Ukulele Fest, Cracker Trail, NatureFest, art festival, free movies top events this weekend
Laurie K. Blandford
The last weekend of February on the Treasure Coast is packed with fun things to do.
Go to festivals filled with ukuleles, nature or art. Check out a movie night on a beach or a soup-er charity event. Celebrate Black History Month by going to a free movie or exploring a local state park.
Other February traditions include events for Mardi Gras and the Cracker Trail. Plus, it’s the start of spring training and the second county fair of the year.
Here’s What To Do in 772 this weekend.
Ukulele festival
Sebastian’s first Ukulele Fest is 1-10 p.m. Saturday at Pareidolia Brewing Company at 712 Cleveland St.
The festival includes performances by recording artists, the Pareidolia Ukulele Choir and other local musicians, as well as beer and food specials. All skill levels are welcome.
It kicks off with a welcome, introductions, instructions and a group jam from 1-2 p.m., followed by a performance from The Little Things from 2-3 p.m., another group jam from 3-4 p.m., open mic from 4-6 p.m., a workshop and performance by Sam Sims from 6-7 p.m. and a performance by headliners The Barnkickers from 7:30-9 p.m.
Admission is free. H.A.L.O. no-kill animal shelter will have adoptable rescues and pet photos from 1-4 p.m. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/pareidoliaukulelefest.
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Free movie
In celebration of Black History Month, watch “Hidden Figures” for free this weekend at The Majestic 11 at 940 14th Lane in Vero Beach. Showtimes are 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 2016 movie is based on the story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. It’s rated PG and runs about two hours.
Reserve your spots early by buying $2 concession vouchers online or at the theater’s box office. The voucher can be put toward your concession purchases. On the day of the movie, free tickets are available at the box office. To get tickets, go to www.cwtheaters.com/vero/home.
Trail run
The Indian River Land Trust’s Gator Gallop trail run/walk starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lagoon Greenway at Indian River Boulevard and Eighth Street in Vero Beach. Registration is from 6:15-7:15a.m.
The off-road course travels through the Lagoon Greenway. Parking there is limited but will be available at McKee Botanical Garden at 350 U.S. 1.
Registration is $25 in advance and $35 the day of the race. Medals will be awarded in several categories. To register in advance, go to www.runvero.com. For more information, call 772-643-7010.
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Chamber orchestra
The Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra opens its 11th season with a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center at 1707 16th St.
The group is comprised of professional and semi-professional adult musicians and talented students from Indian River County and neighboring communities. Its second and final concert will be at the same time and place April 14.
Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. To donate, go to www.paypal.me/vbcoinc. Collections buckets are available before and after performances. For more information, go to www.verobeachchamberorchestra.org.
Nature festival
The 23rd annual NatureFest is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday inside and outside the Manatee Observation and Education Center at 480 N. Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce.
The festival showcases the wildlife, natural resources and outdoors of the Treasure Coast, Indian River Lagoon and Florida. Activities include wildlife exhibits, touch tank demonstrations, games, crafts, mural painting, special presentations, book signings, food for sale and appearances by the center’s mascot, “Moe the Manatee.” Plus, the center has five aquariums with live animals from habitats such as reefs, sand flats and freshwater ecosystems.
Admission is free. There will be specials at the Vanishing Mermaid Gift Shop. For more information, call 772-429-6266 or go to www.manateeeducationcenter.org.
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Cracker Trail
The 32nd annual Florida Cracker Trail Ride across the state ends with a parade about 10 a.m. Saturday through downtown Fort Pierce. The horseback ride began in Bradenton to honor the history of cattle pioneers.
After the Civil War, a group of settlers were known as Florida Crackers because of the cracking sound from the whips they used to flush cows out of palmetto scrub and spur on oxen to pull carts and wagons.
Every year, they gathered west of Fort Pierce to drive their giant herd of scrub cattle across the state toward Bradenton and then to Punta Rassa to ship them to Havana. They needed provisions for the trip but didn’t have money, so P.P. Cobb let them fill their saddlebags with his merchandise and pay him after they sold their herds to the Cubans, who paid in Spanish gold coins.
The Cracker Trail was the only dry route across Florida with the Kissimmee River and its floodplains to the north and Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades to the south. For more information, go to floridacrackertrail.org.
Photos:Last year's Florida Cracker Trail Ride parade in downtown Fort Pierce
Mardi Gras
The Mardi Gras celebration at Sailfish Brewing Company is from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight at 130 N. Second St., in Fort Pierce.
