Guided beach walks, Greek food, music, outdoor movie among best things to do this weekend
Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Jensen Beach Fine Art & Craft Show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 9-10 in downtown Jensen Beach.
Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Florida Oceanographic Society offers guided walks from 8:30 to 10 a.m. every Sunday at Stuart Beach.
Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Port St. Lucie Greek Festival is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jan. 8-9 and from noon to 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at St. James the Apostle Orthodox Christian Church in Port St. Lucie.
The first art show and festivals are on the calendar this weekend, kicking off high season. There also is some great live music and plenty of other things to do.
Be safe and have fun.
'FROZEN' FRIDAY
It doesn't get much better than a free, family-friendly movie in the great outdoors, unless you're a kid and you get to see the movie with the stars of "Frozen."
The Vero Beach Heritage Center & Citrus Museum, 2140 14th Ave., will have a big screen set up on the green Friday for a 6:30 p.m. showing of "Frozen." Princesses Anna and Elsa will be there at 5:30 p.m., too, as well as food trucks, popcorn and snow cones, and for the adults, "frozen" margaritas. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. No coolers.
THE PIANO MAN
Music fans, and especially piano fans take note: Victor Wainwright and his band will perform from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Earl's Hideaway, 1405 Indian River Drive in Sebastian.
To say he will play the keyboards is an understatement. By all accounts, his fingers will fly and he will pound those keys to a boogie-woogie beat sure to reignite the "is the piano a percussion instrument" debate.
Based out of Memphis, Tennessee, Wainwright tours 300 days a year and won best piano player of the year at the 2013 and 2014 Blues Music Awards. The Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, with a melodic blend of comedy and piano, opens the show. You are welcome to bring your own lawn chair to the outdoor venue but no coolers. There is no cover charge, so bring some cash and remember to tip the musicians if you enjoy the show. For more information, visitwww.earlshideaway.com or call 772-589-5700.
GREEK TO ME
Saint James the Apostle Orthodox Church, 2201 S.E. Airoso Blvd. in Port St. Lucie, is the site for the second annual Port St. Lucie Greek Festival.
Enjoy the traditional foods of Greece and Russia, such as gyros, pierogies, lamb chops, baklava and Russian nut rolls. Regional wines, ouzo and Russian beers and vodka should add to the revelry. Look for vendors, Greek dancers, magic shows, bounce houses and raffles at the rain-or-shine event.
The festival, located next to the Port St. Lucie Community Center, is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.saintjamesorthodox.orgor follow the church on Facebook.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Thirty-five bands will perform at the Bryan Jackson Music Festival, the second annual event honoring the local 26-year-old musician who was killed in car accident in 2013. The rain-or-shine event at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, 15601 W. Midway Road west of Fort Pierce, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and includes children's activities, food trucks, art and craft vendors, full bars, beer stations and a paint party to close out the night. Bring sunscreen, chairs or blankets, and if you plan to stay for the paint party, remember to wear white. Admission is $10; children 12 and younger admitted free. Parking is $4. For more information, visit www.bryanjacksonmusicfestival.com.
ART SHOW
More than 125 local and national artists will line the streets of downtown Jensen Beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for the Jensen Beach Fine Art & Craft Show.
Downtown art galleries and restaurants will be open during the juried show, which will include oils, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, sculpture, photography, pottery, jewelry, textiles, graphics and fine crafts. Admission is free.
GUIDED BEACH WALKS
Why not learn a little on your leisurely stroll on the beach?
Experts from the Florida Oceanographic Society offer guided walks from 8:30 to 10 a.m. every Sunday. You will learn about beach dynamics, biology and oceanography as you walk along Stuart Beach. Reservations are required and cost $12, which includes admission to the center, which opens at noon. Reserve online at www.floridaocean.org or by calling 772-225-0505 by 5 p.m. Saturday.
#TCPalmSocial columnist Ginny Beagan writes about art and entertainment on the Treasure Coast. Contact her at ginny.beagan@tcpalm.com, at 772-223-4732 or follow her on Twitter @GinnyBeagan.
