The John & Barbara Ferrera Ocean Science Lecture Series returns to Harbor Branch this Wednesday, January 14 , offering the community a window into cutting-edge marine research happening right in our backyard. This free series takes place every Wednesday at 4 p.m. through March 25 at the FAU Harbor Branch Johnson Marine Education Center Auditorium, with livestream options available for those who prefer to tune in remotely. This season's lineup brings Harbor Branch research

Main Street Vero Beach — the organization behind Coffee with the Mayor and Downtown Friday — is launching a new monthly series that brings council members directly to downtown for casual conversation and city updates -- and, of course, cocktails. Meet Me on Main debuts this Thursday, January 15, at 4 p.m. , featuring Vice Mayor Taylor Dingle at 21st Amendment Distillery . Now in his second term as a council member and first as vice mayor, Dingle championed the downtown's o

Right in our backyard sits the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to Navy SEALs and their predecessors — a fact that still surprises people who assume such a place would be in Virginia Beach or Coronado. But the frogmen who stormed the beaches at Normandy trained here first, on our sand, which makes the National Navy UDT/SEAL Museum more than a repository of artifacts. It's hallowed ground, and it's ours. This Saturday afternoon (January 17) , that ground will h

Bestselling author Scott Turow at Emerson Center January 13 Bestselling author Scott Turow found himself back at the center of the cultural conversation last year, thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal's turn in the Apple TV adaptation of "Presumed Innocent" which became Apple's highest-rated drama series and earned four Emmy nominations. Next Tuesday, January 13 , he will be at the Emerson Center for the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation's third annual speaker and fundraiser event , w

Outside Marsh Landing Restaurant, where the Frog Leg Festival has its roots   Fellsmere may be the smallest name in terms of road signs, but it carries the loudest brag: its Frog Leg Festival holds not one but two Guinness World Records —one for being the largest frog leg festival on the planet, another for the staggering number of frog legs sold in a single run.​ Set that against the map: Fellsmere is the largest city in Indian River County by land, Sebastian is the lar

After a year-long hiatus, Vero's most anticipated canine celebration is back. Mark your calendars for this Saturday, January 10, 2026 , when the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County returns to Riverside Park for the 13th annual Bark in the Park —back after Hurricane Milton cleanup efforts forced last year's cancellation. What started as a modest gathering has grown into "Treasure Coast's Largest Pet Festival," with attendance reaching over 12,000 in 2024. The

Years of living in Vero Beach, hearing the rave reviews, seeing the signs — and I'd never set foot in the Environmental Learning Center.

You may recall we've written about a few of the Indian River Land Trust's trails — from the three-mile Mangrove trail at Oyster Bar Marsh to the lagoon views at Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail , named after the Land Trust's founder. With cooler weather upon us, there's no better time to get outside, make good on your New Year's resolution, and experience these familiar spots and more -- but this time with expert naturalist guides. The Land Trust's free conservation tours add

Will Barker at the Sexton homestead Auction for the Indian River Cattleman's Association December, 10 which raised $28000 Photo Credit | Bobbie Secor Vero Beach’s story begins inland, with cracker families as whip-smart as they were weather‑beaten, people who could read pasture, sky, and their neighbors with an instinct that never missed. The Sextons and Tripsons sit at the center of that cast, turning scrub and swamp into dairies, groves, and working cattle country, the

Last night, the lagoon lit up as Vero Beach’s Christmas Boat Parade returned, ending a two-year hiatus and restoring one of the City’s most cherished holiday rituals.

Ned Whitlock has become the most talked-about man at McKee Botanical Garden this holiday season — remarkable, considering he's 100 years old, entirely AI-generated and, depending on your definition, may or may not be "real." According to Board Member Marion De Vogel , " people are looking for him in the garden and are certain one of our employees is him." But in fact, Edward "Ned" Whitlock is the fictional face of a very real history. A century ago, Arthur G. McKee dispatch

This past weekend on December 6, thousands lined Ocean Drive for Sunrise Rotary's 40th Annual Christmas Parade, one of Vero's most reliably festive productions. The procession featured 91 floats plus fire trucks, the VBHS marching band, and the Rotary wagon, totaling over 100 entries. Gator Building Supply claimed Best in Business and Best in Workmanship, Storm Grove Middle School took Best in School, and Called Higher swept the rest—Best in Organization, Best in Design, and

Once a month, for one Friday only, Riverside Theatre opens its doors to a small group of guests for an exclusive backstage tour -- a rare chance to go from “seat in the house” to true insider. And it's happening this Friday, December 5. Two sessions -- one at 10 AM and one at 2 PM . Led by the incomparable Oscar Sales , you won't want to miss it. In just under an hour and a half, you'll be guided across the main stage and into the wings, through the shops where sets are b

McKee Botanical Garden unveils its 19th annual Jungle Lights, an expanded and exquisitely crafted holiday experience opening this Wednesday, December 3.

Baerbel O'Haire moderates a panel on economic development featuring John Titkanich, Prashanth Pilly, Danny Markford and Keith Kite As growth and urban sprawl increasingly encroach on agricultural acreage, one question is on everyone's minds: what will farming and agriculture look like in Indian River County in 10-20 years...and who will decide? This Wednesday, December 3 , that question takes center stage at Let’s Talk Agriculture , the latest installment in Let's Talk Vero'

I recently caught up with Barbara Schlitt Ford , Executive Director of the Environmental Learning Center and, as always, she’s quietly building something that brings our community closer together. Giving Tuesday, which takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, may be known for big global generosity, but Barbara is focused on something more local and just as powerful: the impact of simply giving your time. Communities with strong volunteer networks are more resilient, mor

Mark your calendars for the 41st annual Vero Beach Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 6 . Organized by Sunrise Rotary of Vero Beach , the parade route will roll down Ocean Drive, with main stage activities centered at Sexton Plaza. Pre-show festivities begin at 4:00 PM , followed by the parade itself, which begins at 6:00 PM . A complimentary shuttle service will be available from Riverside Park.

Riverside Theatre is staging its largest children's production ever this week with Alice in Wonderland JR. , featuring 52 young performers from the Riverside Theatre for Kids program. This 60-minute musical brings Lewis Carroll's tales and Disney's animated classic to life with the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and the rest of Wonderland's iconic characters. Show tickets are just $10 -- arrive early and dine at the new Loop Kitchen and Bar led by

Registration for the Vero Beach Museum of Art's Winter 2026 classes opens one week from today on Monday, November 24, at 9 AM The Winter 2026 term, running January 6 through March 15 , promises a robust schedule of classes and workshops spanning weekdays and weekends. Prospective students can choose from five and ten-week sessions covering a wide array of mediums and topics, with options for both the first half (starting January 6) and second half (starting February 9) of t

Kick things off Wednesday morning with a walking tour led by Bobbie Secor, one of our most enthusiastic and knowledgeable local historians, who will guide you through 12,000 years of local history, from the pre-Columbian Indians to the pioneers that built the Vero we know today. See our previous article about the Heritage Center's downtown walking tour here . In the evening, get ready to dance with The Penny Creek Band  for the second in a series of bluegrass concerts raising