Family-friendly powwow packs a cultural punch

PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

Get ready for “Thunder on the Beach,” an intertribal powwow this weekend with Native American tribes, including the Seminole, Miccosukee, Lakota Sioux, Kiowa, Cherokee and Ponca. The family-friendly gathering features inter-tribal dancing, crafts competitions, tipi and re-enactment villages. There will also be educational seminars, Native American cuisine and vendors galore trading a host of items including beads, leather goods, herbs and pottery. This event is associated with the longest running intertribal powwow in the Southeast. You can hear music, listen to story tellers, watch dancers and more. Performers include Jack “Crazy Flute” Holland, the Aztec Dancers and more. The Tipi Village and vendor booths open 10 a.m. Saturday. TV and tent camping are available. Full hook-up RV sites are $45 per night. Tent camping sites are $30 per night. Tickets to the powwow are $8 general, $5 for children 6 to 12 years. A three-day pass is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Thunder on the Beach Native American Powwow runs 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Indian River County Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach. For more information, visit FIHA.us.

The Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest returns this weekend. The family-friendly event includes more than 250 craft beers, wings of all stripes, and live music by four bands on two stages. There will also be a root beer tasting contest for kids. It runs 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Royal Palm Pointe, which is south of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge in Vero Beach. The event is presented by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Vero Beach. Beer tasting bracelets are $50 with $10 discounts available at
FloridaCraftBrewAndWingFest.com.

Extend that Valentine’s Day love by seeing the musical “I Do, I Do” running through Feb. 27 at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. It is based on the play “The Fourposter” and stars Beth Shestak and John Catarina as Agnes and Michael, a couple who go through 50 years of passion and devotion, from wedding-night jitters to raising a family to growing old together. The show was written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, the same duo who created “The Fantasticks.” Director Jon Putzke says the show is charming couples young and old. “It’s a very enjoyable, fun show,” he says. “It’s warm and friendly. It has hummable tunes, like ‘My Cup Runneth Over.’ It is the perfect show to do right now.” “I Do, I Do” performs 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $40. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 San Juan Ave. Call 772-562-3200 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com.

There’s more musical theater, this time geared for the younger set, when Vero Beach High School presents Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” This is the stage version of Disney’s endearing animated movie. It tells the story of King Triton’s daughter, the mermaid Ariel, falling in love with the human Prince Eric. The show runs 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St. Tickets are $5 to $15. You can also watch a livestream of the show. Call 772-564-5537 or visit VeroBeachPerformingArts.com.

There’s even more music in store this weekend. Live! from Vero Beach presents Classic Albums Live’s popular “The Beatles: Let It Be” concert 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave. Tickets are $30 to $80. Call 800-595-4849 or visit MusicWorksConcerts.com. The Treasure Coast Jazz Society presents the Ed Metz Jazz Trio at noon Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Vero Beach Yacht Club, 3601 Rio Vista Blvd. Tickets are $40 to $45 with an optional 11:30 a.m. buffet lunch costing $20. Call 772-234-4600 or visit TCJazz.org. The Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band – Jimmy Stowe and the Stowaways – performs at MHA Rocks! Cheeseburger in Paradise 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Oak Harbour Club. Tickets are $90 to $255, with proceeds benefiting the Mental Health Organization. There will also be a buffet, auctions, games and dancing. Call 772-569-9788 or visit MHAIRC.org. Concert pianist Caio Pagano performs 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church, 3755 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. Tickets are $25 general and $10 youth. Call 772-231-1661 or visit CBTSUMC.ORG.

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