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FROM YOUR TOURISM DIRECTOR

Relax and unwind on hot summer days!


Dear Friends and Members,


As the cool breeze of October sweeps through the Sebastian River Area, we find ourselves in a season full of excitement, mystery, and festive fun! The days are getting shorter, and the vibrant sunsets over the Indian River Lagoon set a perfect backdrop for all the autumn adventures ahead.


This October, we’re embracing the spirit of Halloween! Our area is steeped in rich history—some of it with a spooky twist. From ghostly legends to historic haunts along our scenic byways, Sebastian is home to its fair share of eerie tales. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or just curious, we have the perfect activity to immerse you in the paranormal: Indian River Hauntings, Ghost Tours! This month’s Chamber Spotlight shines on these chilling tours, where you can discover Sebastian’s hidden stories and explore its haunted past. Of course, October isn’t just about chills and thrills—it’s also about community celebration, so be sure to check out some of the great events happening in our area.


While the peak of hurricane season has passed, we encourage everyone to stay informed and prepared. October’s weather is typically pleasant, averaging around 76°F, making it a fantastic time to explore our scenic byways, walk or ride your bike along wooded trails, have a relaxing kayak along the Indian River Lagoon, and savor the breathtaking sunsets that make our area so special. We invite you to embrace the vibrant beauty of autumn in the Sebastian River Area, reconnect with nature.


Whether you're seeking spooky stories, reasons to dress like your favorite monster or simply want to walk in the cooler weather. Fall promises a refreshing change in the air, with cooler temperatures, vibrant foliage, and a sense of renewal. It’s a season of cozy gatherings, outdoor adventures, and celebrations that bring people together. From pumpkin patches and harvest festivals to crisp evenings perfect for stargazing or storytelling, fall offers a unique blend of warmth and wonder for all to enjoy.



Gratefully yours,

Nicholas Sanzone

Tourism Director

Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce

NEW VISITOR GUIDES





Thank you to all of our members who purchased ad space in the 2024 - 2025 Visitor Guides.

 

The new Visitor guides have updates and photos to reflect the new members and happenings in our area.

 

Please schedule a time to stop by our office and pick up a box or two for your busisness, just call the office (772)589-5969.

 

If you want to see yourself in this publication email us and become a member be sure to email: SebChamberAds@gmail.com


TOURISM PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Indian River Hauntings

Historical Ghost Tours and Paranormal Events in Sebastian

 

As Halloween approaches, there’s no better time to explore the eerie intersection of history and the paranormal. Indian River Hauntings LLC, founded by Larry Lawson, offers a spine-chilling journey into the unknown, rooted in the rich history of the area. Larry, a retired detective and founder of the Florida Bureau of Paranormal Investigation, leads ghost tours that unravel the mysteries hidden in the shadows of Indian River County.


Indian River Hauntings LLC, brings history and the paranormal together in an unforgettable way. These ghost tours that are unlike anything you’ll find on TV. His approach is grounded in professional investigation, blending historical fact with the unexplained. He treats paranormal investigation like a stakeout, patiently waiting for hours to uncover fleeting moments of activity. His tours focus not on embellishment but on the authentic connection between history and the paranormal. Larry and his team use scientific tools such as recorders, cameras, and proximity alarms to gather data, making the experience both thrilling and informative.


Larry’s first encounter with the supernatural was far from typical. While working as a corrections officer at the Dade County Jail, he witnessed a figure on a catwalk, one moment it was there then it was gone. This moment ignited his passion for exploring the unexplained, a passion that deepened during a visit to St. Augustine’s haunted lighthouse, where the tragic deaths of two children still linger in the laughter heard by those who visit.


By 2010, Larry’s expertise as a detective in Fellsmere and his growing reputation in paranormal research drew locals seeking answers to their own ghostly encounters. With Indian River Hauntings, Larry created a space where history and the paranormal could intertwine. Unlike the sensationalized ghost hunts seen on television, Larry’s investigations focus on the facts—historical and supernatural. His team uses scientific tools like recorders and cameras, capturing fleeting moments of paranormal activity while grounding them in the historical truths of the region.


