The holiday season is in full swing now. If you need something to get the motor going, then head to the Downtown Country Hoedown, starting 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 along 14th Avenue in Vero Beach. The event is sponsored by Main Street Vero Beach. It includes music by Thomas Tillman, a mechanical bull, midway games, the best “getup” contest and line dancing. There will also be vendors selling local honey, artwork, jewelry, Florida décor and more. Food trucks will be serving a variety of treats including street tacos and bourbon bacon brownies. The event is part of Main Street’s last Friday festivities. For more information, visit MainStreetVeroBeach.org.
The Kris Kringle Market runs this weekend at Sebastian Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1 and S.R. 512, Sebastian. There will be artists, vendors, live music and food trucks. You can also find a young entrepreneur section and maybe catch a glimpse of Santa, Mrs. Claus and even the Grinch. Kris Kringle Market runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26. Admission is free. For more information call 586-242-0031.
The United Ballet Academy presents its 15th annual “Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 to $25. The ballet is a fully produced one, complete with lavish scenery and costumes. The Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center is at 1707 16th St. Call 772-564-5537.
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach will hold a “Trash 2 Treasure Rummage Sale” this Sunday. Food and drinks will be supplied as you browse through some possible purchases. There will also be crafts, art and jewelry. “Trash 2 Treasure” runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Riverside Park, 3500 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. For more information, email debbieainvero@gmail.com.
Plan ahead for exciting activities for the whole family at the Environmental Learning Center. Get your reservations in now for the ELC’s canoe rides at its WinterGreen Night Lights, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. The WinterGreen Night Lights also includes entertainment, bonfire and S’mores, make & take crafts, a holiday sustainability market and nature nook shopping. In addition to WinterGreen Night Lights, the ELC is offering a Little Wonders Free Toddler Nature Class for children 18 months to 4 years, along with their parents, grandparents or guardians. Those toddler classes run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 14 and 16. The ELC also offers Nature Explorers classes for ages 4 to 6 (parent participation is required) 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18. The cost for Nature Explorers is $15 per child. The Environmental Learning Center is at 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Admission is $10 adults, 12 and older, $5 children 2 to 11 years, $5 military and free for children under age 2, and free for ELC members. Call 772-589-5050 or visit DiscoverELC.org.
Register ahead of time for Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series. These are always sell-out events. People who subscribe to the series get the first chance to resubscribe when they are being offered again. If you are interested in current affairs or just in attending lectures by world renowned figures, this might be for you. Here is the schedule for the 2024 series: Walter Isaacson, best-selling author, history professor at Tulane, past CEO of the Aspen Institute, chairman of CNN and editor of “Time” magazine, speaks at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 15. Ambassador John Huntsman Jr., former governor of Utah and ambassador to Singapore, China and Russia, staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan, former U.S. Trade Ambassador, speaks at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 5. Karl Rove, political strategist and political pundit, speaks at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 4. Lawrence H. Summers, former Treasury Secretary, former president of Harvard University and Chief Economist of the World Bank, speaks at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 15. Shannon Bream, anchor for “FOX News Sunday with Shannon Bream,” speaks at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 22. The lectures take place live on Riverside’s large Stark Stage. They are also simulcast on the theater’s Waxlax Stage. The subscriptions for $510 per person for the Stark Theatre Main Stage and $295 per person for the Waxlax Theatre. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
