Art Festival, NatureFest, Bark-a-Palooza, Mardi Gras parties top things to do this weekend

 

Here are the best events and things to do this weekend in Stuart, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach and Sebastian.

It’s the last full weekend of February on the Treasure Coast.

Check out the best events and things to do in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, including Mardi Gras celebrations and long-running art and nature festivals.

Here’s What To Do in 772 this weekend.

Martin County

The 30th annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Southwest Osceola Street, Stuart. It’s an outdoor gallery stroll that features more than 200 local and national artists displaying sculptures, paintings, jewelry, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, collage and mixed media. Plus, the Live Well Be Well Tour includes as area of booths that offer information and demonstrations on current health and medical practices, sustainable energy alternatives, organic foods, homeopathic treatments and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Admission is free. Pets are welcome on leashes. Proceeds benefit Stuart Main Street. For more information, call 561-746-6615 or go to artfestival.com.

The first House a Vet Music Fest is noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Pineapple Field concert venue next to Tako Tiki, 3340 N.E. Pineapple Ave., Jensen Beach. It includes live music by five bands, food and beverage vendors and raffles. Admission is $7 in advance or $10 at the gate. It’s the first fundraiser for the nonprofit, which was created in 2013 to help Habitat for Humanity of Martin County build a home for a veteran. For more information, call 772- 678-8149 or go to facebook.com/takotikijensenbeach.

The 61st annual Martin County Fair concludes this weekend at the Martin County Fairgrounds, 2616 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. It moves to Indiantown next year. Fair hours are 4:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and noon to midnight Saturday. Admission is $10, but it’s reduced to $5 with two cans of pet food per person Friday and free for ages 5 and younger Saturday. For more information, call 772-220-3247 or go to martincountyfair.com.

St. Lucie County

The 24th annual NatureFest Celebration is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Manatee Observation and Education Center, 480 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. It features nearly 30 exhibitors showcasing the Treasure Coast’s wildlife, natural resources and outdoors with interactive exhibits; touch-tank demonstrations; children’s activities; selfies with Moe the Manatee; presentations by local environmental specialists, including the Florida Forest Service, Sirenian International, Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves and Friends of the Savannas Preserve State Park. Admission is free. Plus, the center has free admission and hourly fish feedings. For more information, call 772-429-8597 or go to manateeeducationcenter.org.

The 24th annual NatureFest Celebration is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Manatee Observation and Education Center, 480 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce.Buy Photo

The 24th annual NatureFest Celebration is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Manatee Observation and Education Center, 480 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. (Photo: LEAH VOSS/TCPALM)

Outdoor Movie Night at Lyngate Park is 6-8 p.m. Friday at 1301 S.E. Lyngate Drive, Port St. Lucie. The PG-rated film “Because of Winn-Dixie” is based on the book about a girl and her dog in a small Florida town. Admission is free. Bring blankets, chairs and snacks. For more information, call 772-878-2277 or go to facebook.com/cityofpsl.

Mardi Gras at Sailfish Brewing Company is 8-11 p.m. Friday at 130 N. Second St., Fort Pierce. Wear carnival costume or come covered in beads. Ages 21 and older only. Also, the Michael Big Bear benefit with live music, belly dancing performances and astrology readings is 1-7 p.m. Sunday to raise money for the burial of the Native American and Purple Heart Vietnam veteran who died from Agent Orange exposure. For more information, go to facebook.com/sailfishbrewingcompany.

Mardi Gras at Sailfish Brewing Company is 8-11 p.m. Friday at 130 N. Second St., Fort Pierce. Then, Mardi Gras at Filthy’s Fine Cocktails & Beer starts at 10 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 2 a.m. at 1238 16th St., Vero Beach.

Mardi Gras at Sailfish Brewing Company is 8-11 p.m. Friday at 130 N. Second St., Fort Pierce. Then, Mardi Gras at Filthy’s Fine Cocktails & Beer starts at 10 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 2 a.m. at 1238 16th St., Vero Beach. (Photo: FILE PHOTO)

The Calvary Stampede 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Tradition Square, 10799 S.W. Civic Lane, Port St. Lucie. It travels through tree-lined neighborhood streets and ends with refreshments and medals. Registration is $35. For more information, go to calvary5k.com.

The 33rd annual Florida Cracker Trail Ride across the state ends with a parade about 10:30 a.m. Saturday through downtown Fort Pierce. The horseback ride began in Bradenton to honor the history of cattle pioneers. After the Civil War, a group of settlers were known as Florida Crackers because of the cracking sound from the whips they used to flush cows out of palmetto scrub and spur on oxen to pull carts and wagons. Every year, they gathered west of Fort Pierce to drive their giant herd of scrub cattle across the state toward Bradenton and then to Punta Rassa to ship them to Havana. They needed provisions for the trip but didn’t have money, so P.P. Cobb let them fill their saddlebags with his merchandise and pay him after they sold their herds to the Cubans, who paid in Spanish gold coins. The Cracker Trail was the only dry route across Florida with the Kissimmee River and its floodplains to the north and Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades to the south. For more information, go to floridacrackertrail.org.

The Indoor Arts, Crafts & Awareness Day is 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd. Admission is free. The purpose is to raise awareness, promote healthy relationships and raise money to benefit the nonprofit WE LEAP to bring a women and children’s shelter to St. Lucie County. For more information, go to weleap2.org.

Indian River County

The Bark-a-Palooza Family Fun Day is 3-6 p.m. Saturday at American Icon Brewery, 1133 19th Place, Vero Beach. Activities include dog portraits, a bounce house, dog treats made from scratch, samples, giveaways and dogs available for adoption. Proceeds from beers sold benefit the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County. For more information, go to facebook.com/americaniconbrewery.

Mardi Gras at Filthy’s Fine Cocktails & Beer starts at 10 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 2 a.m. at 1238 16th St., Vero Beach. It includes DJ music, beads and drinks specials, such as $4 Abita on draft, $6 hurricane buckets and $6 king cake martinis. For more information, go to facebook.com/drinkatfilthys.

The Sebastian Art Club’s Art by the River is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1. Local artists exhibit and sell works that include oils, watercolors, acrylics, mixed media, photography and sculpture. For more information, call 772-571-6632 or go to sebastianriverartclub.com.

The 30th annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 26 S.W. Osceola St., Stuart.Buy Photo

The 30th annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 26 S.W. Osceola St., Stuart. (Photo: HOBIE HILER)

The 19th annual Daddy Daughter Dance is 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Indian River County IG Center, 1590 Ninth St. S.W., Vero Beach. The theme is Totally Tubular ‘80s for ages 3-11. Cost is $42.80 per couple and $10.70 for each extra child. Registration ends Wednesday. For more information, call 772-226-1732 or go to facebook.com/ircig.

Megan’s Hoedown Fundraiser is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at LaPorte Farms, 7700 129th St., Sebastian. It includes barbecue, a mechanical bull, face painting and pony rides. Proceeds benefit Megan Gowe to help her receive kidney and pancreas transplants. For more information, call 772-633-0813 or go to laportefarms.com.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.

Source: Art Festival, NatureFest, Bark-a-Palooza, Mardi Gras parties top things to do this weekend