There’s a lot of culture from across the world to be found on the Treasure Coast.
It’s the last weekend of September, and there’s a lot of culture from across the world to be found on the Treasure Coast.
Keep the Oktoberfest celebration going with German beer and authentic food. Embrace Scottish culture with pipes and drums. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at a festival. Paddle the Indian River Lagoon like the Ais tribe of Native Americans did hundreds of years ago.
Have fun enjoying the best things to do in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties.
Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest
Walking Tree Brewery’s second annual Oktoberfest is noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at 3209 Dodger Road in Vero Beach.
Strap on your lederhosen or dirndl and enjoy German traditions, authentic German food, live music, games and beer releases. The traditional Volksmarch, a non-competitive leisurely 1.5-mile walk with neighbors and friends in the community, starts at 11 a.m.
The Firewater Tent Revival plays at 4 p.m. and Gravel Kings go on at 8 p.m. For more information, call 772-217-3502 or go to www.facebook.com/walkingtreebrewery.
Don’t forget a traditional 16-day Oktoberfest celebration continues through Oct. 7 at American Icon Brewery at 1133 19th Place in Vero Beach.
Enjoy German dishes, live music, games and special beer releases. The brewery’s hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 772-934-4266 or go to www.americaniconbrewery.com.
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Embrace Scottish culture
The Vero Beach Pipes and Drums will perform at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday at Downtown Friday on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach. Downtown Friday, which is 6-9 p.m., is free.
The community-based regimental Scottish pipe band consists of bagpipers and drummers from across the Treasure Coast. The nonprofit embraces Scottish culture and traditional dress and values.
On Nov. 10, the band will join the Celtic Club from Vero Beach High School for a 7 p.m. concert on at First Presbyterian Church at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach. Admission is free, but $10 donations are suggested. For more information, call 772-696-2546 or go to www.verobeachpipesanddrums.org.
Find your way in the corn maze
The corn maze at Countryside Citrus begins this weekend at 6325 81st St., in Vero Beach. The maze is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 4. Flashlight nights are 6:30-10 p.m. Oct 19-20.
In addition to finding your way out of the corn maze, other activities include a hay ride, a corn cannon, a jumping pillow, a rat roller, pumpkins, tetherball, cornhole, giant chess, a bull lasso, an old Florida nature trail, a barnyard ball zone, a hillbilly hootenanny, a ring toss, “cornundrums,” a kiddie train, rubber ducky races, a corn crib and family photo opportunities.
Food for sale includes hamburgers, hot dogs, soft-serve ice cream, slushies, snowballs, kettle corn, fresh-squeeze orange juice, lemonade, french fries, pulled pork and chicken tenders.
Admission is $12, but kids younger than 3 years old are free. The hay ride is $3. The corn cannon is $1 per shot. A $15 combo includes admission, the hay ride and a shot on the corn cannon. For more information, call 772-581-0999 or go to www.countrysidecornmaze.com.
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Go to a hoedown
The Special Needs Hoedown is 6-8 p.m. Saturday at LaPorte Farms at 7700 129th St., in Sebastian.
The event includes a live band, dancing, barbecue, steer roping, a photo opportunity and hamburgers and hot dogs. Before the hoedown, there’s a fundraiser for the farm and its founder, Laura LaPorte, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets to the hoedown are free, but registration is required. To RSVP, go to www.laportefarms.com/upcomingevents. You can print your ticket or show the digital version. For more information, call 772-633-0813.
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Watch parachute jumpers
The U.S. Parachute Association’s National Parachuting Championships ends Friday with canopy piloting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Skydive Sebastian at 400 Airport Drive West.
Some of the best athletes in the world have been competing since Sept. 18 in their disciplines of accuracy landing, canopy formation and canopy piloting. Competitions are free to watch. For more information, call 772-388-5672 or go to www.skydiveseb.com.
PHOTOS: Skydivers practice for the USPA National Parachuting Championships at Skydive Sebastian
Listen to live music
The Ultra Soca Fest is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Causeway Cove Marina at 601 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce.
The festival includes live music from Shurwayne Winchester, King Bubba, Ricardo Drue, Baysee Boynes, Leon Coldero, Tony Wylie, Roger George, I-Land Rebels, Tara Lynne and Andrea Rivera.
Tickets are $35 each. VIP tickets, which include food and drinks, are $150 each. For more information, call 772-204-1999 or go to www.ultrasocafest.com.
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Celebrate Hispanic heritage
The 15th annual San Juan Festival is noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center at 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place.
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with live salsa music and entertainment, as well as food and drinks for sale. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids younger than 12 and free for kids younger than 5. For more information, call 772-216-0285 or go to www.prafha.org.
PHOTOS: Last year’s San Juan Festival at the PSL Civic Center
Remove invasive plants
An invasive plant removal volunteer event is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savannas Preserve State Park at 2541 S.E. Walton Road in Port St. Lucie.
Join AmeriCorps volunteers to help pull invasive plants, including rattlebox and Caesar’s weed. Bring gloves, a water bottle and sun protection. Wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Water and a snack will be provided.
To RSVP, email danielle.brady@dep.state.fl.us or ashley.kennedy@dep.state.fl.us. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/friendsofsavannas.
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Paddle like the Ais
The Ais on the Lagoon Community Paddle and Breakfast is 7:30-11 a.m. Sunday and begins at the U.S. Sailing Center at 1955 N.E. Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., and the paddle begins at 8 a.m.
Join the 4.5-mile roundtrip paddle across the Indian River Lagoon and learn about the Ais tribe of Native Americans who inhabited our shorelines centuries ago. The group will paddle to the Florida Oceanographic Society’s shoreline for a breakfast of grits and clams and enjoy a brief educational presentation by local historian and Indian Riverkeeper Marty Baum.
The event is free, but registration is required. To RSVP, go to www.floridaocean.org. For more information, call 772-225-0505 ext. 113.
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ADVERTISINGLearn to dance
The Open House Guest Party at Fred Astaire Dance Studio is 6-8:15 p.m. Friday at 2147 S.E. Federal Highway in Stuart.
The party is designed to guide and introduce new and beginner dancers to the world of dance. The schedule is as follows: meet and greet from 6-6:30 p.m., newcomers group class from 6:30-7 p.m., general dancing from 7-8 p.m. and dance showcase from 8-8:15 p.m.
Admission is free. Light refreshments and snacks will be served. For more information, call 772-678-7368 or go to www.facebook.com/stuartfred.astairedance.
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Source: Scottish pipes and drums, San Juan Festival, Ais paddle, more Oktoberfest top this weekend
