Best bets: Holiday concerts in Melbourne, shopping in Cocoa Village and Titusville

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Due to potential changes and cancellations, we encourage you to check with presenting organizations about the status of their events.

Brevard Symphony Orchestra performs family holiday concert

Brevard Symphony Orchestra brims with holiday cheer in “Sounds of the Season,” its annual holiday concert that is slated for 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, at the King Center. The fun-filled and family-friendly program includes holiday favorites such as “Sleigh Ride” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” traditional carols and stellar selections from holiday movies such as “The Polar Express.”

Leading the orchestra is Christopher Confessore, conductor for the Candlelight Processional holiday concerts at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. Guest artists include POPS favorite pianist Rich Ridenour and vocalist Karen Shriner.

“It’s the perfect time to connect with family over music that puts us all in the warm holiday spirit,” said BSO executive director David Schillhammer. Tickets to the concert start at $19 and are on sale at brevardsymphony.com/holiday or at kingcenter.com or call 321-345-5052.

Also at the King Center

The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. For tickets and additional information, visit kingcenter.com or call 321-242-2219.

• Tom Segura: Comedian and podcast host Tom Segura brings his ‘I’m Coming Everywhere’ world tour to the King Center on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. He is best known for his Netflix specials, ‘Ball Hog,’ ‘Disgraceful,' ‘Mostly Stories’ and ‘Completely Normal.’ Tickets start at $49.

• Dave Koz and Friends: Join saxophonist Dave Koz for a holiday concert at the King Center on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. Special guests include David Benoit, Rick Braun, Peter White and Rebecca Jade. “This is the 13th Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour BMG has presented at the King Center since Dave Koz’s Smooth Jazz Christmas first visited in 1997,” said Roland Guilarte, proprieter of Brevard Music Group. “We’re excited to bring back to the King Center what has become a Brevard holiday tradition!” Tickets start at $64.

Space Coast Symphony hosts 'Gather Together' concert in Melbourne

After the turkey is gobbled and Black Friday purchase have been made, it’s time for a musical respite, provided by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s “We Gather Together” concert.

At 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, the orchestra will be joined by Grammy Award-winning pianist Jeffrey Biegel at the Scott Center for the Performing Arts at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 5625 Holy Trinity Drive in north Melbourne. The New York City resident will be featured during the World Premiere of Christopher Marshall’s “Thanksgiving Variations,” based on the popular hymn, “We Gather Together.”

In 2019, Kenneth Fuchs's "Piano Concerto: 'Spiritualist'" with the London Symphony Orchestra led by JoAnn Falletta received a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium, featuring Biegel as its soloist. In 2019, the first digital recordings were released on Biegel's Naturally Sharp label: "Cyberecital: An Historic Recording", "A Pianist's Journey", and the September 2021 release of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" 1924 version with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Kiesling conducting.

In 2022, he will premiere Jim Stephenson's piano concerto, Daniel Perttu's 'A Planets Odyssey' for piano and orchestra, Farhad Poupel's "The Legend of Bijan and Manije" for piano, orchestra and chorus, and Peter Boyer's "Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue" in 2023.

Biegel’s performance is just the beginning for this multi-faceted concert that also features the “Peanuts Concerto,” based on the music of Vince Guaraldi, composer of the beloved Peanuts specials. The new arrangement of the upbeat Guaraldi classic is a three-movement work for piano and orchestra.

“We Gather Together” will also feature works by Aaron Copland, including “Simple Gifts” from his ballet score, “Appalachian Spring.” T

“If you've been wondering how to entertain your out-of-town guests, this concert is it!” said conductor Aaron Collins.  

Tickets are $30 in advance, available at SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at Marine Bank & Trust in Suntree. Tickets at the door are $35. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. Call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.

Sip, shop, repeat in Cocoa Village

 Visit Historic Cocoa Village from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, for the opportunity of snagging unique gifts while sampling wines and hors d’oeures. Tickets for the 2022 “Shop Small Sip & Stroll” are $30, which includes a commemorative wine glass, shopping bag, map of participating merchants and entrance into a drawing for Village Bucks. Visit VisitCocoaVillage.com.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa at The Avenue Viera

Santa and the Mrs. officially kick off the holiday season at The Avenue Viera from 5 to 8 p.m., Black Friday, Dec. 25. Visit with the couple, write letters to them, peruse vendors, do crafts and enjoy a DJ Holiday Dance Party, all in Central Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus will help light the 34-foot Christmas tree in front of Panera Bread at 7 p.m. Enjoy a reading of the “Night Before Christmas” by Mrs. Claus before Santa leads the countdown to the lighting ceremony. Holiday carriage rides available for $5 in front of AMC Theaters. Arrive early to the check-in table to reserve times.

Art calendar includes scenes from Brevard

Ever year, members of Eau Gallery create beautiful, historic scenes to form the gallery’s popular calendar. The calendars are purchased by customers from around the country. This year, calendars are available in person at the gallery or by calling 321-253-5553. The more you buy, the more you save.

