Local Info: Sebring Community

Highlands County offers the highest quality lifestyle with all the advantages of the smaller community where it’s great to live and smart to do business. Centrally located in close proximity to metropolitan areas with all major Florida attractions within easy commuting distances, we’re “Florida as it should be.” The pace of life is more relaxed, with a sense of community unique to the small town atmosphere. Highlands County is rural tranquility spiced with sophistication. The warm fresh air extends an invitation to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. Area lakes, Arbuckle Creek and the Kissimmee River provide a year-round fisherman’s paradise. Public boat ramps, parks and beaches invite family outings for water skiing, sailing, swimming or just sunning on a white sandy beach. Tennis players can choose from a number of courts, and the avid golfer can tee off at one of 15 courses – from the par 3 to the 18-hole championship course.

Rich in natural resources, Highlands County is home to Highlands Hammock State Park, a 3,800-acre wildlife preserve. A 150,000-acre wildlife management area at the Avon Park Range is a haven for campers and sportsmen with hunting allowed during special seasons. The Archibald Biological Station is dedicated to long term ecological and conservation research. It is well known to scientists around the world.

Culture

Cultural opportunities enhance the quality of life. The Cultural Center Complex on the shores of Lake Jackson is the location for the Sebring Library, Altvater Civic Center, Highlands Museum of the Arts and Lakeshore Playhouse. Packed audiences applaud Broadway musicals, melodramas, and Dinner Theater productions by Highlands Little Theater at the Lakeshore Playhouse. The South Florida State College Cultural Series presents programs ranging from individual artist to ballets, opera and Broadway plays. Historical attractions include the Avon Park Museum, the Lake Placid Historical Museum, Museum of Florida’s Art and Culture and the Sebring Historical Society’s Lakeside Archives at the Cultural Center Complex.

Special Events

Festivals and special events make up a lively Calendar of Activities. Sebring is home to the most famous activity, the “12 Hour Grand Prix of Endurance”, America’s oldest road racing event, now over 50 years old. This prestigious race, second only to the Indianapolis 500 in international significance, attracts the world’s top drivers. The Highlands Art League sponsors the Annual Arts Festival on the circle in historic downtown Sebring. One of the top ten in the state, this event attracts artists and crafts people from allover the world. Community pride is expressed with enthusiasm as special community events such as Fourth of July celebrations, Christmas Parades, and sailboat regattas. Over 200 organized groups provide opportunities for participation and community involvement.