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PORT ST. LUCIE – The City of Port St. Lucie’s four-legged residents will have a new place to run and play when the City’s third dog park opens on Saturday, August 3, at McChesney Park.
“We are excited to offer the City’s third dog park and serve our furry, four-legged friends and their owners with a park in the western sector of the City,” said Sherman Conrad, Parks & Recreation Director.
The new dog park will be similar in size and design to the one within Lyngate Park at three-quarters of an acre. The McChesney Dog Park, at 1585 SW Cashmere Blvd., will consist of three separate fenced-in compounds; one each for small, medium and large dogs. It will include benches, water fountains, shade structures and an obstacle course for the dogs.
McChesney Dog Park will be open between 8 a.m. until sunset seven days a week. The City will hold a small opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on August 3 to commemorate this exciting enhancement to McChesney Park.
All dogs who visit must have current licenses and vaccinations. Dogs that are aggressive or in heat are not allowed. There are no lights for nighttime use. Pet owners are responsible for picking up after their pets. Doggie waste stations with bags and disposal containers will be provided. Admission and parking are free.
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Here are the best events and things to do in Hobe Sound, Indiantown, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.
Treasure Coast
The 12th annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup is 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at 24 different locations across the area. Volunteers meet up to clean up 125 miles of waterways across three counties. Since 2008, more than 9,500 volunteers, plus more than 2,700 boats, have removed more than 82 tons of trash from local waterways. For more information, call 772-486-6460 or go to www.tcwaterwaycleanup.com.
Here are the cleanup locations:
Hobe Sound: Jimmy Graham Boat Ramp, 8555 S.E. Gomez Ave.; Johnathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 S.E. Federal Highway
Palm City: Leighton Park Boat Ramp, 2701 S.W. Cornell Ave.
Stuart: Sandsprit Park Boat Ramp, 3443 S.E. St. Lucie Blvd.; Stuart Causeway Boat Ramp, Southeast Ocean Boulevard
Jensen Beach: Indian RiverSide Park Boat Ramp, 1707 N.E. Indian River Drive; Jensen Beach Causeway Boat Ramp, 889 N.E. Causeway Blvd.
Port St. Lucie: C-24 Canal Park Boat Ramp, 500 S.E. Oakridge Drive; River Park Marina, 500 E. Prima Vista Blvd.; Veterans Park at Rivergate, 2200 S.E. Veterans Memorial Parkway
Fort Pierce: Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Drive; Fort Pierce Yacht Club, 700 N. Indian River Drive; Harbortown Marina, 1936 Harbortown Drive; Jaycee Park Boat Ramp, Melaleuca Drive; Manatee Center Boat Ramp, 480 N. Indian River Drive; Pelican Yacht Club, 1120 Seaway Drive; Smithsonian Marine Station, 420 Seaway Drive; Stan Blum Boat Ramp, 613 North Beach Causeway; White City Park, 2081 W. Midway Road
Vero Beach: Riverside Park Boat Ramp, 350 Dahlia Lane; Vero Beach Municipal Marina, 3611 Rio Vista Blvd.
Wabasso: Wabasso Causeway Boat Ramp, State Road 510
Sebastian: Sebastian Main Street Boat Ramp, Main Street and North Indian River Drive
Micco: Sebastian Inlet Marina, 8685 U.S. 1
Martin County
The Paddle & Boat Beach Cleanup of the north end of the Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge is 8-10:30 a.m. Friday at the Jimmy Graham Boat Ramp, 8555 S.E. Gomez Ave., Hobe Sound. Volunteer to help remove trash accumulating near the Peck Lake area. People can bring their own paddleboards or kayaks to leave the boat ramp at 8 a.m. Others can take a boat leaving at 8:30 a.m. Bring reusable water bottles. Water, gloves and trash bags are provided. Wear hats and sunscreen. To RSVP, call 772-546-6141. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/hobesoundnwr.
The Library Foundation of Martin County’s fifth annual FanFest is 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the Elisabeth Lahti Library, 15200 S.W. Adams Ave., Indiantown. The event for grades 6-12 includes board games, crafts, video game tournaments and costumes. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/martincountylibrarysystem.
The Young Professionals of Martin County’s Summer Bash is 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Oceanographic Society, 890 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart. The bash features an open bar, a buffet, music, raffles and a “South Florida tropical” theme. Raffle proceeds benefit the Florida Oceanographic Society. Ages 21 and older only. Admission is $30 in advance and $40 at the door. For more information, go to www.ypmc.org/events.
The Pig Roast & Luau at Castaways Gastropub is 2-10 p.m. Saturday at 911 N.E. Jensen Beach Blvd. Enjoy all you can eat for $25, a limbo contest and life-size games. Plus, Terrapin’s Luau Krunkles IPA and New Belgium’s Passion Fruit Kolsch are being tapped. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/castawaysfla.
Indian River County
The Environmental Learning Center’s Mangroves & Malts event with Walking Tree Brewery is 5-8 p.m. Friday at 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach. Walk through mangrove forests and learn about different types of mangroves. Stop along the way to sample and learn about local craft beer. The event also includes live music, cornhole and croquet. Admission is $20. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/discoverelc.
