Bartow’s Festival of Wreaths begins November 7
The History Center’s seasonal display runs through December 12, with a silent auction and later holiday programs.
Polk County History Center · 100 E. Main St., Bartow · display November 7–December 12.
The Polk County History Center in downtown Bartow will begin its 16th Annual Festival of Wreaths on Saturday, November 7. The county’s event calendar lists wreaths on display through December 12, bringing together designs created by residents, community organizations and businesses.
Display hours and auction timing are different
The History Center is at 100 E. Main St., Bartow. Its listed visitor hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The county separately lists the silent auction opening at 8 a.m. November 7 and closing at 5 p.m. December 12. The auction’s opening time should not be treated as an earlier museum opening.
As of our November 5 check, the county said the auction link would appear on its event page November 7. Visit that official listing for the live bidding link and terms when they become available. We have not verified an active bidding page or promised availability of any specific wreath.
Later programs require separate planning
The festival calendar also lists Merry and Bright guided wreath tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, December 11. These later programs are separate from the November 7 opening.
Selfies with Santa requires reservations. The calendar lists November 20, 4–6 p.m.; November 28, December 5 and December 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Contact the History Center to confirm availability and reserve a time before traveling. These dates should not be mistaken for a walk-in guarantee.
How to plan a visit
For questions about the display, auction or program arrangements, call 863-534-4386 or email historycenter@polkfl.gov. Check the current official calendar before leaving, especially for a later holiday program. The listing does not establish a general admission price, so this article does not describe every activity as free.
The display offers a local outing and a look at community-made seasonal designs. Residents interested in the silent auction can review the official information when bidding opens rather than assuming the display’s visitor hours and online auction timetable are identical.
All times above are local Eastern time. This guide reflects the county’s event listing checked November 5, 2026.
Prepared from the official source below, reviewed November 5, 2026. This is an independently written summary; the source provides the full notice or report. Dated service and traffic details may change.
Polk County Government · official 2026 Festival of Wreaths calendar ↗