Get out your tricycles because it’s time for the 2nd Annual Torchbearer Trike Wars race. The annual event is United Way of Indian River County saying “thank you” to all the help area residents have given. The Torchbearer Trike Wars race is a block party-style celebration. It’s open to the public and free of charge. It begins at 5 p.m. Friday, May 10, at Sailfish Brewery, 2855 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach. There will be live music as well as “street bars” and “street food” available for purchase. While it is free, you might want to toss in $25 for a raffle to join the Trike Wars. You need to be present to win. For more information, visit UnitedWayIRC.org.
The annual “Through the Eye of the Camera” juried exhibition opens Friday, May 10, and runs through June 21 at the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery in Fort Pierce. This juried competition has been going on for more than 20 years. Devoted to photography as art, it brings in amateur and professional photographers showing in traditional film and digital photography. There are multiple subject categories including animal, flora, landscape, people/portraiture and more. The opening reception begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10. The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery is at 500 North Indian River Dr., Fort Pierce. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 with discounts available for veterans, seniors over 65 years of age, and members of AARP and AAA. Admission is free for museum members, students with ID, active military personnel and children under 18 years of age. For more information, call 772-465-0630 or visit BackusMuseum.org.
The Gifford Youth Orchestra will have its Annual Spring Concert & Graduate Recital Benefit on Sunday afternoon. It begins at 1 p.m. at the Gifford Community Center, 4855 43rd Ave., Vero Beach. Admission is free. For more information, call 772-213-3007 or visit GYOTigers.org.
The Kiwanis Club of Vero-Treasure Coast will have a “Take a Kid Fishing” event on Saturday morning. The event welcomes children ages 5 to 12 years and their parents or caretakers, to assemble at the New Barber Bridge Fishing Catwalk. Kiwanis members will distribute fishing rods, help bait the lines and measure each catch. Bait is donated by Vero Tackle & Marina. There will also be a free lunch following the event, sponsored by Strunk Funeral Home. “Take a Kid Fishing” runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Adult supervision is required. There will be prizes awarded for each age bracket and a special prize for the ugliest fish. This will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit VeroKiwanis.com or call 772-321-0924.
The Cultural Council of Indian River County, Ballet Vero Beach and Riverside Theatre co-host the final Cultural Connections of the season next Wednesday late afternoon. There will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar to entice you. The idea here is to celebrate 10 years of Ballet Vero Beach. You’ll get a chance to meet the artist director Adam Schnell, and meet and greet the company dancers, and more. Listen to them talk about their educational and community engagement initiatives, especially those with Riverside Theatre. There will also be a performance. Cultural Connections with Ballet Vero Beach will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, at Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach Admission is $15. For more information, visit Cultural-Council.org.
Riverside Theatre’s Comedy Zone presents headliner Peter Fogel and feature act Tommy Torres this weekend. Fogel can be heard on an array of character in commercials for American Express, Mazda, Miller Lite, Zima, Budweiser, Wisk and more. One of his claims of commercial fame was being the “ring around the collar” man. He was also the narrator for Discovery Channel’s “Mysteries in the Mating.” He’s performed in a myriad of venues, including cruise ships, and specialized in clean humor that makes an audience laugh. Torres is a New Jersey native who is a regular in a Jacksonville comedy club. He’s appeared on stage with Rob Schneider, Kevin Pollak, Henry Cho and many more. He’s a regular guest on Funny Business Internet Radio and was a semifinalist in Florida’s Funniest Comedian. In addition to these standup comics, the emcee for the evening of laughs is Joshua Armenteros. The shows begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11. All seats are $25. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
