ONGOING

On view at the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, 500 North Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce, is a new exhibition  Artists of Color: Place, Race, and Vision of the Florida Highwaymen, featuring more than 50 works by original Highwaymen Harold Newton, Alfred Hair, Sam Newton, Roy McLendon, James Gibson, Maryanne Carroll, Willie Daniels, and Johnny Daniels. Visit BackusMuseum.com for more information.

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents Miracle on South Division Street through January 27.  Meet the Nowaks of Buffalo, NY. Clara and her three grown kids have always known they were special, ever since the miraculous night in 1942 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Grandpa in his barbershop! The entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious.  Tickets: verobeachtheatreguild.com.

AT RIVERSIDE THEATRE

Evita: The passionate, exhilarating story of Eva Peron who used her charisma and charms to rise from her penniless origins to political power as the first lady of Argentina at the age of 27. With an electrifying score of pop, jazz and Latin influences, Evita is filled with unforgettable Broadway numbers including its grand anthem, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” On stage through January 27. Tickets: RiversideTheatre.com

Image: Evita Logo   

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17

The Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce invites the public to Cocktails & Commerce networking event on Thursday, January 17 from 5:15 to 7:00 pm at Vero Beach Inn & Suites, 8797 20th Street.  Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, Live Music, Great Networking.  $8 for members, $10 for non members includes a drink ticket with admission.  Happy Hour pricing until 7 pm.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JANUARY  18-19

Sebastian Arts presents the Sebastian Riverfront Fine Art & Music Festival on Saturday & Sunday, January 19 & 20 along the Indian River Lagoon at Riverview Park in Sebastian. The outdoor show features 130 fine artists & craftsmen; a food court, wine & beer by HALO, and live music!  The music line up includes:  Anja and the Dreamers (Saturday, 10 am); Jason Ricci (Saturday, 2 pm); Zion Quest (Sunday, 10 am) and Wiley Nash (Sunday, 1:30 pm).  Artists include painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, stained glass, pottery and more.  Hours are 10 am to 5 pm each day.  For more information, visit SebastianArtShow.com.

The Community Church of  Vero Beach is hosting its Celebration of Music and Fine Arts Festival on Saturday & Sunday from 10 am to 4 pmfeaturing local artists followed by a concert on Sunday, January  20 at 4 pm by Vida Guitar Quartet. Performing with the quartet will be Rachel Carter, soprano.  Admission to this concert is a free will offering.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JANUARY 17-19

The Vero Beach Art Club presents the 31st Annual Art by the Sea exhibit and sale, a weekend art exhibit at the Vero Beach Museum of Art featuring works by members of the Vero Beach Art Club and the Vero Beach Museum of Art.  Cocktail The opening reception will be held on Friday, January 18 from 5 to 8 pm.  The exhibit continues on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

The Indian River Symphonic Association presents the Brevard Symphony Orchestra on Friday, January 18 at 7:30 pm with this season’s Festival of Orchestras at Community Church.  Conductor, Christopher Confessore, will take the audience on a musical journey that waltzes along On the Beautiful Blue Danube…then off to Spain with Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling Capriccio Espagnol. Add to this whirlwind tour Tchaikovsky’s best-loved Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring the international piano sensation Ani Gogova, plus Brahms’ excitingHungarian Dance No. 1, and it truly will be a night to remember.  For tickets, visit IRSymphonic.org or call 772-778-1070.

Seriously Mixed Media, 207 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, welcomes

guest artists Jackie Schindehette and Leslie Stokes with an opening reception during the Fort Pierce Art Walk on Friday, January 18 from 5 to 8 pm.  “Welcome back downtown” to artists Jackie Schindehette and Lesley Stokes who have recently opened studio spaces near Seriously Mixed Media Art.  There will also be a demo from Indian River Clay out front on the sidewalk.

SATURDAY  JANUARY 19

The Treasure Coast Jazz Society presents Tom Hook & the Terrier Brothers in concert on Saturday, January 19 at 12:30 pm at the Heritage Center.  For tickets, visit TCJazzSociety.com.

Sebastian Inlet State Park presents Three Ring Circus in concert on Saturday, January 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. Three Ring Circus plays country with a touch of rock and roll.  Free with regular park entry fees.

The American Association of University Women is having its Regional Meeting on Saturday, January 19 at the Crowne Plaza in Melbourne. AAUW Chapters from the entire region welcome the public to attend and enjoy food, fellowship and entertainment. Dr. Frances Rinaldi will present skits featuring barrier-breaking women in history. Register and pay on the website: https://verobeach-fl.aauw.net.  The cost is $26 per person.

Celebrate Laura Riding Jackson’s Birthday at her Historic “Cracker House” at the Environmental Learning Center on Saturday, January 19 from 10 am to 1 pm. Tour her home, enjoy entertainment, birthday cake and share nostalgic memories. Visitors may even get to sample Laura’s own sesame cookie! This is a free community event from the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation.

The Coral Mermaid Gallery,  8905 N. US 1 in Sebastian is hosting an opening reception on Saturday, January 19 from Noon to 3 pm.  Artists in this new exhibit are Richard Gillmor, Mitch Gubnitsky and Theresa Prokop with special guest artist, Frits Van Eeden.  Regular gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.

The Pelican Island Audubon Society and the Cultural Council are hosting a complimentary wine and cheese reception featuring twelve of the 2018 winners of the National Audubon photography contest on Saturday, January 19 from 4 to 7:30 pm at the Audubon House, 195 9th Street SE (Oslo Road) in Vero Beach.  Local birding expert Juanita Baker will give a lecture on the photographs, several of which are from the youth division.

Visit the Center for Spiritual Care, 1550 24 Street in Vero Beach for a talk by current exhibiting artist Sharon Sexton titled Reflections on What Influenced My Interest in Nature and Art on Saturday, January 19 at 4 pm.  Sharon will share insights on her current exhibit and the path that led her to this milestone. Free.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20

One of last year’s most exciting performances is making a comeback at First Presbyterian Church for this one-afternoon-only special engagement. A four-hand piano concert featuring Sergey Belyavskiy and Jacob Craig will be held on Sunday, January 20, at 4 pm in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary.  This concert will feature both four-hand and solo performances. It is free to the community; a $10 donation is suggested.

UPCOMING

MusicWorks, Inc. and Paris Productions present Live from Vero Beach:  The Long Run, a journey through the music of The Eagles,  at the Emerson Center Stage on Thursday, January 31 at 7 p.m.  The Long Run has been recognized as America’s #1 Eagle’s Tribute Band.  The band consists of 6 seasoned musicians with extensive backgrounds, playing multiple instruments and all singing lead vocals. In addition to all the Eagle’s hits, they add solo songs originally sung by Joe Walsh, Don Henley, and  the late Glenn Frey.  For tickets visit MusicWorksConcerts.com or call the Cultural Council at 772-770-4857.