Don’t let the Vero Beach Film Festival go under your radar. The festival returns with a host of engaging activities, presentations, parties and yes, even films. It runs Wednesday, June 8 to Sunday, June 12, in eight different venues, from the Majestic 11 cinema and the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, to the Women’s Club, the Courthouse Executive Center, plus many more. There are documentaries, animations, art house films, foreign films and more. You’ll see serious contemplations on provocative subjects, comedies skewering tradition, short films and more. There are also panel discussions and lectures. Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of the legendary silent film star Harold Lloyd, will present the silent film “Safety Last!” And, of course, the nightly parties. In a press release, festival board president David Yakir stated: “We have chosen 75 films from more than 250 that were submitted to us this year … We are especially excited to bring films that played at the Sundance, Tribeca and World Cannes film festivals right here to Vero Beach.” In addition, the festival presents “Wild and Scenic,” a series of short environmental films made by area residents. If you’re interested in jumping into this excitement, the best thing you can do right now is visit the website at Vbfilmfest.org and spend some time poring over the schedule of events. The box office opens 8:30 a.m. Call 772-444-2827.
Help our heroes by participating in “Operation Shell Shock” Saturday, June 11. This is the second annual free event that gets people from two starting points – Fort Pierce City Hall and Sebastian City Hall – to ruck 20 miles to Vero Beach City Hall. The event runs 4:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers will provide meals, fall-out vehicles, water and other necessities. The event shines a light on veteran suicide caused primarily by PTSD. Participants are invited to attach to their back ribbons with the name of someone who lost the war to PTSD. The event is sponsored by #DoYouGiveARuck, a group of military veterans and supporters dedicated to improving the lives of veterans. The word “ruck” comes from the military expression “ruck march,” which is a fast march over a long distance while carrying a load. Organizers of “Operation Shell Shock” suggest arranging your transportation from the end point back to where you start, but they are working on some “just in case” mass transportation. There will be an after party and ceremony at Filthy’s Fine Cocktails & Beer, 1238 16th St., Vero Beach. Fort Pierce City Hall is at 100 N. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce. Sebastian City Hall is at 1225 Main St., Sebastian. Vero Beach City Hall is at 1053 20th Place, Vero Beach. For more information, visit DoYouGiveARuck.com.
The Choir of St. John of the Cross will present their last Choral Evensong of the season this weekend. An organ recital will begin at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, followed by the Evensong Service beginning at 7 p.m. The Evensong Service features music inspired by the Holy Trinity. It runs until 8:30 p.m. St. John of the Cross Catholic Church is at 7550 26th St., Vero Beach. Call 772-563-0057 or visit StJohnsVero.org.
Plan ahead for the Brevard Symphony Orchestra’s “Summer Evenings Series.” The three-concert series will be held 7 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. The June 18 concert features the BSO Woodwind Quintet and BSO principal players performing Ravel, Coleman and more. The July 16 concert “Nova Baroque” sets the stage for Italian baroque favorites by putting musicians into powdered wigs and appropriate costumes. The Aug. 13 concert features Maestro Christopher Confessore leading the string orchestra in favorites by Mozart, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Newbold and more. Individual tickets are $25. Subscription series tickets cost $60. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 321-345-5052 or visit BrevardSymphony.com.
The Vero Beach Theatre Guild’s studio theatre production “The Chicago Gypsies” runs through June 26. The play follows a young girl growing up in a show-biz family touring during the Great Depression. Tickets are $30. The show performs 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Call 772-562-8300 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com.
Dancers 10 years and older are invited to audition via video for the 2022 Riverside Dance Festival, running July 25 to Aug. 6 with an emphasis on the Chicago Dance Crash technique. Tuition is $500. Space is limited. Visit RiversideTheatre.com.
