Entertainment best bets: Florida Tech's Homecoming, surfing competition, aviation for girls

Happy anniversary, Florida Tech!

The Florida Tech Alumni association has joined forces with Melbourne Mainstreet to host a free Homecoming Fest in Downtown Melbourne from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 12. Guests can look forward to street vendors, food, drinks and a free concert from the indie rock band Cold War Kids.

The fun will continue Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. when the FIT Panthers face the Valdosta State Blazers at Panther Stadium at Palm Bay High, 101 Pirate Lane, Melbourne. Later in the evening, guests can get their black tie attire on for dinner and dancing at the Gala to the Stars. It will be at the Clemente Center on the Florida Tech campus, 3011 Panther Place, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the gala are $100 per person. For the full schedule and tickets, visit homecoming.fit.edu.

Girls in Aviation

Do you know a girl who has the potential to fly high? The Space Coast Florida Tech chapter of Women in Aviation will host this opportunity for girls ages 8-18 to connect with other girls and women who are excited about aviation. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the FIT Aviation Emil Buehler Center, 801 Harry Goode Way, Melbourne. Girls can explore opportunities in aviation an aerospace through activities and guest speakers. Call 321-317-3343 or visit wai.org/chapters.

Women's Salty Sweet Pro/Am Surfing

Surf's up! Returning for its fifth year, the surfing competition will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13-14, at the Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Featuring surfers of all ages in one of the largest female-only surf competitions in the country, this event attracts competitors from around the nation. After the conclusion of the event on Sunday afternoon, spectators can attend the awards ceremony at Keith's Oyster Bar at the Cocoa Beach Pier, starting at 6 p.m. Visit saltysweetproam.com.

Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival (MIFF)

This is a heads-up for a cool event coming up next week. The MIFF will kick off at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, 1800 W. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne, on Thursday, Oct. 18, with a retro costume contest at 7 p.m., followed by a collection of films from past MIFFs. The culture continues throughout next weekend, with film screenings, discussions with filmmakers and special events on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, culminating with a VIP awards program at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for individual events range from $5 to $25, and there is an all-access pass available for $65. For the full schedule and tickets, visit melbournefilmfest.com.

British Invasion

“The British Are Coming” to Cocoa Beach, but the invasion from across the pond is peaceful and musical with the free concert of orchestral music presented by Central Florida Winds at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave. Satellite High School cellist Isaac Moorman will be the featured soloist in a performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Op. 85. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Call 321-525-7825 or visit riversidepres.org.

Fly Me to the Moon

Visit the 1960s golden age of space exploration during “Fly Me to the Moon,” Jess Parrish Medical Foundation’s gala from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 1, 9050 Discovery Place. Guests will enjoy cocktails and cicchetti, or Italian-style tapas, overlooking the backdrop of the starry night and the lights of the port. An interactive virtual reality experience and a silent auction are part of the festivities.

At the fundraiser to support the hospital's mental and behavioral health services, guests will be serenaded by the Space Coast Jazzcats, featuring NASA astronaut and trumpeter Capt. Winston Scott. Tickets are $125 each; sponsorship opportunities begin at $500. Call 321-269-4066 or visit parrishmedfoundation.com.

More things to do, places to go

Looking for more things to do? Here are a few other options to consider.

Aloha Protect Our Waters: Anglers for Conservation hosts the fundraiser from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 at the Front Street Park Civic Center, 2205 Front St., Melbourne. Tickets are $50. Visit anglersforconservation.org.

Warbird Yard Sale: The Warbird Air Museum, 6600 Tico Road, Titusville, is having a huge yard sale featuring military and aviation items, memorabilia, and more. It will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Call 321-268-1941 or visit valiantaircommand.com.

Jazz Concert: Space Coast Jazz Society will host a trio of rhythm makers, the DarRonic Project, for a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Rockledge Country Club, 1591 S. Fiske Blvd. Tickets are $10 for society members and $15 for non-members. Call 321-960-4897 or visit spacecoastjazzsociety.org.

Creatures Fest: The Barrier Island Center, 8385 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach, hosts the free, family event that celebrates animals, ecology and conservation from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Costumes and carpooling are encouraged. Call 321-723-3556.

White Cane Day Celebration: The National Federation of the Blind will host a free car and bike show at The Fountains, 4451 Stack Blvd., Melbourne, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Call 321-768-9500.

LaFortune hosts "The FLORIDA TODAY Show," which airs at 5:30 p.m. Sundays on WEFS.

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