The jazzy party includes bourbon-barrel releases and live music from The Blues Crusaders. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/sailfishbrewingcompany.
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Cider celebration
The one-year celebration of Pierced Ciderworks is noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at 411 N. Second St., in Fort Pierce.
The party has live music, a food truck and cider specials. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/piercedcider.
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Black history
A Black History Day celebration to explore Savannas Preserve State Park and discover local history is from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the park’s Education Center located at 2541 S.E. Walton Road.
The event includes exploring the outdoors through guided kayaking tours and guided hikes and learning about local black history through educational programs. It features two showings of “The Gullah Geechee Corridor and the East Coast Greenway,” a documentary highlighting the cycling community of Armstrong and showcasing St. Johns County’s rich West and Central African history. Plus, an afternoon presentation focuses on the pineapple plantations that dominated the Treasure Coast, as well as the Tick Ridge Community where the first African-American settlers of the area lived.
Park admission is $3 cash per vehicle. A hot dog stand will sell lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kayak tours last 45 minutes and are available at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. for $5 per person. Reservations are required. Kayakers must be at least 6 years old. To make a reservation, call 772-398-2779. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/friendsofsavannas.
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County fair
The 54th annual St. Lucie County Fair kicks off this weekend and lasts through March 3 at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds at 15601 W. Midway Road, west of Fort Pierce.
It includes livestock shows and barns, home and arts exhibits, live music and entertainment. The rodeo is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 772-464-2910 go to www.stluciecountyfair.org.
On Friday, the fair opens at 4 p.m., cuts off admission at midnight and closes at 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 for ages 13-50, $8 for ages 50 and older and veterans, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids ages 5 and younger. Starting at 9:30 p.m., a midnight madness armband for $30 covers admission and unlimited rides until 1:30 a.m.
On Saturday, the fair opens at noon, cuts off admission at 10:30 p.m. and closes at midnight. Kids ages 6-12 get in for $1 each while other admission costs still apply.
On Sunday, the fair opens at noon, cuts off admission at 9:30 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Bring two canned goods and get $2 off admission. A free, first come, first served Lego building contest for ages 5-8 is at 3 p.m. and for ages 9-13 is at 4 p.m. in front of Adams Arena.
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Spring training
Spring training with the New York Mets begins this weekend and continues through March 25 at First Data Field at 525 N.W. Peacock Blvd., in Port St. Lucie.
The Mets play the Atlanta Braves on Saturday and the Houston Astros on Sunday. The teams play ball at 1:10 p.m. both days. For more information, go to www.mlb.com/mets.
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Art festival
The 29th annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Osceola Street.
More than 200 artists from 30 states and their creations line the street of the outdoor art show with gallery-style booths filled with different kinds of fine art, including sculptures, paintings, jewels, photography and ceramics.
Admission is free. Proceeds benefit Stuart Main Street. For more information, call 561-746-6615 or go to www.artfestival.com.
Movie night
Beach Movie Night with Disney’s “Moana” on a 20-foot screen is 5:30-9 p.m. Friday at Jensen Beach at 4191 S. Ocean Drive.
Bring blankets, chairs and insect spray. Admission is free. Food will be for sale. For more information, go to discovermartin.com.
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Opening exhibit
The Arts Council of Martin County’s opening reception of “On View: Light Color Line Texture” is 5:30-7 p.m. Friday at the Court House Cultural Center Gallery at 80 E. Ocean Blvd., in Stuart.
The exhibition continues through April 11. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, go to www.martinarts.org.
Charity project
The 13th annual Lundin Kudo Empty Bowls Project is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Woman’s Club of Stuart at 729 E. Ocean Blvd.
The event honors the late ceramic artist Lundin Kudo and raises money to fight hunger in Martin County. Enjoy locally made soup and locally baked bread served in hand-crafted bowls created by local artists. Restaurants providing soup include Chef’s Table, Conchy Joe’s Seafood, Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House, East Ocean Bistro, Casa Giuseppe’s Italian Grill, Ground Floor Farm, Healthy Harvest Catering, Kazu, Osceola Street Cafe and The Gafford.
Keep the bowl of your choice in exchange for a $20 donation. Proceeds benefit the Treasure Coast Food Bank and Mary’s Kitchen. For more information about the event, visit www.facebook.com/lundinkudoemptybowlsproject.
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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.