Best Bets: Whiskey and beer festivals, Kenny Wayne Shepherd coming to Brevard

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

Whiskey in the District

The popularity of whiskey culture will be on full display in the Eau Gallie Arts District from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. This festival, to benefit the Eau Gallie Arts District, will offer four types of tickets. Whiskey Sampler tickets for $40 include four whiskey sampling tickets, one bar ticket, one bottle of water and one food truck meal. Highland Pass tickets for $75 offer the same access, but with 10 whiskey sampling tickets. VIP Key tickets for $125 include 20 sampling tickets, two bar tickets, two bottles of water and one meal. Upgraded "Vault Experience" tickets for $225 will also include a two-hour private tasting of elite and rare whiskeys, guided by an expert. Participants must be 21 or over. Visit egadlife.com/whiskey.

Cocoa Village Brewer's Bash

Enjoy Florida craft beer, music and river views at Riverfront Park, 401 Riveredge Blvd, Cocoa, on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. More than 65 breweries from across the state will serve unlimited beer and cider samples. There will be live rock and country music by Alter Ego performing in the bandshell. Tickets to the family- and pet-friendly event are $50, available at Eventbrite.com, Dirty Oar Beer Company or Village Idiot Pub. Proceeds will benefit Survive First Foundation. Call 321-301-4306 or visit dirtyoarbeercompany.com.

Gastropalooza III

Prepare for the clash of the culinary titans at Gastropalooza III on Friday, Feb. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. in Central Park at The Avenue Viera, 2250 Town Center Ave., Melbourne. Executive Chef CJ Hughes from 28 North Gastropub will face off against Food Network Guy's Grocery Games Winner, Celebrity Chef Travis Peters in a three-course culinary showdown. In between courses, enjoy live music from Tru Phonic, and the products of local farmers, craft brewers and artisan food makers. Admission to the music and maker’s market is free. Tickets for food and beverages are $25 for all you can eat food, $25 for all you can drink beverages, or $45 for both food and beverages. Visit eventbrite.com.

Happening 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.

• Comedy Tonight: Brevard Symphony Orchestra will perform a fun-filled program on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the King Center. Highlights include the ‘Pink Panther’ theme, Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Comedy Tonight,’ music from ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ ‘The Office’ and more. Tickets start at $19.

• Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band: Blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd brings his “Trouble Is...” 25^th anniversary tour to the King Center on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $69.75.

Vanessa Collier in concert

Blues singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Vanessa Collier will perform at Heidi's Jazz Club, 7 N. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Collier's live shows are memorable and high-voltage, and her backing band provides a musical backdrop for her performance with saxophone, sometimes guitar, and vocals. Tickets start at $20. Visit heidisjazzclub.com.

Palm Opry Classic Country Music at The Tangiers

The Tangiers, 4500 Dixie Highway, Unit 1A, Palm Bay, presents the country music show on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.  The Palm Opry Band, featuring singers Alfie Silva and Thomas Tritt, will take you on a trip to "Luckenbach, Texas" performing the most popular and favorite songs from Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Tickets start at $40. Call 321-327-8759 or visit thetangiersflorida.com.

Eirinn Abu and Pedro Alfonso in concert

Saxophonist Eirinn Abu and violinist Pedro Alfonso will give a concert at Great Outdoors Community Church, 144 Plantation Drive, Titusville, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. The two multi-platinum artists will perform classic love songs from Eirinn’s album “Ten Love Stories” along with gospel hymns. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Call 321-385-9731.

The Rocket Man Show: Elton John tribute concert

Elton John tribute artist Rus Anderson will perform at the Emerson Center, 1590 27^th Ave., Vero Beach, on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. Anderson was Elton John’s official body double for his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” world tour and can recreate the magic and persona of the superstar like no other. The fun, flamboyant concert is performed live, with no tracks or lip-syncing. Tickets start at $40. Visit musicworksconcerts.com.

Ditchfield Family Singers: A Valentine's Concert

Two concerts of love songs will be at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 and 7 p.m. The Ditchfield Family Singers are renowned for their close harmony and unique family blend, highlighted in their mastery of their a capella repertoire. This concert is presented as part of the Dr. Vernon Boushell Concert Series. Admission is free, but tickets are required. RSVP by calling 386-320-3112 or visit RiversidePresbyterianChurch.org.

