You may not be ready for this, but the holidays are quickly approaching. So get your happy hat on and start your shopping.
You can find some great deals at the Garden Club of Indian River County, which has its big yard sale 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. “It is jam-packed with tables and stuff,” said the club’s treasurer, Karen Vatland. “They’re beating down the doors at 7:30. It’s crowded.” Vatland said people love scoring great deals on plants, holiday decorations, household goods, purses, jewelry, books, children’s toys and games, almost everything except “the kitchen sink, and clothes. We don’t accept clothing.” The items come from the members, some of whom are getting ready to move or to simplify their households. They are all gardeners so there’s usually quite a bit of plant and pots. “It’s the yearly cleansing of our cupboards,” Vatland said. Club members try to have everything priced ahead of time, but sometimes the cashiers have to offer up a price, so even if you are hunting for that bargain, lighten up, have fun and go with the flow. Most of the Yard Sale takes place inside the club quarters. The plants, though, will be on the club’s patio. After the yard sale, members pack everything up and donate it to charities. “When you come to a yard sale, what do you want?” Vatland said. “Great bargains. And all the stuff is at a great bargain because we want to sell it. But we don’t sell coffee. Bring your own if you need it.” The Garden Club of IRC is at 2526 17th Ave., Vero Beach. Call 772-567-5602 or visit GardenClubOfIRC.org.
You can also get good deals on gifts via auctions. The Indian River Bromeliad Society will hold an auction Monday evening, Nov. 14, where you can pick up for reasonable costs some most forgiving blooming plants. “This is an opportunity for the community to procure unusual exotic plants you don’t find at garden centers or nurseries near here,” said Society president and founder Sally Gawler. “It’s a really fun event. It’s exclusively bromeliads, very unique, varied in color, shape, texture, size. You can have some 1 ½ inch tall, some 6 feet tall. You can have them indoors, outdoors. They are literally the ‘no brainer’ plant.” Gawler says once you understand how easy it takes to grow and maintain bromeliads, you’ll become a fan of the plant. “It’s a perfect special gift for people who think they don’t have a green thumb,” she says. “They’re so exotic looking but so easy … They don’t need a lot of care.” The evening begins 6:30 p.m. Typically, the bids are affordable, frequently beginning at $5. There will also be a raffle with $1 tickets. The free auction event includes light snacks and bottled water, all at no charge. The auction will be held at the Garden Club of Indian River County is at 2526 17th Ave., Vero Beach. You need to get there by 6:30 in order to register and get a bidding paddle. The auction begins 7 p.m. and goes for a couple hours. Funds raised help support the Bromeliad Society, which is a nonprofit. Cash or checks only. No credit cards accepted. Call 772-713-6007 or visit IRBromeliadSociety.org.
Another great spot to pick up some holiday gifts this weekend is at the Indian River County Fairgrounds, where the Vero Beach Arts & Crafts Expo serves up its Holiday Edition. Visit with an assortment of vendors to find the right gift. There will also be food and beverage for purchase. The Vero Beach Arts and Crafts Expo Holiday edition runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach. Admission and parking are free.
The popular show “Stomp” will perform 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne. Presented by the American Theatre Guild, “Stomp” is the award-winning, wild, fun, percussive bit of theater that brings performers into contact with metal garbage cans, wooden poles, radiator hoses, hub caps, brooms and just about another than makes a noise when banged on. This is an idiosyncratic band of performers who bangs out rhythmic expression frequently imbued with an abstract narrative, complete with urban characters communicating through dance and percussion. Tickets start at $39. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
