Plan your weekend: 7 best fun things to do in Brevard for July 5 through 11

Due to potential changes and cancellations, we encourage you to check with presenting organizations about the status of their events.

1. First Friday in Wickham Park

This rain-or-shine event will be in the pavilion at Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, on Friday, July 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. There will be food trucks and live music by Soul Time. Visit facebook.com/events/3606416992938847.

2. Science Sunday at Brevard Zoo

Beat the heat while learning something neat at Brevard Zoo, 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. The Science Sunday series will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, July 7, 14, 21, and 28 and Aug. 4, 11, and 25 in the zoo’s air-conditioned Nyami Nyami River Lodge. There will be hands-on activities and a blend of education and entertainment for all ages. Each Science Sunday will feature a different theme and set of activities, from animal behavior demonstrations to interactive exhibits on conservation and environmental science. Interactive chats will also be held at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Science Sundays are free with zoo admission. Call 321-254-9453 or visit brevardzoo.org.

3. Free poetry class in Melbourne

Precious Publishing Academy will host a free poetry class at the West Melbourne Public Library, 2755 Wingate Blvd., Melbourne, throughout the month of July. The course runs for four weeks on Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 4:30 p.m., on July 9 (“Introduction to Poetry,”) July 16 (“Imagery and Sound in Poetry,”) July 23 (“Developing Your Poetic Voice,”) and July 30 (“Revising and Sharing Your Work.”) Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate recognizing their achievement and dedication to mastering the art of poetry. The course is free, but please enroll in advance by contacting Scott Tilley at [email protected] or 321-604-1294. Visit preciouspublishing.biz.

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4. Auditions at Surfside Playhouse

Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach, will hold auditions for the Neil Simon comedy “45 Seconds from Broadway'' on Sunday and Monday, July 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. The show takes place in the legendary "Polish Tea Room" on New York's 47th Street. Here, Broadway theater personalities washed-up and on-the-rise gather to schmooze even as they lose. Performance dates are Sept. 6 through 22. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Dress in comfortable clothing and shoes. Call 321-783-3127 or visit surfsideplayhouse.com.

5. Ranger-led tour of Turkey Creek Sanctuary

Turkey Creek Sanctuary, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay, offers free ranger-led tours on the first and third Sundays of each month, excluding holidays, from 10 to 11 a.m. Participants should meet at the sanctuary Nature Center and bring sturdy tennis shoes or boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, snacks, binoculars and a hat. Tours will take place on the boardwalk and various trails. Each tour will be led by a park ranger and will focus on common plants and animals found in the sanctuary. Total distance for tours is approximately 1 to 1.5 miles and should take about 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours to complete. Admission is free. To sign up, call the Nature Center at 321-676-6690.

6. Free boat trip to Samsons Island

Samsons Island is a 52-acre passive nature island in the Banana River, accessible only by water, with docks on the south, east and north sides of the island for public use. The City of Satellite Beach provides free boat transportation to and from Samsons Island conservation area and nature park on the first and third Sunday of each month at 9 a.m., weather permitting. Guests will meet back at the main dock at noon for the return trip. Trips will depart from and return to the Satellite Beach Fire Department, 1390 S. Patrick Drive. Reservations are required. Call 321-773-6458 or visit satellitebeach.gov.

7. Tour the historic home at Green Gables

Green Gables, 1501 S. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne, will host an open house every Saturday in July, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The historic home is a living history museum showcasing life in the early years of Melbourne. Visitors will learn about the history of the Wells family, who played a key role in the development of the community. The cost is $10, or free for children 12 and younger. Visit greengables.org.

Do you have a community event? Email [email protected] at least three weeks in advance for consideration for the Things to Do roundup.

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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 [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Our picks: 7 best fun things to do in Brevard this weekend