Brevard Schools' science fairs at Merritt Island, Melbourne malls

Want to feel inspired about the future? Check out the work of Brevard’s middle- and high school science research students and ask them questions about their projects at one of the upcoming regional science fairs. On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, projects for the Intracoastal Science Fair will be on display at Merritt Square Mall. The Mainland Science Fair will be at Merritt Square Mall on Feb. 10 and 11, and the South Science Fair will be at Melbourne Square Mall on Feb. 17 and 18. Admission is free.

Final weekend of the Brevard Renaissance Fair

This is the final weekend for the event at Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne. The fair wraps up with “Celtic Weekend” on Feb. 4-5, when guests have a chance to parade their well-turned calves at the “Bonnie Knees Kilt Contest.” Single day tickets are $22 online or $26 at the gate. Multi-day flex passes start at $42 online or $46 at the gate. "Royal Family" season ticket packages are available for $134 or $137 at the gate. Pets on leashes may be admitted for $10 a day or $32 for a season pass. Call 321-458-3515 or visit brevardrenaissancefair.com.

Chivalry, costumes and fun:The 2023 Renaissance Fair takes over Wickham Park

Art show and sale

The Central Brevard Art Association presents its annual spring art show and sale at the Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Ave., on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, local artists will sell a variety of original fine art and prints, photography, jewelry, sculpture and more. Gift baskets will be raffled to benefit the CBAA scholarship fund. Admission is free. Call 321-806-8065 or visit cbaaartists.com.

Ranger-led tour

Turkey Creek Sanctuary, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay, offers free ranger-led tours on the first and third Sundays of most months, excluding holidays, from 10 to 11 a.m. Participants should meet at the sanctuary Nature Center and bring sturdy tennis shoes or boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, snacks, binoculars and a hat. Tours will take place on the boardwalk and various trails. Each tour will be led by a park ranger and will focus on common plants and animals found in the sanctuary. Total distance for tours is approximately 1 to 1.5 miles and should take about 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours to complete. Admission is free. To sign up, call the Nature Center at 321-676-6690.

Still playing

• ‘Evita’: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical about the former first lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, is on stage at the Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne through Feb. 5. The Tony-winning musical follows Eva from poor illegitimate child to the most powerful woman in Latin America. Tickets start at $34. Call 321-723-8698 or visit henegarcenter.com.

• ‘Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville’: This musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics is on stage at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Feb. 12. The show features classic songs including 'Cheeseburger in Paradise,' 'Margaritaville' and more. Tickets start at $27. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.

• ‘Lettice and Lovage’: The comedy is on stage at Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, Through Feb. 19. It is about a flamboyant tour guide who loves to embellish the history behind an English country house, who butts heads with a fact-conscious official at the house. Tickets are $30. Call 321-723-6935 or visit mymct.org.

• ‘The Music Man’: The show is playing at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., through Feb. 23. Fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill gets his heart stolen by a small-town librarian. 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.

Central Brevard Rock & Gem show on Merritt Island

The Central Brevard Rock and Gem Club hosts their annual Rock & Gem Show at the Kiwanis Island Recreation Center, 951 Kiwanis Island Park, Merritt Island, on Saturday, Feb 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be hourly door prizes, a silent auction, kid's activities, demonstrations and more. Admission is $6, or free for kids ages 12 and younger. Visit centralbrevardgems.com.

Getting emotional over art

The Studios of Cocoa Beach opens “Emotions of Color,” an exhibit of paintings by Phyllis Shipley, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, at the gallery, 159 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach. The reception is an opportunity to meet the artist, enjoy wine and appetizers, and explore the gallery. The exhibit runs through Feb. 27. For more information, visit studiosofcocoabeach.org.

Maria Sonnenberg contributed to this report. Do you have a community event? Email tgif@floridatoday.com or toastofthecoastfloridatoday@gmail.com at least two weeks in advance for consideration for the Best Bets roundup.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, whiskey and beer festivals coming to Brevard