When the Sun Goes Down, Avon Park Lights Up
Retirenet Media Team
0 Recommendations
17 exciting ways to spend your evenings in and around Avon Park, Florida, and the 55+ community that
|
Highlands County After Dark When the Sun Goes Down, Avon Park Lights Up17 exciting ways to spend your evenings in and around Avon Park, Florida, from Broadway tours and Irish pubs to Milky Way skies and endurance racing under the lights. And every one of them starts from the same front door: Twin Lakes at Avon Park. Tour Twin Lakes at Avon Park → View Community Photos |
There is a stubborn myth about small-town Florida: that the sidewalks roll up at dusk and the only nightlife is the porch light. Anyone who has actually lived in Highlands County knows better. Between Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid, the evenings are packed with touring Broadway shows, a century-old theatre revived on national television, craft taprooms, an Irish pub tucked beneath a historic hotel, a dessert room that only opens on weekend nights, and the most famous endurance race in America roaring into the darkness.
Push out a little farther and the options get even bigger: Florida's first International Dark Sky Park, a Seminole casino with live entertainment, and one of the last drive-in movie theatres left in the state.
Here is the part that matters most if you are 55 or better and thinking about your next chapter. You do not have to visit this lifestyle. You can live right in the middle of it. Twin Lakes at Avon Park is a brand-new 55+ manufactured home community at 555 Fishing Lure Drive, set beside peaceful Lake Anoka, with a temperature-controlled pool, hot tub, pickleball and shuffleboard courts, a Tiki Hut, a fenced dog park and a calendar full of neighbor-to-neighbor events. Nearly everything on this list is a short, easy drive from home, and the best nights often end right back at the Tiki Hut.
We have organized the list by distance, starting a couple of miles from Twin Lakes and working outward. Grab your calendar.
Part One
Right Here in Avon Park
Some of the best evenings in Highlands County are practically in the Twin Lakes backyard. No long drives, no late-night highway miles, just curtain calls and cold pours minutes from home.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 1 | Avon Park | About 5 minutes from Twin Lakes
Alan Jay Wildstein Center for Performing Arts
This is the crown jewel of Highlands County nightlife, and it sits on the South Florida State College campus less than two miles from Twin Lakes. The 1,460-seat hall brings national and international touring productions to town through its Artist Series: Broadway tours, country and pop acts, comedians, dance companies and more.
Jazz lovers should circle the Jazz Series in the more intimate 250-seat University Center, and budget-minded neighbors will love the free Kaleidoscope Series of community performances. The season runs roughly November through June, which lines up perfectly with Florida's most beautiful evenings. Carpool with neighbors, enjoy the show, and be home before the encore applause fades.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 2 | Downtown Avon Park | About 5 minutes from Twin Lakes
The Pour House on Main
Billed as Highlands County's first self-pour taproom, The Pour House on Main puts you in charge of the tap. Grab a card, wander a wall of 43 rotating taps, and pour by the ounce: sample a Florida IPA, try a splash of wine, then go back for another two ounces of whatever surprised you.
There is a kitchen serving comfort food to pair with your pours, and the laid-back, walkable downtown setting makes it an ideal spot to meet new Twin Lakes friends for a Friday night. It stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
 |
|
Your Home Base After Dark The Best Nights Start (and End) at HomeBefore the show there is the pool. After the show there is the hot tub. On the nights you stay in, there is the Tiki Hut, the card table and neighbors who become friends fast. Twin Lakes at Avon Park pairs brand-new, low-maintenance homes with resort-style amenities and a location that puts all of Highlands County's evening fun within easy reach. Model homes are open for tours Tuesday through Sunday. Schedule Your Twin Lakes Tour → See the Photo Gallery → |
Part Two
Sebring: The City on the Circle
Head about 20 minutes south and you arrive in Sebring, whose historic downtown wraps around Circle Park. This is the beating heart of Highlands County after dark, with a revived theatre, cozy pubs, a cigar lounge and an unforgettable dessert room within a few steps of one another.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 3 | Downtown Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
The Circle Theatre
Sebring's century-old Circle Theatre got a star turn of its own when it was renovated during HGTV's Home Town Takeover. Today the restored venue hosts concerts, comedy nights, special film screenings and community events in a room that feels like old Florida polished to a shine.