Halloween, conjures images of a time when cultures worldwide celebrate the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead, is the perfect backdrop for Larry’s tours. From All Hallows’ Eve to Día de los Muertos, stories of the dead have always fascinated people, and Larry’s tours delve into those same traditions, exploring the ghosts and legends of Sebastian, Fellsmere, and Vero Beach. These tours offer not only chills but also a deep appreciation for the local history that makes Indian River County so unique.


With over 20 events scheduled for October, Indian River Hauntings is in full swing. Larry’s tours aren’t just for thrill-seekers—they’re an opportunity to connect with the past, uncovering stories that raise the hair on your arms while teaching you about the area’s rich and mysterious history. His blend of detective work and paranormal investigation creates an experience that is as educational as it is exciting.


For those who can’t get enough of the unexplained, Larry also offers classes on paranormal theory and investigation, giving participants a chance to learn the methods behind the magic. His upcoming presentation at the Emerson Center on October 29th promises to be a highlight of the season, offering a deep dive into the haunting history of Indian River County.


Whether you’re a fan of history, a believer in the paranormal, or simply looking for something thrilling to do this Halloween, Indian River Hauntings LLC offers a ghost tour like no other. The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to support Larry’s efforts in blending local history with the supernatural, providing an experience that keeps locals and tourists alike coming back for more.


Visit Indian River Hauntings LLC's website to book your tour and experience the thrills of October when the veil is at its thinnest and the spirits come out to play. Website Link

Tours and Events

About the Author

You can watch the full Spotlight interview on our Youtube page!

Click Here

Hurricane Season

For more information on hurricane preparedness click here!

31st Annual "Roaring Twenties Gala" Lifestyle and Media Auction, Review



Hello Sebastian River Area,


your Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce would like to once again thank everyone who supported and attended the Roaring Twenties Gala and 31st Annual Lifestyle and Media Auction! It was a roaring great time and would not have been possible without you, the community and our sponsors!


There was delicious food, fantastic entertainment, games and great people. We danced and laughed, enjoyed some bubbles and even got to bid on a few live and silent auction items. This years Gala was extra special because we were also celebrating 100 years for the City of Sebastian! The photo booth and the casino were big hits and we are sure to step it up again next year, so if you missed out on this event make sure to plan ahead and be part of the next one in 2025.


A special thanks to our two presenting sponsors, the City of Sebastian and Spirit of Sebastian! Our media sponsor Sebastian Daily and our liquor sponsor Indian River Distillery. We also have 16 event sponsors; The The Robin Raiff Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Mel Fisher's Treasures, High Maintenance Home and Lawncare, Napier & Rollin, PLLC, Lulich & Attorneys, iTHINK Financial, Nuttall Donnini & Associates, Carter Associates INC, Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, Treasure Coast Home & Living, White Glove Moving, Storage & Delivery of Florida, The Promenade, Marine Bank, Bibianas Medical Concierge, Able Gutter Services, The Marketing Branch. Thank you again to all of the sponsors and people like you who make this event possible!


Please visit our facebook pages to see and enjoy some photos from the event and we invite you to share your photos with us in the comments and please tell us your favorite parts of the night.


Thank you to all the sponsors who contributed!


SPECIAL EVENTS

FINALLY FRIDAY

CONCERTS IN THE PARK 2024



Concerts in the Park at Riverview Park Will Return


Our Concerts in the Park series will return in 2025! Call the SRA Chamber for more information 772-589-5969. To visit the SRA Chamber website click here.

OCTOBER EVENTS

INDIAN RIVER BIRD & NATURE ART SHOW


Date and Time

October 2-27, 2023



Location

Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach, FL 32963


The Pelican Island Conservation Society is sponsoring the nineth annual Indian River Bird & Nature Art Show in conjunction with National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 8-14, 2023.

The Pelican Island Conservation Society is sponsoring the nineth annual Indian River Bird & Nature Art Show in conjunction with National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 8-14, 2023. The event is centered at the Environmental Learning Center in Wabasso, with other activities taking place “in the field.” Be sure to get out and visit the Pelican Island NWR, or your favorite refuge during NWR Week, or anytime!

Island View Cottages

Mural Celebration


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 10, 2024

3:00 PM EDT



Location

11450 South Indian River Drive Sebastian, FL, 32958


Come celebrate a beautiful work of art in our community.



Our Sebastian Mural

Committee and your

Chamber of Commerce staff

are delighted to officially

welcome the Island View

Cottages mural to

the Mural Trail!


