Local Events

Spring – usually March

SeaFest

The premier event on the Space Coast and recognized as one of the “top twenty festivals in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society is known solely as “SeaFest”.  This annual event attracts over 50,000 people from throughout the country.  Held at Port Canaveral each March, guests are treated to delicious seafood, midway rides and games, unique exhibits and attractions, plus nonstop entertainment featuring national and local acts.

Admission Charged

Chowder Cook-Off

As the kick-off to SeaFest, Chowder Cookoff brings together the finest chefs in the area, each competing for the title of  “Best Chowder in Brevard”.  Thousands of people attend this event to sample the chowders, as well as other delicious samplings.  Entertainment is provided.

Wildlife Events Calendar

At the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

This calendar is to provide visitors with a general guide to seasonal wildlife events. Weather may cause variations of one or two weeks.

January

 Waterfowl concentrations peak with blue-winged teal, widgeon, shoveler and scaup being the most common. Bald eagles are incubating their eggs. Large numbers of songbirds, including tree swallows and yellow-rumped warblers, may be seen moving through the refuge.

February

 Various raptors such as red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, ospreys, merlins and American kestrels can be seen hunting for food. Another raptor, the American bald eagle, is actively feeding its young. Warmer days through the winter months offer a good opportunity to see alligators basking in the sun.

March

Most waterfowl have returned to their northern breeding grounds except for northern shoveler and blue-winged teal, which are in full breeding plumage. Northbound migration is in full swing for warblers. Wood storks begin nesting. Egrets and herons are in breeding plumage. Bald eagle young are taking their first flights from the nest. Ospreys begin nesting.

April

Manatee peak population occurs in the waters of the refuge and Indian River Lagoon. Northbound migration of willets, sandpipers, plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, dunlins and many other shorebirds can be observed. Black-necked stilts return for their summer visits.

May

Loggerhead sea turtles begin nesting. Anhingas, little blue herons, cattle egrets, great egrets, snowy egrets, tri-colored herons and other residential colonial nesting birds are busy in the rookeries. Eagles usually leave for the summer.

June

Alligators become more secretive as temperatures increase and breeding activity begins. Rainy season weather patterns begin - thunderstorms are quite frequent with hot, muggy afternoons. This weather pattern continues through September. Rainy weather and insects make preparation for visiting during the summer months a must.

July

Many resident bird species are abundant. They include common moorhens, boat-tailed grackles, red-winged blackbirds, fish crows, scrub jays, pileated woodpeckers, mottled ducks, barred owls and double-crested commorants. Sea turtle nesting reaches peak.

August

Young residential birds are dispersing throughout the refuge after leaving their nests. Many of the early arriving shorebirds begin to appear. These include common terns, caspian terns, royal terns, ruddy turnstones and sanderlings.

September

The early migration of blue-winged teal may be observed. Black skimmers become abundant. Bald eagles return to the refuge for the winter months.

October

With the return of cooler temperatures, the first major influx of migratory birds occurs. Included are many puddle ducks such as northern shovelers, American wigeons and pintails. The first wave of birds includes shorebirds, songbirds and raptors.

November

The cool, sunny days of early winter provide great opportunities for walking refuge trails. Peregrine falcons can be seen migrating along the coast line. White pelicans begin to arrive after their long migration.

December

Local Audubon affiliates conduct the annual Christmas bird count. Many rails spend the winter months on the refuge. These include king rails, clapper rails, Virginia rails and soras. Winter concentrations of shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and raptors are nearing their peak

Entertainment

Theatres

Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse

300 Brevard Ave.

Cocoa Beach, FL

321-636-5050

Call for days and hours of operation

Admission Charged This 500-seat facility offers performing arts series featuring community performers and professional entertainers. The "Stars of Tomorrow" drama troupe provides a children's performing arts series each season with summer performances for young audiences. Built in 1924 and listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Henegar Center for the Arts

625 E. New Haven Ave.

Melbourne, FL

321-723-8698

Call for days and hours of operation

Admission Charged

Proscenium style theatre featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The historical treasure of generations past is now a vibrant center for the arts. Art exhibits are presented in the lobby gallery.

Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts

3865 N. Wickham Rd.

Melbourne, FL

321-242-2219

Admission Charged

2,000-seat performing arts center offering the finest in entertainers, Broadway, dance, opera, classical, popular and children's theatre. Art exhibits are featured monthly in the lobby gallery.

Phoenix Threater

817 E. Strawbridge

Melbourne, FL

321-952-7192

Call for specific schedule Admission Charged This highly acclaimed, semi-professional theater presents dramas, adult comedies and an annual musical. Located at Surfside Playhouse, this facility offers exciting live community theatre including a mix of comedy, drama and musicals, providing the community with training for backstage, technical and make-up skills. The Surfside Playhouse is a 289-seat theater serving Brevard County since 1959.

Titusville Playhouse at Emma Parrish Theatre

301 Julia St.

Titusville, FL

321-268-3711

Admission Charged

A community theatre producing quality drama, comedy and musicals. Also home of "Emma's Attic," a small, alternative theatre experience. The Rising Stars Children's Theatre stages productions throughout the year.

Call for specific schedule

Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse

300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa

321-636-5050

Admission Free to View, Charge for Performance

This 500-seat facility offers performing arts series featuring community performers and professional entertainers. The "Stars of Tomorrow" drama troupe provides a children's performing arts series each season with summer performances for young audiences. Built in 1924 and listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Call for days and hours of operation

Henegar Center for the Arts

625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne

321-723-8698

Admission Charged

Proscenium style theatre featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The historical treasure of generations past is now a vibrant center for the arts. Art exhibits are presented in the lobby gallery.

Call for days and hours of operation

Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts

3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne

321-242-2219

Admission Free to View, Charge for Performances

2,000-seat performing arts center offering the finest in entertainers, Broadway, dance, opera, classical, popular and children's theatre. Art exhibits are featured monthly in the lobby gallery.

Call for days and hours of operation

Sports 

Florida Marlins Spring Training Headquarters

5850 Stadium Pkwy.

Melbourne, FL

321-633-9200

Admission Charged

In February and March, baseball's Florida Marlins of the National League train at Space Coast Stadium. During the spring and summer, the Marlins' Florida State League franchise, the Brevard County Manatees, play at the stadium.

Call for schedule and hours

The Savannahs at Sykes Creek

3915 Savannah Trail

Merritt Island

321-455-1375

Admission Charged

Public; 72-par; 18 holes; 6,636 yards

Call for tee times

Turtle Creek Golf Club

1278 Admiralty Blvd.

Rockledge

321-632-2520

Admission Charged Public; 72-par; 18holes; 6,686 yards

Call for tee times