Best Bets: Youth chorus auditions in Suntree; gallery anniversary in Titusville
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Brevard Youth Chorus auditions to be held in Suntree
Brevard Youth Chorus will hold auditions for singers in grades four to 10 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at Advent Lutheran Church in Suntree, 7550 N. Wickham Road.
Membership in the non-profit chorus is open to students in public, private, charter and home-schools. Both boys and girls are encouraged to audition, with Thursday evening rehearsals beginning Sept. 29.
Beth Green, recently named artistic director for the Chorus, taught elementary school music for over a decade. She was awarded Teacher of the Year and earned the prestigious Music Demonstration School designation twice during her time as music specialist at Audubon Elementary. She has worked with school, church and community choirs of all ages and currently conducts the the Indialantic Chamber Singers.
"After new members are auditioned, we will start rehearsing on Thursday evenings for our holiday program,” she said. “Along the way, we'll ensure the youngsters work on their music fundamentals and are having an experience that is meaningful and fun.”
For more information or for an audition appointment time, email BrevardYouthChorus@gmail.com or call 321-610-8731.
Ties, tails, tango event in Cocoa Village
Cocoa Village businesses Tango & Ties and Tails at the Barkery are orchestrating a “Tango for Tails” event from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27, at The Black Tulip Restaurant, 207 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village. The fundraiser will benefit Furever Home Animal Rescue, a nonprofit with a mission to help homeless and neglected animals find new, loving homes while striving to educate and inform the community about responsible animal ownership. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner paired with wine, plus an Argentine Tango show. Cost is $85 per guest. Reserve at 321-631-1133.
Green Gables in Melbourne hosts Harvest Festival
Celebrate fall at Green Gables’ fifth annual Harvest Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at the historic homestead at 1501 S. Harbor City Blvd. Park at the neighboring Reflections building and enjoy perusing through the crafts for sale, from homemade baked goods and jams to plants and jewelry. Food trucks will be there, too. The event also includes entertainment and tours of the home. New this year is a re-sale bazaar for anyone who wishes to buy — or sell — whatever. Admission to the festival is free. House tours cost a minimum donation of $10, or free for kids under 12. Visit greengables.org or call 321-794-8901.
Cocoa Village plans Harvest Moon Sip & Stroll shopping event
Celebrate the change of seasons with “Under the Harvest Moon Sip & Stroll,” presented by Historic Cocoa Village Main Street from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sep 24. Welcome fall in style with wine samplings, hors d'oeuvres and shopping deals. Prefer beer? No problem, since the event also provides beer samplings.
Tickets, which are $30, include a commemorative wine glass, shopping bag and a map of the participating merchants. Ticket purchase automatically enters guests into the drawing for one of four prizes in Village Bucks. Additionally, for each of the Treasure Zone businesses visited, participants receive a chance to snag the Treasure Zone Village Bucks prize of $100. Visit VisitCocoaVillage.com.
More sipping, more shopping in downtown Melbourne
Downtown Melbourne is also offering a special sip-and-hop event from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22. Participating businesses will offer samples of wine or cocktails for you to enjoy while you shop and browse. Ticket holders will receive a map of the participating businesses, a tasting glass and a fun night. Tickets are $25. Purchase at downtownmelbourne.com.
Space Coast Pride Parade and Festival
The parade will start at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Ave., and proceed through Downtown Melbourne on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. The festival continues through 6 p.m., and will include entertainment, vendor booths, food, drinks, swag, glitter, unicorns and more. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/events/597150041817542.
U2 ‘The Joshua Tree’
Classic Albums Live gives a concert recreating U2’s ‘The Joshua Tree’ on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. The show will be at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. Tickets start at $26.95. Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com.
‘Kickoff Sock Hop’
Melbourne Municipal Band will perform a concert of music from the ‘50s and ‘60s at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E Hibiscus Blvd., on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Admission is $15, and refreshments will be for sale at the event. Call 321-724-0555 or visit mmband.org.
Buckaroo Ball
Harmony Farms hosts its annual fundraising event, the Buckaroo Ball, to celebrate its 30th anniversary. It will be at the Space Coast Convention Center, 301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa, on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will include dinner, silent and live auctions and more. Proceeds will benefit the therapeutic riding program at Harmony Farms. Tickets are $65. Call 321-631-9433, email hfbuckaroos@gmail.com, or visit harmonyfarmsinc.com.
