Vero Beach High School presents its annual Holiday Album Winter Concert next week. Organizers happily report that the event has become a holiday tradition for many. The stage is decorated in a festive holiday setting as the concert features more than 200 students from the school’s celebrated performing arts department. There are members from the school’s band, choir, drama, jazz and orchestra programs playing favorite holiday music and scenes that evoke one of those Hallmark channel warm, fuzzy, feel-good responses. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St. Tickets are $12 orchestra and $10 mezzanine. Half-price tickets are available for children, students and seniors 65 years and older. Call 772-564-5537 or go online at VeroBeachPerformingArts.com.
The Environmental Learning Center presents WinterGreen Night Lights starting this weekend and running through the next. The event invites guests to stroll the beautiful lighted ELC grounds, enjoy live entertainment and engage in special activities for all ages. You can book a trip on a guided canoe ride along the ELC’s delightfully illuminated mangrove tunnels. There will also be a marketplace where you can pick up “earth friendly” items. Make sure to leave some time to roast marshmallows and make s’mores by the campfire. There will also be food trucks and a Nature Nook Gift Boutique. WinterGreen Night Lights runs this weekend from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9. It returns the following weekend, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, Friday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 16. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 11 years and younger. Guided canoe rides are $10 plus admission. S’mores kits are $5. The Environmental Learning Center is at 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-589-5050 or visit DisicoverELC.org.
The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents “Tinsel & Tidings: A Community Holiday Celebration,” from Dec. 8 through Dec. 17. The series features a different local school and/or arts organizations presenting music, dance and holiday celebrations. “Tinsel & Tidings” begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, with performances by the Storm Grove Middle School Jazz Band, United Ballet Academy and the Gifford Youth Orchestra Singers. Other schools and arts organizations participating include: the Fellsmere Elementary School Music Ukulele and Percussion band, Gifford Middle School Jazz Band, Vero Beach High School Voices of Vero, Storm Grove Middle Chamber Orchestra, Sebastian River High School Drama, The Dolls, Storm Grove Middle School Women’s Bella Voce Choir, IRCHS Drama, VBTG TL Mini Musical Class, the Foxley Family Singers and the Rhythm & Soul Dance Company. For a listing on when each group is performing, visit the theater’s website. Tickets are $20. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 San Juan Ave., Vero Beach. Call 772-562-8300 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com.
Crossover Mission will hold its 9th annual Crossover Mission Gala 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. The event is an important fundraiser for the organization, which uses basketball and academic mentoring to help young people, often struggling in unhealthy family circumstances, to become successful adults. Tickets to the gala start at $175. Funds raised at the gala help benefit more than 100 student athletes enrolled in its program. The gala includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, an elegant dinner in the organization’s newly renovated facility and a special performance by the Crossover Mission’s Dribble Team. Food is provided by Wild Thyme Catering. Crossover Mission is at 4425 U.S. 1, Vero Beach. Call 772-257-5400 or visit CrossOverMission.com.
Flamingo Weekend begins Friday. It benefits the Jake Owen Foundation, which in turn aids many community residents and programs, including the Boys and Girls Club of Indian River County, the Hibiscus Children’s Center, Autism Speaks and many more. Flamingo Weekend is a fun-filled three days. It begins 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, with a Comedy Jam featuring Bobby Bones at Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Saturday begins with the 10th Annual Candy Cane 3K at 8 a.m. at the American Icon Brewery, 1133 19th Place, Vero Beach. The Songwriter Splash runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Kimpton Vero Beach Resort, 3500 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach. Flaming Jam with Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, Daves Highway and the Gary Roland and the Landsharks Band runs Dec. 9 at Corporate Air, 3450B Airport W. Dr., Vero Beach. The weekend ends on Sunday with the Flamingo Fishing Classic, with lines in 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Riverside Café, 3341 Bridge Plaza Dr., Vero Beach. For tickets, visit JakeOwenFoundation.org.
For those up for a road trip south to Port St. Lucie, the city’s MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center has some events to perk up the season. It begins Saturday with “The Cracked Nutcracker.” This is a modern twist on a classic tale as performed by the Level Up Dance Center. “The Cracked Nutcracker” performs 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Tickets in advance are $25 adults, $20 children and free to children 4 and younger (and seated on your lap). Tickets at the door are $30 adults, $25 children and free to children 4 and younger on your lap. Get advance tickets at LevelUpDanceCenter.com/tickets or call 772-324-7750. The PSLinLights Party “Forever Motown — A Holiday Celebration” will be held Friday evening, Dec. 15. There will be a North Pole freeze dance, a visit from Santa, a faux snowball zone, a pet contest, children’s crafts and activities, and special guests “Forever Motown” taking guests on a timeless journey of Motown’s holiday classics by musical artists including Smokey Robinson, the Jackson Five, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Free cookies and cocoa will be supplied by the Port St. Lucie Police Department. You’ll be invited to sing, dance and have an all-around good time. PSLinLights Party runs 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Admission is free for all ages. The Hot Weelz 6th Annual Tokyo Car Show runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Free admission and parking. CCW Wrestling runs 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Tickets are $20 to $40. For more information, visit CityOfPSL.com. The MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center is at 9221 SE Event Center Place, Port St. Lucie. Visit CityOfPSL.com for more information.