It shares space with the Sebring Welcome Center, so it is also a great first stop when family comes to visit. Check the calendar, pick a night, and make a whole evening of it with dinner or dessert around the Circle.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 4 | Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
Highlands Lakeside Theatre
Community theatre has been part of Sebring's evenings since 1974, and Highlands Lakeside Theatre (formerly Highlands Little Theatre) has been performing at its lakeside playhouse since 1982. With multiple stages, including the Drs. Thakkar Pavilion, the season mixes musicals, comedies and dramas performed by your own neighbors.
Here is a secret retirees love: community theatre needs volunteers. Ushers, set builders, costume stitchers and, yes, actors. More than a few new Highlands County residents have found their people backstage.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 5 | Sebring (Inn on the Lakes) | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
Chicanes Restaurant & Bar
When the evening calls for a proper night out, Chicanes is the answer. Tucked inside the Inn on the Lakes, it serves creative American cuisine and handcrafted cocktails with lakeside views and a polished, special-occasion atmosphere.
Dinner service runs Tuesday through Saturday evenings, making it a natural choice for anniversaries, birthdays and the kind of celebratory dinners that come with a brand-new chapter of life. Order the signature mojito and toast the move.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 6 | Downtown Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
Gavaghan's Irish Pub
Yes, Sebring has a genuine Irish pub, and visitors can hardly believe it. Gavaghan's occupies the bottom floor of the historic Roanoke building on Circle Park Drive, complete with a cozy snug, unique seating and classic Irish fare like shepherd's pie, fish and chips and hearty stews.
Ordering happens at the bar, which only adds to the neighborly, everybody-knows-your-name feel. It is open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 7 | Downtown Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
DARA, A Dessert Room
Some evenings deserve a sweet finale. DARA is an intimate, upscale dessert room in the same historic building as Gavaghan's, where every dessert is made fresh on site and paired with purpose-built cocktails, fine wine or craft beer.
Here is the catch that makes it special: DARA is only open Friday and Saturday nights, 6 to 11 p.m., and reservations are recommended. Plan a date night, call ahead, and save room.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 8 | Downtown Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
Sticks with Stones Cigar Lounge
For the cigar aficionado, Sticks with Stones is a rustic-modern retreat on North Ridgewood Drive stocked with top-shelf cigars and curated accessories, climate-controlled storage and deep leather seating built for long conversations.
It is the kind of place where a quick visit turns into an evening of stories. The lounge stays open until 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 9 | Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
Turn 2 Brewery
Named for a corner on the famous Sebring racecourse, Turn 2 is a 5,000-square-foot production brewery with a lively taproom pouring house-made craft beer alongside wine, sangria and local ciders.
Expect games, live entertainment and a relaxed crowd. It is pet-friendly too, so your four-legged Twin Lakes resident can come along after a day at the community dog park.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 10 | Sebring | About 20 minutes from Twin Lakes
OFF THE GREEN Indoor Golf
Florida summer evenings can be steamy, and summer thunderstorms love tee times. OFF THE GREEN solves both with five golf simulator bays and a dedicated putting green, all in air-conditioned comfort, with beer and wine to keep the post-round debate going.
Clubs come complimentary with a bay rental, and it is open until 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Play a famous course by night, then brag about it at the Twin Lakes pickleball courts the next morning.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 11 | Sebring International Raceway | About 25 minutes from Twin Lakes
The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
This is the big one. Sebring International Raceway, built on a former World War II airbase, is North America's oldest permanent road course, and its legendary Twelve Hours of Sebring has run since 1952. The race starts in daylight and finishes long after dark, with glowing brake rotors and headlights streaking across the old runways.
Mark your calendar now: the 75th running is scheduled for March 17 through 20, 2027. It is a bucket-list event that race fans travel across the world to see. As a Twin Lakes resident, you would be driving there in about 25 minutes and sleeping in your own bed.
 |
|
Your Home Base After Dark Why Pay Resort Prices When You Can Live Here?Visitors book hotel rooms months in advance to experience a week in Highlands County. Twin Lakes residents simply live it. Brand-new, stylish manufactured homes, lake access for kayaking and shore fishing, a clubhouse, fitness center, bocce, shuffleboard and year-round community celebrations, all in the heart of Avon Park and about 20 minutes from downtown Sebring. Request Twin Lakes Information → See the Photo Gallery → |
Part Three
Lake Placid: The Town of Murals
Keep heading south about 35 minutes and you reach charming Lake Placid, famous for its outdoor murals and a downtown with a surprisingly lively evening scene.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 12 | Downtown Lake Placid | About 35 minutes from Twin Lakes
Wet Dogs Brewing
Wet Dogs Brewing on North Main Avenue pours a little bit of everything: locally crafted beer, coffee, kombucha, craft sodas, seltzers and wine. That range makes it an easy crowd-pleaser for a mixed group of neighbors.
