help a turtle find his long-lost friend, a caterpillar. The two friends go on a search to solve this mystery, but their quest has them discovering something even more special.
Ever since she was a child, Shanita Allen has always had a passion for reading. Living in a time before the prevalence of the internet and television, Shanita occupied her free time by reading books.
“I have always had a passion for reading,” she said. “I got to travel to different places, explore different cultures, learn new and exciting things, all in the comfort of my bedroom.”
Her love of reading soon transformed into a love of writing, and her love of children’s books inspired her to write her own.
“I developed a desire to write at a very young age…and my goal was to become a children’s book author after high school,” she said.
Her dream of becoming a children’s storybook author eventually became sidetracked after studying and graduating with a degree in psychology and starting her career as a behavioral analyst.However, Shanita soon rediscovered her childhood passion while attending a seminar on positive thinking and manifestation.
“It lit the fuse,” she said of the seminar. “It reignited my passion for writing. I remember all of the dreams that I had about being an author and writing children’s books. So that is what initially reenergized me to get to writing a children’s book.”
Seeking a topic for her children’s storybooks, Shanita decided to use her books to teach children about achieving their dreams through the power of positive thinking and manifestation.
“I decided to call [my series] Let’s Go Dreaming, not only because they are bedtime stories, but also because I want children to dream while they are awake and follow those dreams,” she explained.
Shanita has self-published five books in her “Let’s Go Dreaming” series, including her latest book, all of which are available, along with activity and coloring books, on her website: letsgodreaming.com
Shanita Allen recently appeared on the Chatting on the Ridge podcast to discuss her books and writing career. Listen to the full episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-73-lets-go-dreaming-wshanita-allen
The Bartow Public Library is inviting the community to get into the holiday spirit with its upcoming December Paint and Sip, a free creative event designed for adults. Scheduled for December 10 from 5:30–7:30 p.m., the session gives participants a chance to unwind, sip, and create festive artwork perfect for decking the halls.
This month’s theme, “Painting Sweet Memories,” promises a cozy and cheerful evening of guided painting in a relaxed atmosphere. The event is open to ages 18 and up, and registration is now open.
To reserve your spot, call 863-534-0131.
The Bartow Public Library is located at 2150 S Broadway Ave in Bartow.
