Whether you want to spend a little or a lot, you’ll be dropping some cash at this weekend’s best events on the Treasure Coast.
On the less expensive side, you can go to a seafood festival, an Italian festival and a massive antiques market. It costs a little more for a rooftop party with live music, but the money goes toward a good cause. Plus, there’s always a variety of shows with different ticket prices at the theater.
Then, you can spend hundreds of dollars to fly in rare military aircraft or thousands to learn how to pilot it.
And don’t forget about breakfast in a beer. That’s always a good investment.
Party on rooftop
Groovin’ and Tastin’, the fourth annual Sunrise City Beer, Wine and Spirits Fest, is 1-5 p.m. Saturday on top of the downtown Fort Pierce City Hall parking garage at U.S. 1 and Orange Avenue. The event features live music, food, drinks and craft beer from local breweries, including Sailfish, Walking Tree, Side Door, Hop Life and Islamorada, all with a rooftop view of downtown.
Tickets are $30 the day of the event, but can be purchased in advance for $25 at the Sunrise Theatre box office and Roy’s Liquor and Fine Wines. Proceeds benefit the BlueBird Education Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing musical scholarships and instruments to local students. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/GROOVINANDTASTING.
MORE: Last year's Groovin' & Tastin' in downtown Fort Pierce
Enjoy beatboxing, comedy, magic
The Sunrise Theatre at 117 N. Second St. in Fort Pierce is packed with three very different events every night this weekend. Broward & Beyond on 2nd Street Presents: “Gobsmacked!”, an acapella and beatboxing show at 8 p.m. Friday.
Tickets are $55-$65. Comedy Corner Presents: Marc Price aka “Skippy” from "Family Ties" at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Black Box. Tickets are $15-$20. After a sellout show last year, "Masters of Illusion, Believe the Impossible," returns 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $39-$49. For more information, call 772-461-4775 or go to www.sunrisetheatre.com.
MORE: Masters of Illusion returns to Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce
Wish Fresh Catch farewell
The 12th annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival, a tradition that started with a fish fry, is 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday in the Manatee Pocket area. The festival features a free kids zone, fresh food — such as fish, shrimp, clams, oysters and shark — and live music on three different stages. Local band Fresh Catch will perform its farewell show together.
MORE: Several Port Salerno roads closing Saturday for Seafood Festival
Admission is $10 at the gate and $7 in advance online. Kids ages 12 and younger are free. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits. No pets allowed. Complimentary shuttle service and water taxis will be available. Trolley stops are at Indian River State College on Salerno Road and the corner of U.S. 1 and Dominica Terrace. For more information, call 888-612-4192 or go to www.portsalernoseafoodfestival.org.
PHOTOS: Last year's Port Salerno Seafood Festival
Tour rare military aircraft
The Collings Foundation’s 29th annual Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to Witham Field in Stuart from 2-4 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday through Sunday as part of a 110-city nationwide tour. Four fully restored and rare World War II bomber and fighter aircraft will be on display at Atlantic Aviation at 2240 S.E. Witham Field Drive.
MORE: Rare aircraft open to the public at Witham Field
The cost to explore the aircraft is $15 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12. Thirty-minute flights aboard the aircraft are $400-$450. Flight training is $2,200-$3,200. For more information or to make a reservation, call 800-568-8924 or go to www.collingsfoundation.org.
Experience Italian tradition
The 11th annual Taste of Little Italy at Tradition Square in Port St. Lucie is 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. The Italian street festival has authentic food, live music and entertainment, carnival rides and games, free wine and cooking demonstrations. Admission is $7. Kids ages 12 and younger are free. For more information, go to tasteoflittleitaly.net.
PHOTOS: Last year's Taste of Little Italy at Tradition Square
Purchase vintage antiques
The 22nd annual Vero Beach Vintage & Antiques Extravaganza is noon-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Indian River County Fairgrounds & Expo Center at 7955 58th Ave. in Vero Beach. The event includes 200 vendors, plus food for sale. Admission is $15 on Friday for early-bird buyers and $8 Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 813-545-9198 or go to www.floridaantiqueshows.com.
MORE: 'American Pickers' coming to Florida, seeking residents' hidden treasures
Breakfast in a beer
If you missed the annual Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Festival earlier this month, the award-winning beer from Oakland Park-based Funky Buddha Brewery will be on tap Saturday across the Treasure Coast. The brewery describes the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter as “a complete diner-style breakfast in a glass with waves of maple syrup, roasted coffee and smoky bacon.”
According to the brewery’s website, the beer will be available on the statewide Draft Day at the following local spots:
- G’s Craft Beer & Wine in Hobe Sound
- The Crafted Keg in Stuart
- Ian’s Tropical Grill in Stuart
- Total Wine in Stuart
- Castaways in Jensen Beach
- House of Brews in Jensen Beach
- The Brass Tap in Jensen Beach
- The Vine & Barley in Port St. Lucie
- Tavola Pizza in Port St. Lucie
- Kilted Mermaid in Vero Beach
- 21st Street Taphouse in Vero Beach
- Orchid Island Brewery in Vero Beach
MORE: Wine & Ale Trail highlights Treasure Coast breweries, winery
Next weekend’s preview
- Florida Cigar Box Guitar Festival in Fort Pierce
- Treasure Coast Pirate Festival in Fort Pierce
- McCarty Ranch bonfire and hayride in Port St. Lucie
- Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts
- Gardenfest! in Vero Beach
- “Groundhog Day” double feature in Vero Beach
- Super Bowl parties
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie's Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.