City of Sebastian,

Job Fair


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 10, 2024

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT



Location

Sebastian Public Works Complex located at 505 Airport Drive West, Sebastian, FL


The Sebastian Job Fair is on October 10, 2024, from 10 am to 1 pm. The job fair will be held at the Sebastian Public Works Complex located at 505 Airport Drive West, Sebastian, FL. We hope to see you there!


Sebastian Craft Club, Spooktacular


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 12, 2024

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT



Location

Riverview Park


Halloween event!

Art vendors

Food & Drink vendors

Being a bag! We will have trick or treating throughout the park!


Costume contest for kids and adults! Winners will be announced at 1pm.

Prize: A gift certificate for Vic’s Italian Restaurant or Squid Lips!


Free admission! Free parking


Laporte Farms, Pumpkin Carving & Scarecrow Building


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 12, 2024

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT



Location

LAPORTE FARMS

7700 129TH ST., SEBASTIAN


Buy a pumpking at the farm to decorate. Three cash prizes!

Great photo/video opt areas.

Scarecrow building contest

We provide the hat - bring closthing & accessories


City of Sebastian,

Costume Contest


Join us on October 18 at the Twin Piers in Riverview Park for a Halloween Costume Contest & Movie Night!

The schedule of events is as follows:

5:30 | Contests registration begins

5:30 | Trunk or Treat begins (sponsored by Treasure Coast Jeep Club)

6:15 | Costume contest begins

7:15 | Movie night begins


In honor of the centennial year, we have a new costume category: “ Pioneer Days!” The winner of this category will be featured in the December 8 Centennial Celebration. See the “Pioneer Days” flyer for more details.

Prizes will be available for costume contest winners. There will be lots of candy for those participating in the trunk or treat. And we will have music provided by DJ-Shhh-op. We hope to see you there!

For additional information, call (772)228-7054 or email rpaul@cityofsebastian.org

DIINNER & A GHOST HUNT BENEFIT | HALLSTROM HOUSE


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 19, 2024

7:00 PM - 1:00 AM EDT


Location

1723 Old Dixie Hwy Sw

Vero Beach


Your night will include a dinner at the Hallstrom House and a presentation introducing you to the world of Paranormal Investigation and Research. Later, you will join the team in an actual paranormal investigation of the Hallstrom property.


Tickets are $125 per person. All proceeds go to IRCHS. Please go to indianriverhauntings.com for details and purchase your tickets today.

St. Luke Church, Craft Fair & Flea Market


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 19, 2024

8:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT


Location

ST. LUKE CHURCH

5055 MICCO RD.


* BREAKFAST & LUNCH BAR

* HUGE BAKE SALE

* PLANT SALE

* HELPING SENIORS CAR RAFFLE!

* AND OUR VERY FIRST PUMPKIN PATCH!


OVER SIXTY VENDORS INSIDE AND OUT


Laporte Farms Haunted Barn



Date and Time

Saturday Oct 26, 2024

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT



Location

LAPORTE FARMS

7700 129TH ST., SEBASTIAN


COME VISIT IF YOU DARE!

ADMISSION $10 DONATION


Laporte Farms Fall Festival


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 26, 2024

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT



Location

LAPORTE FARMS 

7700 129TH ST., SEBASTIAN


We will have...

Train Rides, Mechanical Bull, Pony Rides &

Home Depot Kid's Workshop!

Great Food, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs,

Sausage w/ Peppers & Onions

Costume Contest at 2PM


Laporte Farms Fall Festival


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 26, 2024

6:30 AM


Location

Sebastian Municipal Golf Course



Ladies and gentlemen, Sebastian Police Department's 4th Annual Unity Golf Tournament is 1 month away. Get your teams together! Several prizes, raffles, 50/50, breakfast and lunch included.

The District Sebastian, Trick or Treet


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 30, 2024

5:00 PM - 7:30 PM


Location,

1101 US Highway 1 , Sebastian, FL, United States, Florida 32958


The District Sebastian in Sebastian, FL, is hosting a fantastic and family-friendly Trick-or-Treat event that's perfect for kids and parents alike! This year, they’re featuring a fun Trunk-or-Treat area, where our local businesses decorate their vehicle trunks , creating a safe and interactive environment for children to collect candy and goodies.

