Heather Stapleton of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program will present “Restoring the Balance of the Indian River Lagoon” at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Raw Space, 1795 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. Hosted by the Stewards exhibition, the program will examine restoration efforts and the ecological balance of the Indian River Lagoon. Admission is free. For information, visit Stewards-IRC.org.
Denim & Diamonds Gala: The Year of the Impact benefit for Team Success Enterprises begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at the Richardson Center on the Indian River State College campus, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach. The fundraising gala will feature stories of transformation and keynote speaker Dr. Monika Srivastava. Funds raised help Team Success’ mission of rebuilding stability for those overcoming hardships such as homelessness, domestic violence and more. Tickets are $125 per person or $200 per pair. For information, visit TeamSuccessEnterprises.org.
Lagoon Girls STEM Lab will begin its fall series running from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. The Sunday program for girls in sixth through eighth grades is presented by Styled by STEM in collaboration with the Environmental Learning Center and will continue through Dec. 20. The program will explore Indian River Lagoon science, technology, engineering and math topics. Sessions will include water-quality testing, wildlife and habitat observations, buoyancy and boat investigations, plankton and food-web studies, aquaculture, mangrove restoration and environmental problem-solving activities. The program costs $20 per Sunday, with scholarships available for qualifying students. High school girls may participate as free volunteers and earn service hours. Full-term enrollment is recommended because activities build from week to week and may culminate in a student research poster, engineering solution or stewardship proposal. For information and registration, call 772-589-5050 or visit DiscoverELC.org.
Vero Beach Museum of Art Fall Classes will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, and run through Dec. 12. The courses are for artists from novice through advanced levels. Instruction will be available in art history, contemplative arts, photography, drawing, painting, mixed media and other subjects. The term’s first half begins Oct. 5, and the second half begins Monday, Nov. 9. Registration is open. Course prices vary by class. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is at 3001 Riverside Park Dr. Call 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org.
While Riverside Theatre’s Comedy Zone won’t be happening for the rest of the year, the theater’s free outdoor concert series, Live in the Loop, still presents music, some of it danceable, running from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This weekend’s lineup features: Greg and Brian, Thursday, Oct. 1; Latin Heritage Orchestra Friday, Oct. 2; and Jambush Saturday, Oct. 3. Bring a chair and an appetite. Both food and drinks are available for purchase. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
“Nutcracker on the Indian River” auditions will close Friday, Oct. 9, for children ages 6 through 18 seeking to perform in Ballet Vero Beach and Riverside Theatre’s holiday production. Prospective cast members must submit a video audition and complete the online audition form by the deadline. Children ages 6 and 7 should introduce themselves and demonstrate four silent poses representing happy, sad, angry and excited emotions. Applicants ages 8 through 10 should introduce themselves and march in place for 16 counts with pointed feet and hands on hips. Dancers ages 11 through 18 should introduce themselves and demonstrate basic ballet barre work, including pliés and tendus. Rehearsals begin Saturday, Oct. 24, and performances are scheduled for Dec. 10-13. There is no audition fee. Submit materials at RiversideTheatre.com/nutcracker-on-the-indian-river-audition-form. For information, call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
