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Treasure Coast Region • August 25, 2026
Plan the Coast Before the Afternoon Storms
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Note from Derek
Friday’s St. Lucie County Aquarium 25th Anniversary starts at 9 a.m.—an hour early—with coffee and light refreshments until 10 while supplies last. That small timing detail is worth using: take the free indoor win early, then keep the afternoon flexible. The current National Weather Service outlook favors afternoon storms, so this issue is built around early starts and clean indoor pivots.
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Downtown Stuart Car & Bike Show. Event graphic courtesy of Stuart Main Street via Discover Martin.
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Start Here
Take Friday’s free aquarium day seriously
The St. Lucie County Aquarium 25th Anniversary runs Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission. Fish-feedings are at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; behind-the-scenes tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Six Florida ecosystem displays, microscopes, and a touch tank make this more than a free walk-through. Arrive before 10:30, catch the first feeding, and leave lunch open. It is the best family-friendly value in this issue.
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This Weekend Across the Coast
Three picks that earn the calendar space
Downtown Stuart Car & Bike Show: Saturday, 9 a.m.–noon, free for spectators. Every car, truck, and motorcycle is from 1985 or earlier. Go at opening, take one slow loop, and finish before the day gets sticky.
The Right Whale: Tales of Resilience & Hope: Saturday in Stuart; doors at 4:30 p.m., film and producer panel 5:30–7 p.m. Tickets are currently $40 and include light bites, with a cash bar. This is the adult pick with the most substance: coastal relevance, conversation, and air-conditioning.
Comedy Zone at Riverside Theatre: Friday at 7 p.m. or Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with Claude Stuart and Nik Macik. Side seats are $15; tables are $25. It is an easy weather-proof date night, recommended for ages 18 and up.
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Worth the Drive
Two reasons to cross county lines
Family Fishing Day: Saturday, 8–11 a.m. in Vero Beach, free for ages 6–17. Beginners get hands-on guidance, and limited starter fishing combos are first-come, first-served. Registration is required and space is limited.
Coastal Colors Paint Out Exhibition at the Elliott Museum: The House of Refuge-inspired show closes Monday, August 31, so this is the final weekend. Admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors, and $10 ages 6–12. Choose it when the radar turns red.
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One Local Signal to Know Now
The House of Refuge is back—and it is not just a paint job
The House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar has reopened in its 150th year after a yearlong restoration, and the real change is inside. The immersive exhibit The Tempest combines sound, imagery, and a 50-foot-by-6-foot mural to explain why this lifesaving station existed. That turns the county’s oldest structure—and Florida’s last remaining House of Refuge—into a reason to return. Weekend hours are Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 1–4 p.m. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors, and $8 ages 6–12; children 5 and under are free.
House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar. Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Martin County.
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New & Notable
Three small things that could change your route
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Derek's One Thing
Make the restored House of Refuge your one-hour detour
My pick is the House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar. Reopening after a yearlong restoration in its 150th year is a genuine local moment, not another recurring listing. It is best for adults, history-curious teens, and anyone who has driven past for years without going inside. Give the museum an hour, then step outside only if the weather cooperates. Caveat: it is a compact historic site, not an all-day attraction, and the shoreline is exposed. That compactness is exactly why it fits this weekend.
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More This Weekend
Friday, August 28: Kyle Kraft at The Loop: 5:30–8:30 p.m., Vero Beach, free; bring a lawn chair, but no outside coolers, food, or pets.
Saturday, August 29: Vero Beach Farmers Market: 8 a.m.–noon; pet-friendly, but hot pavement is a real paw risk. Summer R&B Festival: 2–8 p.m., Port St. Lucie, $60, outdoors rain or shine.
Sunday, August 30: Market on Main: 9 a.m., downtown Stuart waterfront, rain or shine. The Prymates at Rock’n Riverwalk: 1–4 p.m., free family-friendly classic rock.
For families: Save the Indoor Play Atlas now for a fast, age-appropriate indoor pivot when the radar changes.
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Featured Family Guide
When plans hinge on the radar, the Indoor Play Atlas gives parents a ready-made second route. It compares 17 Treasure Coast indoor playgrounds and play cafés by age fit, pricing, food rules, sensory comfort, accessibility, and party options. Use it when a beach, playground, or festival gets washed out—or when the heat is simply too much. Save it before Saturday; the best backup is the one you can switch to without negotiating in the car.
Build My Rain Plan
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Practical Planning Tip
Check the coast before you load the car
Check conditions before choosing the destination. Martin County’s Safe Beach Day page covers surf, tide, flags, hazards, and lifeguards; the Indian River County Beach Conditions Hotline is 772-226-3384; and Fort Pierce Live Webcams show the inlet and beach. For outdoor events, go early, carry water, and choose your indoor pivot before leaving home.
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Community Note
Local institutions reach milestone years because educators, docents, volunteers, donors, and public crews keep showing up. Thank one this weekend. The coast feels more like home when quiet work gets noticed.
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Your Turn
Reply with your best storm-proof Treasure Coast plan—the place you take visiting family when the radar turns red.
Send Derek Your Backup Plan
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See you around the coast,
Derek
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