Every Year A Small Town Invites All To Share The Place That Florida Forgot

Words and pictures by: Thad Macnamara

[Lake Placid, FL] No, it is not that Lake Placid. No Olympics have ever been held here. But to the locals who do live here – and to the die-hard out-of-towners who visit each year – Lake Placid is the most important place in the universe.

At least for two days every August.

On August  26^th and 27^th, the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce will host the 21^st Annual Caladium Festival in Stuart Park, located in the heart of Highlands County’s self proclaimed “Caladium Capital Of The World.”

For the unfamiliar, a caladium is an ornamental plant, often called an “elephant ear.” They are easily recognized for arrowhead-shaped leaves, marked in varying patterns in white, pink, and red.

The festival boats an array of arts, crafts, and plant vendors offering their wares, along with “not for profit” food offerings from local eateries. In addition, there’s two days of free entertainment and plenty of opportunities to view the caladium fields, either by a self-guided tour or by a tour led by one of the area growers.

Visitors to the festival will have the chance to view and purchase mature caladiums. However, this year, caladium bulbs will not be available due to agronomic conditions, according to event officials.

Lake Placid, Circa 2011

Where And What, Exactly, Is A Lake Placid?

Lake Placid is located just south of Sebring, Florida. Home to an estimated 1800 permanent residents and many more part-time vacationers, the quaint little town is probably most famous for its murals.

Yes murals. In fact, there are so many murals that the town’s other nickname is “Town of Murals.” More than 40 buildings throughout the tiny town feature murals of different themes, mostly centered around life in this part of Florida, both past and present.

Back in the old days, before the Florida Turnpike and the Interstate system, if you wanted to travel long distances north to south, you would most likely take U.S. Highway 27. While construction began on Highway 27 in the early 1940’s, completion of the road (at least in Florida) was delayed due to WWII.

It was eventually finished in 1950, and folks soon bypassed Lake Placid altogether – the turnpike system simply diverted drivers around this part of the state, and growth slowed considerably.

Preserved in time, Lake Placid is a perfect fit for those seeking the road-less-traveled; a must-stop for a late-afternoon stroll around its quiet streets or a walking tour of the mural-laden buildings

Whether you visit Lake Placid for the Caladium Festival or just stop to stretch your legs after a few hours along Florida’s back roads, a tour of the city that time forgot is not to be missed.

For more information or to arrange a tour of the murals contact the Mural Society at 863-414-2394, or visit their website http://www.htn.net/lplacid/murals/murals.htm.

More information on the town is available on the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce Website http://www.lpfla.com/caladium.htm.

Now please enjoy a photographic tour of some of Lake Placid’s amazing murals.

Caladium Fields

Artist: Tom Freeman. Location: Lockhart Service Center on Interlake Blvd. Size: 60 ft wide x 30 ft high. Sponsor: Happiness Farms

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

“Captain” T.W. Webb

Artist: Richard Currier. Location: Davis and Tompkins, Attorneys at Law, 107 Interlake Blvd.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Tea at Southwinds

Artist: Tom Freeman. Location: Caladium Arts and Crafts Co-op at Interlake Blvd and Pine Street. Size: 60 ft wide x 30 ft high. Sponsor: Tom Freeman.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Our Citrus Heritage

Artist: Keith Goodson . Location: Corner of Main Street and Park Street. Size: 130 ft wide and 15 ft high. Sponsor: Members of the Highlands County Citrus Industry.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Our Citrus Heritage

Artist: Keith Goodson . Location: Corner of Main Street and Park Street. Size: 130 ft. wide and 15 ft. high. Sponsor: Members of the Highlands County Citrus Industry.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Our Citrus Heritage

Artist: Keith Goodson . Location: Corner of Main Street and Park Street. Size: 130 ft. wide and 15 ft. high. Sponsor: Members of the Highlands County Citrus Industry.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Our Citrus Heritage

Artist: Keith Goodson . Location: Corner of Main Street and Park Street. Size: 130 ft wide and 15 ft high. Sponsor: Members of the Highlands County Citrus Industry.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Turpentine Industry

Artist: John Gutcher. Location: Interlake Blvd. and Oak Street. Size: 62 ft. wide and 14 ft. high. Sponsor: Family of Walter

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized; stitched.

The Jewels of Highlands County

Artist: Keith Goodson. Location: Masonic Lodge, N. Main Avenue. Size: 34 ft. wide by 13.5 ft. high. Sponsor: The Highlands County Lakes Association together with Lake Placid Marine and Boat Corral – New Mural 2006 Replaced by Walgreens.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Birding

Artist: Thomas Brooks & Terry Smith. Location: Lake Placid Christian School located at 106 E. Interlake Blvd. Size: 67 ft. wide and 12 ft. high. Sponsor: Harry Wood in memory of Edythe Wood.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Layers of Time

Artist: Dean Quigley. Location: 112 East Interlake Boulevard. Size: 89 ft. wide and 16 ft. high. Sponsor: Gate Petroleum.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

Layers of Time

Artist: Dean Quigley. Location: 112 East Interlake Boulevard. Size: 89 ft. wide and 16 ft. high. Sponsor: Gate Petroleum.

Photographed on May. 29, 2011. Nikon Coolpix S203; sRGB; no flash; auto; resized.

 Also See;

21st Annual Caladium Festival ~ Greater Lake Placid Chamber of … 21st Annual Caladium Festival August 26 & 27, 2011. Our Annual Caladium Festival Features: Caladium Plants for Sale. Arts & Crafts Booths …

Caladiums Online – Festival Lake Placid’s Annual Caladium Festival is held annually in late August , featuring arts, crafts, entertainment, food and of course, caladiums. …

Lake Placid, Florida – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town’s population as 1878 on 1 July 2007. …

Town of Lake Placid, FL Jun 13, 2011 … 311 W. Interlake Blvd, Lake Placid, FL 33852 … The Town of Lake Placid Official Holidays 2010-2011 Fiscal Year. Public Announcements …

Caladium – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Caladium 1] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. They are often known by the common name elephant ear (which they share with the closely …

Caladium | Botany.com CALADIUM plant identification description, photos, and information on potting, growing, propagation, varieties, and region of origin.