As families stroll through the event, they’ll enjoy the unique atmosphere that is The District Sebastian.


Save the Date

Rotary Club, Golf Outing!


Date and Time

Saturday Oct 12, 2024

8:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT


Location

SEBASTIAN GOLF COURSE

100 BRUSH FOOT DR., SEBASTIAN

 

Fees/Admission

$100 INDIVIDUAL PLAYER

$400 PER TEAM


IT`S SHOWTIME

The Comedy Zone, comedy club in Vero Beach - Riverside Theatre


The 2024-2025 Musicals and Plays will return in October!


CHECK OUT THE DETAILS

The Fox on the Fairway

By Ken Ludwig


A tribute to the great English farces of the 1930s and 1940s, Ken Ludwig’s The Fox On the Fairway takes audiences on a hilarious romp with members of the Quail Valley Country Club. Filled with mistaken identities and over-the-top antics, this madcap comedy deals with love, life, and man’s eternal infatuation with...golf.


Link

The Comedy Zone

There are four dates for comedy in October.


October 4 & 5: Peter Sers & Rosco Nash


October 11 & 12: Andy Beningo & Des Mulrooney


October 18 & 19: Daryl Felsberg & Chris Robinson


October 25 & 26: Mark Evans & Dylan Vattelana



Link

Vero Beach Theatre Guild: Season 67

Sweeney Todd



In nineteenth-century London, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns home after fifteen years imprisoned in an Australian penal colony. He seeks vengeance against a lecherous judge and his spineless beadle who framed him.


Link

Rocky Horror Picture Show

 

The Naive Charm Shadow Cast returns! The team who brought The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Vero Beach for over 5 years - bringing YOUR favorite cult cinema classic to life; on the screen and live on stage!


Reservations are strongly recommended. Costumes Encouraged. No outside props allowed. Prop bags will be sold by Cast at the door for $5



Link

RECURRING EVENTS

CAPT HIRAMS EVENTS

Almost Every Day

Click here for a full schedule of events

Location: Capt Hirams Resort

1580 US Highway 1, Sebastian, Florida 32958

GUIDED PONTOON BOAT CRUISE

Morning and Sunset Cruises

Click here for Dates and Times

Location: Environmental Learning Center

255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963

GUIDED ECO TOURS

Every other Sunday Daily at 10:00 am

Click here for full schedule of events

Location: Surfside Grill & Adventures

9700 S. Hwy A1A Melbourne Beach FL, 32951

OPEN MIC JAM

Webnesday

6 PM - 9 PM

Click here for full schedule of events

Location: Pareidolia Brewing Co.

712 Cleveland Street, Sebastian

GAME NIGHT
Every Other Wednesday
6 PM - 8 PM
920 US Hwy 1, Sebastian

STAND-UP COMEDY ZONE EXPERIENCE

Select Fridays and Saturdays

7 PM - 9 PM

Click here for full schedule of events

Location: Riverside Theatre

3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963

Every Tuesday and Thursday
10 AM - 3 PM
7500 US1, Vero Beach

Every Wednesday
12 PM - 3 PM
Location: Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714
731 S. Fleming St. Sebastian

ARCHERY, CLAYS, FISHING POND

Thursday - Monday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday (Cash register closes at 4:30 p.m.)

Click here for up to date events

Location: Indian River County Shooting Range

10455 102nd Terrace, Sebastian, FL 32958

KARAOKE
Every Thursday
6 PM - 10 PM
Location: Tiki Bar & Grill
1109 Indian River Drive, Sebastian
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
1405 Indian River Drive, Sebastian
DJ CUE & BROOKLYN BAD BOY
Every 1st Saturday
6 PM - 9 PM
1550 Indian River Drive, Sebastian


DON'T MISS AN EVENT!

With so much to do throughout our community, be sure to stay informed with all the events!


Calendar Link

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Explore how Marketing Partnerships with the State’s Official Tourism Marketing Corporation can shine a light on your business, grow the State’s tourism economy, and help your business reach so many of the visitors that utilize VISITFLORIDA.com as a resource for travel planning.


Visit Florida Link

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce & Pelican Porch Visitor's Center
700 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-5969 | cthibault@SebastianChamber.com | www.SebastianChamber.com
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