Oyster and Fish Fry
The historic Field Manor house, 750 Field Manor Drive, Merritt Island, hosts its annual fundraising event on Oct. 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. It will include a seafood bar, a fish fry, an exclusive citrus beer brewed by Bugnutty Brewery, a silent auction and more. Proceeds will benefit efforts to preserve the Field Manor homestead. Presale-only tickets are $55 for adults and $15 for kids, available on eventbrite.com. Tickets sales close Oct. 8 at midnight. Visit fieldmanor.org/oyster-and-fish-fry.
West Virginia Day picnic
The public is invited to attend a West Virginia Day picnic at Fox Lake Park, 4400 Fox Lake Road, Titusville, on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 12:45 to 3:15 p.m. It will include free hot dogs while they last, an egg toss and a pie eating contest. Bring a chair and a picnic lunch if desired. Alcohol is prohibited, and face masks are requested. Admission is free. Call 321-267-7343 or email guindolaj1@aol.com.
Warrior Women’s Expo
The event to encourage women to be warriors in their own lives will take place at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, 6350 Horizon Drive, Titusville, on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be vendors for shopping and training opportunities, food trucks, and more. Keynote speakers include ex-CIA and author Michele Rigby Assad and retired Secret Service agent Lynda R. Williams. Admission is $25. Visit eventbrite.com.
Still playing
‘Ain’t Misbehavin’: The show is playing at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Oct. 2. The musical revue is a sassy, sultry celebration of legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. The songs will delight and energize audiences as well as provide great insight into a vibrant time in American history and music. Tickets start at $27. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.
‘Glorious! The True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the Worst Singer in the World’: The comedy is at Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach, through Oct. 2. In 1940s New York, tone-deaf soprano Florence Foster Jenkins was the performer who everyone wanted to see. Tickets are $25-$28. Call 321-783-3127 or visit surfsideplayers.com.
Titusville gallery marks 20 years of art
Downtown Art Gallery in Titusville will celebrate the big 2-0 from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. . Owners Jeff and Heidi Thamert have served Central Florida with great local art, picture framing and vibrant culture since 2002.
Jeff grew up in Seattle and came to Florida to help his uncle, who owned the popular Kloiber’s Cobbler Eatery in downtown Titusville. Heidi is from Michigan, but her parents wintered in Florida and she got a job at the restaurant. The couple bonded over a love of photography.
When a small space became available next to Kloiber’s, they opened a framing shop with room to display their art. Jeff had learned the basics of framing to display their work, and over the years he took classes in advanced techniques and art conservation and preservation.
As adjoining spaces became vacant, they expanded and invited local artists to join them in the gallery. They now boast five large showrooms, one of the largest galleries in Florida.
“The amount of talented artists in our area is amazing, and we love being at the center of art and culture in our community,” said Heidi Thamert.
Join the fun at 335 S. Washington Ave. with champagne, wine and music. Nibble on tasty hors d’oeuvres as you leisurely explore the gallery’s five showrooms while listening to the acoustic sounds of RG Evans and watch watercolor expert Diane DeShong Cannon do a painting demo.
The first 50 adult attendees will receive a free signature logo wine glass. All visitors will be entered to win a signed, limited edition 24 x 36 framed art piece by Jeff Thamert. Admission is free. Visit the Facebook event page “Cheers to 20 Years!” or call 321-268-0122.
Merritt Island library plans corn husk doll presentation
Go home with a corn husk doll after attending the Space Coast Weavers & Fiber Artists’ next meeting at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept 24, at Merritt Island Public Library, 1950 N. Courtenay Parkway. Speaker Sherry Randolph will present a program on these long-loved dolls and help attendees create one just in time for fall.
The dolls originate with Native Americans, who used the husks to weave into mats, baskets and doll-like figures for children. When finished, they would be decorated with corn husk or fabric clothing. Horsehair could be used as the doll’s hair, and sometimes flowers or beads decorated the doll. Although they were considered children’s toys, they also played a part in healing ceremonies and became part of native legends.
Students should bring scissors, glue, a small towel and scraps of fabric and yarn. There is a $1 fee for the cornhusks and other materials provided. Call Jeanie McCormack at 321-266-1610.
Food Truck Friday in Rockledge
It’s Food Truck Friday in Rockledge from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, at City Hall. For a list of participating food trucks, visit cityofrockledge.org.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard events: Titusville gallery anniversary, Rockledge food trucks
