The Vero Beach Museum of Art joins the nationwide Blue Star Museums initiative to offer free admission to current U.S. military members and their families throughout the summer. The program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. The nationwide initiative is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the U.S. Department of Defense and participating museums. The Vero Beach museum’s director of marketing, Sophie Bentham-Wood, says the arts play an important role in “our overall well-being” and that the Blue Star Museum program helps active military and their families take advantage of what museums offer. “Now, more than ever, we are committed to ensuring access for all,” Bentham-Wood says. Blue Star Museums throughout the nation include children’s museums, art, science and history museums, zoos, botanical gardens, lighthouses and more. Locally, the Vero Beach Museum of Art is offering “Treasure Coast Creates: A Tribute to Local Artists,” a juried fine art exhibition of recent works by living local artists running May 20 to Sept. 18. It is also showing an exhibition of drawings by Jack Tworkov from May 26 to Sept. 3. There are also student artworks on view in the Patten Community Gallery as well as an Art Zone where children are invited to engage in interactive activities. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is at 3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. The last admission is 15 minutes before closing. General admission is: free for museum members; free for Gold Star Families May 20 to Sept. 4, 2023; $12 general; $11 seniors 65 years and older; $5 students with ID; and free for first responders and healthcare workers with ID. Free admission is available for all on the last Saturday of each month. For more information, call 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org.
The Vero Beach Triathlon will be held Sunday, May 21, at South Beach Park, 1702 Ocean Dr. The event includes a Sprint Distance Triathlon, a Sprint Duathlon, an Olympic Triathlon, an Olympic Aquabike, Sprint Triathlon Relay and Olympic Triathlon Relay options. The swim is in the ocean with a course parallel to the shoreline. The bike trail is along the coastal A1A. The run is beachside. The fees range from $119 to $225. Organizers say the event is good for first timers as well as experienced racers. Packet pick-up is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at South Beach Park, and 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, May 21. The transition area is open frp, 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. For more information, visit VeroBeachTriathlon.com.
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra invites all to come to its announcement of its upcoming 15th season. The announcement party includes complimentary drinks, appetizers, desserts and giveaways. Tickets are free but required. However, tickets are limited, so best get them right away. The announcement party begins 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach. For more information or to reserve your ticket, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.