By Mark your calendar: Music festivals, free movies and Kennedy Space Center after dark top our list of fun things to do in Brevard for Aug. 30 – Sept. 5.
Due to potential changes and cancellations, we encourage you to check with presenting organizations about the status of their events.
1. Kennedy Under the Stars
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, hosts a special after-hours event on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. It will include astronaut meet-and-greets, a techno DJ dance party, Cosmic Glow miniature golf, multisensory science experiments and access to some of the park’s key attractions. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Stellar outfits are encouraged, so dress in your best space-themed attire. Tickets are $65. Visit kennedyspacecenter.com.
2. Reggae and Food Festival in Palm Bay
King Tappa Music will host a Reggae and Food Festival at Space Coast Harley Davidson, 1440 Sportsman Lane NE, Palm Bay, on Sunday, Sept. 1 from noon to 10 p.m. Bring friends and family to enjoy Caribbean music, sample Caribbean-inspired foods and celebrate diverse cultures. The lineup includes six reggae bands, five DJs and other local performers, as well as a marketplace where local artisans will offer crafts and artwork. Tickets are $20, or free for ages 12 and younger. Email reggaeandfoodfestival@gmail.com or visit kingtappamusic.com or spacecoastharley.com.
3. Jimmy Buffett Day Celebration in Melbourne
The City of Melbourne celebrates Jimmy Buffett Day on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Front Street Park, 2205 Front Street, Melbourne. The event, for ages 21 and older, will feature live entertainment by the Landsharks Band, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets for $40 must be purchased in person at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit facebook.com/events/382505141173142 or melbourneflorida.org.
4. West Melbourne Oddities Festival
If you are interested in the strange and unusual, head to the West Melbourne Community Park Splash Pad, 3000 Minton Road West, Melbourne, on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The West Melbourne Oddities Festival will showcase taxidermy, bugs, bones, crystals and more. There will also be tarot and psychic readings available. Entertainment will include live music, bounce houses and food trucks. Admission and parking are free. Visit facebook.com/events/1146167056398026.
5. ‘Big Band Favorites’ concert in Satellite Beach
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents a concert of music from the big band era at Satellite High Performing Arts Center, 300 Scorpion Court, Satellite Beach, on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. The program will feature music from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door or free for ages 18 and younger. A second performance will be at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach, on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. Call 855-252-7276 or visit spacecoastsymphony.org.
6. ‘The Story of Water’ concert in Melbourne
Melbourne Community Orchestra dives into water-inspired music with “The Story of Water” at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 Hibiscus Blvd., on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. The program will explore water as the elemental force that sustains life and inspires myths across world cultures. The audience will hear works by Beethoven, Smetana, Schumann, Holst, Respighi, Mancini and others. A brass quintet will entertain the gathering crowd, beginning at 6:15 p.m. Admission is free. Call 321-285-6724 or visit mcorchestra.org.
7. ‘A Festival of Poetry’ in Suntree
Brevard Authors’ Society presents the event at the Suntree/Viera Public Library, 902 Jordan Blass Drive, Melbourne, on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. It will include readings by Cindy Foley, Barbara Wagner, Peggy Insula, Shelley Wallace and Kit Adams. Call 321-255-4404.
8. Free movie at the Palm Bay Aquatic Center: ‘Lilo & Stitch’
The movie “Lilo & Stitch” (PG) will be shown at the Palm Bay Aquatic Center, 420 Community College Parkway SE, on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:45 p.m.. Gates open at 6 p.m. for open swimming. Once capacity is reached, patrons are invited to bring blankets and chairs to watch the movie from outside the fence. Admission is free. Call 321-952-2833 or visit palmbayflorida.org.
9. ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ at Henegar Center
The show “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” is at the Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, through Sept. 8. The classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. Tickets are $44. Call 321-723-8698 or visit henegarcenter.com.
10. ‘The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife’ at Melbourne Civic Theatre
The play “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” is at Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, through Sept. 8. Plunged into a mid-life crisis, Marjorie Taub is shaken out of her lethargy by the reappearance of a fascinating and mysterious childhood friend. Tickets are $35. Call 321-723-6935 or visit mymct.org.
Do you have a community event? Email tgif@floridatoday.com at least three weeks in advance for consideration for the Things to Do roundup.
Whether you’re interested in music, theater, festivals or other local entertainment, FLORIDA TODAY has got you covered. Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers – USAToday Network.
Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.