The Tommy Shoaf Tribute Concert is 7-11 p.m. Saturday at Walking Tree Brewery, 3209 Dodger Road, Vero Beach. Celebrate the life of a local musician with seven bands playing live music. Then, the Clothing Swap to benefit the Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach is noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the brewery. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/walkingtreebrewery.
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s “One Giant Leap: A Tribute to Apollo” is 3-5 p.m. Sunday at The Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd St. The space-themed concert commemorates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. The music is enhanced by footage of the Apollo missions and other NASA programs projected on a large screen above the orchestra. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. It’s free for ages 18 and younger with student ID. For more information, call 855-252-7276 or go to www.spacecoastsymphony.org.
St. Lucie County
The Vinyl Night at Sailfish Brewing Company is 8-11 p.m. Friday at 130 N. Second St., Fort Pierce. More live music continues at the brewery Saturday and Sunday. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/sailfishbrewingcompany.
The Caribbean American Culture Group’s third annual Treasure Coast Jerk Festivalis noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce. The festival features food for sale, live music, entertainment, vendors and a children’s zone. Bring blankets and folding chairs. Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the event. It’s $10 for kids older than 12 and free for kids ages 12 and younger. For more information, go to cacgpsl.com.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie’s Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
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Escape the heat or dive right into it this weekend at the best events and things to do across the Treasure Coast. Here’s What To Do in 772.
St. Lucie County
IRSC Hallstrom Planetarium’s Open House events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and moon landing are 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Indian River State College main campus, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce. The event includes using a telescope to view the planets Jupiter and Saturn, showing highlight films of the Apollo missions, asking people who experienced them to reminisce and discussing the future of missions to the moon. For more information, call 772-462-7515 or go to www.irsc.edu.
The Rise of a Warrior 26: Live Cage Fights are 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. All fighters are local. General admission is $25 each, and VIP cage side admission is $45. All ages welcome. For more information, call 772-267-7491 or go to www.facebook.com/risefights.
Kids Fest is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Tradition Square, 10824 S.W. Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie. The event features games, bounce houses, music, characters, prizes, demonstrations, crafts, art vendors and food for sale. Wristbands are $10 each. For more information, go to flkidsfest.com.
The Sip, Shop & Stroll Halfway to Christmas art show with the Fort Pierce Jazz Society is 1-5 p.m. Sunday at Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery, 4200 Johnston Road, north of Fort Pierce. Enjoy live music by a five-piece swing ensemble and food trucks. Proceeds benefit St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity. For more information, call 772-460-0500 or go to www.summercrushwine.com.
Indian River County
The Apollo 11 Party in the Brackett Library’s Bjorkman Room starts at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Indian River State College, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach. Kids can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with a presentation, games, crafts and 1960s and space-themed costumes. For more information, call 772-770-5060 or go to www.irclibrary.org.
The Downtown Vero Beach Mural Project Charity Bar is 6-11:30 p.m. Friday at Kilted Mermaid, 1937 Old Dixie Highway. All proceeds benefit the mural project. Plus, enjoy live music, raffles and arts and crafts vendors. For more information, go to www.veromuralproject.org.
Christmas in July is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1, corner of County Road 512, Sebastian. The event includes entertainment, a silent auction, raffles, small business vendors, food, games and face painting. Proceeds benefit Shop with a Cop. For more information, call 772-978-6248 or go to www.facebook.com/ircsheriff.
The Three-Year Anniversary Block Party is noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Walking Tree Brewery, 3209 Dodger Road, Vero Beach. The party features live music from four bands, five food trucks, water slides and children’s activities. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/walkingtreebrewery.
Martin County
The Beach Cleanup with the Surfrider Foundation Treasure Coast Chapter is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Jensen Beach, or Sea Turtle Beach, 4191 N.E. Ocean Blvd. Walk the beach in a group effort to clean it up for turtle nesting. Gloves and buckets are provided. For more information, go to treasurecoast.surfrider.org.
The Family Fun Day is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 10th Street Community Center, Guy Davis Sports Complex, 724 S.E. 10th St., Stuart. It includes games, bounce houses, a dunk tank, obstacle courses, a silent auction, a raffle and food for sale. Wristbands are $5 each. For more information, call 772-349-3649 or go to www.facebook.com/mcspanthers.
The Zumba-thon is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Kane Center, 900 S.E. Salerno Road, south of Stuart. The event features 11 local Zumba instructors. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Proceeds benefit Kane Center programming. For more information, call 772-223-7800 or go to www.kanecenter.org.
Grooves at Gilbert’s is 8-11 p.m. Saturday at Gilbert’s Coffee Bar, 615 S.W. Anchorage Way, Stuart. Enjoy a DJ playing disco and house music, $4 beers and $5 wines. For more information, call 772-214-1522 or go to www.facebook.com/gilbertscoffeebar.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie’s Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
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