The atmosphere is dog-friendly and relaxed, and the brewery hosts live music performances, which makes it a perfect anchor for a Lake Placid evening out.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 13 | Downtown Lake Placid | About 35 minutes from Twin Lakes
Wine Down
Just steps from Wet Dogs, Wine Down is a wine bar with a curated collection by the glass and bottle. It is a quieter, conversational counterpoint to the taprooms, ideal for couples or a small group of friends.
Bonus: the team will track down specific wines you request for pickup, so your favorite bottle can be waiting when you host the next get-together at the Twin Lakes clubhouse.
Photo: Visit Sebring
No. 14 | Lake Placid | About 35 minutes from Twin Lakes
Dock 633 Pub & Grill
Want live music on the weekend? Dock 633 on Lake June Road is a Lake Placid local favorite with an Old Florida vibe, serving burgers, wings, seafood and pub-and-grill classics indoors and out.
There is live music every Friday and Saturday, and it stays open until midnight on those nights, which makes it one of the latest-running spots on this list. On Sundays, come back for brunch.
 |
|
Your Home Base After Dark Small-Town Streets, Big-Time EveningsTwin Lakes at Avon Park gives you the quiet streets and welcoming, small-town atmosphere so many retirees are searching for, with Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid all within a short drive. It is the rare 55+ community where you can choose a peaceful evening by Lake Anoka or a night on the town, sometimes both in the same week. Tour the Model Homes → See the Photo Gallery → |
Part Four
Worth the Drive: Big Nights Beyond Highlands County
Central Florida's location is a secret weapon. From Avon Park, some of the state's most memorable after-dark experiences are an easy road trip away, and you get to come home to a quiet lake.
Photo: Florida State Parks
No. 15 | Okeechobee County | About 75 minutes from Twin Lakes
Stargazing at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
This might be the most breathtaking night on the entire list. In 2016, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve became Florida's first International Dark Sky Park, and it is so far from city lights that you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
Regular park hours run from 8 a.m. to sunset, so the best way to experience the night sky is to book a campsite or a glamping stay. Pack a blanket and a thermos, and plan around a new moon for the darkest skies. It is an unforgettable outing for a group of Twin Lakes neighbors.
Photo: Seminole Brighton Bay (rendering)
No. 16 | Okeechobee | About 1 hour from Twin Lakes
Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino
Feeling lucky? Seminole Brighton Bay, on the Brighton Reservation near Okeechobee, offers about 38,000 square feet of gaming with hundreds of slot machines, blackjack, craps and roulette tables, bingo, plus smoke-free and high-limit areas.
Dining ranges from a steakhouse to a grill, pizzeria and cafe, and live performances take the stage at the Center Bar and the Seminole Event Center. It is a fun, easy group road trip, and you will be back on your own porch before the night gets too late.
Photo: Silver Moon Drive-In
No. 17 | Lakeland | About 75 minutes from Twin Lakes
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre
Remember summer nights at the drive-in? They still exist. The Silver Moon in Lakeland has entertained moviegoers for more than 75 years and is one of just a handful of drive-ins still operating in Florida.
Two screens show first-run double features seven nights a week, sound comes through your car's FM radio, and the snack bar serves pizza, hot dogs, nachos and plenty of popcorn. Pull in, tune in and relive a classic American evening.
Seventeen stops, four regions and not a single rolled-up sidewalk. From a Broadway tour five minutes away to the Milky Way over an open prairie, the evenings around Avon Park are as full as you want them to be.
The smartest way to enjoy all of it is to make Highlands County your home. At Twin Lakes at Avon Park, you get a brand-new, move-in-ready home, a resort-style pool and hot tub, pickleball, shuffleboard, bocce, a fitness center, a fenced dog park, Lake Anoka for kayaking and fishing, and neighbors who are always up for the next adventure. Then, when the night winds down, you are just minutes from home.
 |
|
Your Next Chapter Starts Here Twin Lakes at Avon ParkA brand-new 55+ manufactured home community beside Lake Anoka. 555 Fishing Lure Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825 |
Hours, schedules and event dates change. Please confirm details directly with each venue before you go. Drive times are approximate from Twin Lakes at Avon Park.
