For those who want to experience the beauty of nature while celebrating love, the Environmental Learning center will present “Valentine’s Mangrove Magic” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. This unique event blends romance, adventure and family-friendly fun, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the Indian River Lagoon. Event highlights include: illuminated trails where you can wander through scenic pathways adorned with thousands of twinkling lights; a campfire complete with s’mores and stories; a Valentine’s Day Crafts encounter fit for all ages; and the Mangrove Magic Encounter which takes you on a guided canoe tour through enchanting, illuminated mangrove tunnels. Tickets for this magical guided canoe experience are $15 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations needed. The Environmental Learning Center is at 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. For more information, call 772-589-5050 or visit DiscoverELC.org.
The Vero Beach Opera presents “Love is Timeless: Best of Broadway and Opera” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center. The concert features internationally renowned artists Maria Aleida (an acclaimed coloratura soprano and touring partner of Andrea Bocelli), Roberto Berrocal (pianist knighted by the King of Spain) and Ian Campbell as master of ceremonies. The program features beloved selections from “West Side Story,” “Carousel,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Gianni Schicchi,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and more. Tickets range from $32 to $102. The Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center is at 1707 16th St. For reservations, call 772-569-6993 or visit VeroBeachOpera.org.
The Vero Beach Museum of Art will host its annual Studio Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet talented faculty members, watch live demonstrations from painting to pottery, and mixed media to Tai Chi, explore studios and learn about upcoming classes, and get a 15 percent discount on spring term classes (excludes workshops and Cork, Canvas & Company). The museum is also showcasing its Timeless: Robert Farber’s Fashion Photography exhibition from Feb. 10 to Aug. 31. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is at 3001 Riverside Park Dr. For more information call 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org.
For those in the mood for comedy, the Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents the hysterical musical “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” opening Friday, Feb. 7, and running through Feb. 23. This hilarious musical follows two cunning con artists, Freddy and Lawrence, as they compete to swindle a wealthy heiress on the glamorous French Riviera. There is racy language so it is suggested for adults only. Tickets run from $17.50 to $40. The Theatre Guild is also the place to audition for an upcoming original musical, “The 28th Street Boarding House,” written by local playwrights Tara Giovannone and Katherine Knaub Planker. Set in the 1920s, the musical follows an eclectic vaudeville troupe on Tin Pan Alley. Auditions will be held from Monday, Feb. 10, to Wednesday, Feb. 12. Women’s auditions begin at 6 p.m. and men’s auditions begin at 6:15 p.m. The show is scheduled to run from May 2-18. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 San Juan Ave. For more information call 772-562-8300 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com.
Live from Vero Beach will present the “Neil Diamond Legacy Concert” starring Jay White at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Organizers say this is recognized as the #1 Neil Diamond tribute performer in the world with authentic, faithful recreation of Neil Diamond’s iconic music and hits like “Sweet Caroline” and “America.” Tickets range from $45 to $95. The show will be held at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach. For more information call 800-595-4849 or visit MusicWorksConcerts.com.
Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series will present Mike Gallagher, a “distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute on China,” speaking at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10. As a U.S. representative from Wisconsin, Gallagher served as the founding chairman of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. He is the author of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act which is forcing TikTok to divest from Chinese ownership. He will speak in the theater’s Stark Stage auditorium. The talk will be simulcast in the adjacent Waxlax Theatre. Tickets for the Stark Stage are $130, and $88 for the Waxlax. However, tickets may be hard to come by. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.