It may not feel very much like the holidays are coming, but they are. One of the most fun events associated with this time of year are the festive Christmas parades. But the question begs: “How do you stay virus-safe at a parade?” Well, the Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach Club has come up with an ingenious solution – the 2020 Vero Beach Reverse Christmas Parade. The idea is that the “floats” will instead be installed in a stationary spot while parade watchers drive by them. This sounds like great fun. Moreover, just imagine how more detailed the “floats” can become if they don’t have to hook them up to a vehicle and haul them down the street. To make this all happen, Sunrise Rotary is setting the reverse parade at the Vero Beach Airport, in the fields south of the terminal. Of course, since it is a finite space, there will need to be no more than 80 entries. That means apply now, because it’s first-come, first-served. All floats need to be one-sided and not of a political nature, and no Santas. (Santa Claus has already agreed to appear at the end of the parade and, after all, there is only one Santa, right?) The entry fee is $25. There will be a mandatory Zoom meeting 6 p.m. Nov. 30. The Reverse Parade takes place 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Dec. 5, the first Saturday of December. For more information, call 772-770-3700 or 772-559-6001, email todd.k.darress@ampf.com.
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents another of its popular “Drive-In” concerts this weekend. It’s “Diva! Opera’s Greatest Hits” and it begins 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Pathway Church parking lot. The approach here is that you remain in or next to your own car. Bring folding chairs if you like and listen to the concert outside your car. Or stay inside your car and listen via your car radio. Musicians also keep their distance via physical barriers. The concert features sopranos Mary Anne Kruger and Amy Cofield performing some arias from some of the world’s greatest operas, such as Puccini’s “Tosca” and “Madama Butterfly,” and Verdi’s “Otello” and “Don Carlos.” Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per carload. Free to children 18 years and younger. The orchestra strives to limit physical interaction, so they request that you purchase tickets online by calling 855-252-7276 or visiting spacecoastsymphony.org. Pathway Church is at 1105 58th Avenue, Vero Beach.
Although its annual Harvest Festival had to be canceled this year, St. Helen Catholic Church of Vero Beach has come up with a substitution – “St. Helen’s Outdoor Movie Nights.” Organizer Jen Moscrip said when the church had to cancel its “very, very popular” festival, people began thinking of what to do. They noticed other organizations presenting drive in theater events and got the idea to present a movie box approach. “We just want everyone to come and enjoy it,” she said. “At first, ticket sales were a little slow. Now that it’s stopped raining, all of a sudden we’ve doubled our sales.” Three family friendly movies will be shown on three evenings this weekend: the classic “The Wizard of Oz” with Judy Garland at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19; the updated “Jumanji” starring Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; and “Dolittle” starring Robert Downey Jr., 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Patrons will park their cars in a regular parking lot, then get out personal lawn chairs or blankets and head over to the lot where they will settle into specific movie “boxes.” The boxes are socially distanced from each other and can accommodate up to six people. The event will also serve up sandwich-style meals, which cost $5 to $7. Those have to be ordered ahead of time. You can also head to the concession stand and pick up popcorn, cotton candy, the church’s famous homemade donuts and its famous corn on the cob. Concessions start at $2. There will also be raffles, with a $1,000 prize going to one winner each night and $10,000 going to the grand-prize winner. Masks are required. The cost is $50 for the movie box. St. Helen Catholic Church is at 2085 Tallahassee Ave., Vero Beach. For more information, call 772-567-5129 or visit StHelenVero.org.
The Vero Beach Art Club presents its 40th Annual Art in the Park Fine Arts & Crafts Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at Humiston Park Ocean Side, 3000 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach. Over two dozen artists are participating. For more information, visit VeroBeachArtClub.org.