Picking up the calendars in person will allow you to take in Vanessa Bates’ current show. Somewhere between digital and traditional art lies the quirkiness that populates Bates’ art. At the dawn of the Artificial Intelligence Era, this artist explores a variety of media to demonstrate one of many ways to dodge the threat of rendered concepts. The intention is to provide hope and demonstrate the human touch. The show runs through Nov. 29. Visit eaugallery.com.

One Senior Place in Suntree hosts fashion show and tea

One Senior Place, the Cape Canaveral Pen Women and the Sharing Center of Central Brevard are out to prove that looking chic need not cost much. To do so, the three organizations are orchestrating a fashion show and tea that will feature fashions from the Sharing Center Thrift Store modeled by representatives from the Sharing Center and Cape Canaveral Pen Women. The free event runs from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera. Tea and refreshments will be provided. A pop-up boutique, raffle baskets and book sale will benefit the Sharing Center. RSVP at OneSeniorPlace.com or by calling 321-751-6771.

Blues artist performs at Earl's in Sebastian

Mike Zito and his band will play at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, at Earl’s Hideaway, 1405 Indian River Drive, Sebastian. Zito recently won the Best Blues Rock Album Award from The Blues Foundation in Memphis for for "Resurrection." He toured and recorded an album with friend and label-mate Albert Castiglia. The CD will be coming out in early 2023. Now he is continuing his solo tour in support of his latest CD, which is a live recording, “Blues for the Southside,” from Gulf Coast Records. There is no cover for the concert. Visit earlshideaway.com/events.

Space Coast Light Fest runs through New Year's Day in Palm Bay

Every day from 6:30 to 10 p.m. now through Jan. 1, Fred Poppe Regional Park in Palm Bay will glow with the Space Coast Light Festival. The drive-through event, formerly held at Wickham Park in Melbourne, transforms the park into a winter wonderland of shimmering lights and animated displays. The displays end in a 200-foot “Light Tunnel” exploding with lights. Tickets include multiple drive-throughs, a Christmas “Mirror Me” photo booth and other photo ops, plus a visit with Santa, on site through Dec. 24. Stroll nights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 to 11, and Dec. 30, 31 and Jan. 1, allow for a leisurely walk through the festival. Tickets start at $20 for cars and $5 for motorcycles. Stroll nights are $5 per person. Private hayrides are available starting at $90. Fred Poppe Regional Park is at  1951 Malabar Road, Palm Bay. Purchase tickets at spacecoastlightfestival.com.  

Shop local

Downtown Art Gallery, 335 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, invites customers to celebrate and “Shop Local” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26.

Member artists have collaborated to present hand-crafted, unique holiday gift items. To make the experience even sweeter, the gallery serve mimosa samplers all day. Sip and stroll through the gallery’s five rooms of cool local, Florida-themed art. Originals and prints are available in every price range. Their “Take Off Florida” collection of works capturing rocket launches is a Space Coast favorite. Just for the holidays are ornaments, embossed journals, floral pockets, jewelry, note cards, petite paintings and more, and several artists will be offering holiday discounts. Call 321-268-0122 or visit facebook.com/downtownartgallery.

Larry Stephenson Band

JT’s Bluegrass presents the Larry Stephenson Band in concert at Shepherd’s Hall, 2063 Garden Street, Titusville, on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $28. Call 321-222-7797 or visit jtsbluegrass.com.

Library anniversary celebration

From 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, the Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library, 308 Forrest Ave. in Cocoa will celebrate a half-century milestone with a party that includes refreshments, historical displays, speakers and a chance for attendees to record their library memories on video. The library system will also unveil a limited-edition golden library card that replicates the rocket branding used by the libraries during the 1970s. Patrons can swap out their old cards for the new design, but only until supplies run out. Visit brevardfl.gov/PublicLibraries.

Cocoa Beach Art Show

After you’ve gobbled ‘till you wobbled on Thanksgiving, plan to walk off the extra calories while taking in the Cocoa Beach Art Show along Minuetmen Causeway and Brevard Ave. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26 and 27. The art show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but that is just the beginning. Live music featuring the Aquanuts, Chase & Mondo Tikis, Whisky Juju and Karalyn & The Dawn Patrol runs all day until 11 p.m. Saturday. The music lineup featuring Kevin Ebright, Cherry Down and Tru Phonic goes from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m Sunday. Admission is free. Call 321-749-7874 or visit cocoabeachartshow.org.

Still playing

• ‘Irving Berlin’s White Christmas’: Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II in this musical at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Dec. 18. Tickets are $27-$35. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.

• ‘Peter Pan’: The musical is on stage at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., through Dec. 4. Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic story, the show features songs like “I’m Flying” and “I Won’t Grow Up.” Tickets start at $35 for adults, $23 for children, and $33 for seniors, students and active military. Call 321-636-5050 or visit cocoavillageplayhouse.com.

Get in on the act

Auditions for the musical “The Music Man” will be at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 28-29 at 6:30 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger can audition on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. The performance dates are Jan. 27 through Feb. 12, 2023. Call 321-636-5050 or visit cocoavillageplayhouse.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Holiday concerts in Melbourne, shopping ops in Cocoa Village, Titusville