Scottish pipes and drums, San Juan Festival, Ais paddle, more Oktoberfest top this weekend

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

Buy PhotoWalking Tree Brewery’s second annual Oktoberfest is Saturday in Vero Beach. (Photo: HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TCPALM)

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 with the Vero Beach High School Celtic Club at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach on Nov. 10, 2018. (Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM VERO BEACH PIPES AND DRUMS)

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

Buy PhotoPeter Holihen, 5, (left) pours corn kernels over his head as his sister Lucia Holihen, 9, looks on as they spend the morning at Countryside Citrus in north Indian River County , Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. The children spent the morning with fellow homeschool students playing tetherball, corn hole and navigating a 7-acre corn maze. “This is our fourth year to have family activities and our third year to have the maze,” said Brittany Banack, office and retail manager at the farm. “Once we started getting into more of the argitourism we decided to start the corn maze to get more people out to the farm so they can see the operation. It’s a great opportunity to get families outdoors.” Countryside Citrus will be open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 15 through Nov. 20. (Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

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.

MORE: Countryside corn maze to host fundraising weekends for Buggy Bunch, park restoration

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

Buy PhotoThe United States Parachuting Association’s National Parachuting Championships practice at Skydive Sebastian, 400 Airport Drive West, at the Sebastian Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. The competition features three different events, the accuracy tests, through Saturday Sept. 22nd, canopy formations Thursday 20th through Monday 24th, and the canopy piloting taking place the following Tuesday 25th through Friday 28th. The event is free to the public.  (Photo: ERIC HASERT/TCPALM)

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

Buy PhotoThe Ultra Soca Fest is Sunday at Causeway Cove Marina in Fort Pierce. (Photo: LEAH VOSS/TCPALM)

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

Buy PhotoThe 15th annual San Juan Festival is Saturday at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center. (Photo: JEREMIAH WILSON/TCPALM)

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

Buy PhotoAn invasive plant removal volunteer event is Saturday at Savannas Preserve State Park in Port St. Lucie. (Photo: LEAH VOSS/TCPALM)

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

Buy PhotoThe Ais on the Lagoon Community Paddle and Breakfast is Sunday and begins at the U.S. Sailing Center in Jensen Beach. (Photo: Patrick Dove)

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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ADVERTISING

Learn 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