Downtown Bartow is getting ready to deck its halls again as the Polk County History Center prepares to host the 16th annual Festival of Wreaths, opening Nov. 7. The wreath display and silent auction run through Dec. 12, while Santa photo sessions continue through Dec. 19. The free holiday tradition fills the historic building with wreaths decorated by local residents, organizations and businesses, alongside a silent auction, Santa photo sessions and live Christmas music.
The display takes place at the Polk County History Center, located at 100 E. Main St. in Bartow, according to a post from Polk County Government Florida on Facebook. The Lake Wales Guide confirms the address and notes the designer wreaths will be on display and up for silent auction through mid-December, with the event free to view.
The silent auction itself opens Nov. 7 at 8 a.m. and closes Dec. 12 at 5 p.m., giving visitors more than a month to place bids on their favorite wreaths and potentially take one home. A link to the auction will be posted on the event page, per the Facebook post.
Santa Selfies Need a Reservation
Santa and his elves are set to return for photo sessions on four dates this season: Nov. 20, Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. The selfie sessions require reservations, which can be made by calling the history center at (863) 534-4386 or emailing [email protected], the post notes.
Two special programs round out the holiday calendar in December. Merry and Bright includes a guided tour exploring the wreath designs and the people and organizations behind them, according to Polk County Government. Jingle and Mingle, meanwhile, brings live Christmas music plus a History of Santa Claus lecture presented by Santa himself, with the Berkley Charter Elementary School Chorus and Frostproof High School Chorus both listed as performers.
A Fifteen-Year Tradition of Locally Crafted Wreaths
The festival has become a fixture of the Bartow holiday season. Last year's 15th annual Festival of Wreaths and Silent Auction kicked off Nov. 8, 2025, also at the Polk County History Center, as reported by Daily Ridge. That edition featured wreaths creatively crafted by local artists, businesses and community groups, offering guests a chance to bid on their favorites during the silent auction.
Proceeds from the festival have gone toward programs that preserve Polk County's history and support educational outreach, the Daily Ridge report notes. With the 16th edition opening soon, the event continues a now well-established rhythm of community-made wreaths, holiday music and family photo opportunities at one of Bartow's most recognizable historic buildings.
