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Hello Melbourne! Hope your coffee’s especially good this morning.

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Space Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, nanobubble pilot cleaning Indian River Lagoon, and horses and bunnies egg hunt + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

📰 In the news

Weekend spectacle takes flight: Space Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival will be in Viera March 20-21 at Space Coast Daily Park with balloon rides, laser shows, and balloon glow. Tickets are $10 per person — get all the event details.

Practical landscaping guidance ahead: Melbourne’s free Florida-Friendly Landscaping Seminar will be held Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m. at Melbourne Auditorium, featuring four talks, lagoon updates from Kathy Hill, and door prizes, registration encouraged — get all the details.

Boosting oxygen, aiding seagrass: Titusville has launched a six-month nanobubble pilot to help clean the Indian River Lagoon. Florida Tech researchers are monitoring progress, with possible countywide expansion if results look promising — read the full story.

Gold just hit record highs. What about your savings? While traditional IRAs have been treading water against inflation, gold has gained over 50% in three years. That gap is why more retirees are rolling a portion of their savings into gold IRAs (the kind that hold physical metal). We compared the top five options and broke down who they’re best for. Check it out here →

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Hunt eggs with horses and bunnies
• Explore Annual Spring Art and Craft Expo
• Dine to benefit Cape Canaveral Council
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Steep some calm: If your week needs a little porcelain-clinking reset, Harvest Thyme Kitchen does proper teatime—loose-leaf pots, tiered trays, and warm scones with house clotted cream—in a cozy 1919 craftsman. Book ahead with a friend and let conversation do its unhurried thing.

Fresh art fix: Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in EGAD rotates themed shows monthly and spotlights local member artists in an artist‑owned co‑op space—perfect for a breezy browse between errands, a little “how did they do that?” wonder, and a reminder that yes, creativity lives here.

Live music, solved: Between touring legends, orchestral nights, and the occasional nostalgia-fueled singalong, King Center for the Performing Arts keeps Melbourne’s music calendar feeling, well, pleasantly overbooked. Put it on your week’s shortlist and treat your ears to something that beats your car speakers.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

Own a piece of Apple for less than a coffee: Every time you buy something from Amazon or Starbucks, you’re putting money in their pocket. Fractional shares flip that: you can own a slice of those companies for as little as a dollar. Most investing apps make it incredibly easy, with zero commissions and no account minimums. See which ones we recommend →

Mom says she’s fine. You’re not so sure: “What if something happens when you’re home alone?” You’ve asked a hundred times, but the outcome’s always the same. I don’t need that. Life Alert’s for old people. The real struggle isn’t finding a medical alert system that’ll work… it’s finding one she won’t fight you on. We looked into five options designed to settle the standoff, from smartwatches to systems with nothing to wear at all. See which ones stood out →

Thinning hair? Your shampoo was never going to fix it: I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on hair-loss products, biotin, masks, sprays, you name it. Not one of them lasted. Turns out, most things target the strand, not the follicle (where thinning actually happens). Dermatologists have been prescribing treatments that work for years, but there are now plenty of options available with no office visits required. See our top picks for men and women →

Strangers can buy your personal data for $0.50: Data brokers sell your name, home address, phone number, estimated income, and other personal info to anyone willing to pay. Scammers and identity thieves use these databases to take advantage of you. There are dozens of affordable services that can help you protect yourself. These three are our favorites →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎉 Eckerd Connects Prevention Services Grand Opening @ Eckerd Connects Prevention Services | Wednesday (3/18) at 1:00 PM – Feel like doing something civic and low key? Eckerd Connects is cutting the ribbon on their Melbourne office, with an open house, refreshments, and a peek at how they support local youth and families. Swing by, meet the team, giant scissors included.

📅 Third Thursdays @ The Avenue Viera | Thursday (3/19) at 5:00 PM – Third Thursday in Central Park means easy vibes, live music, and the kind of neighborly mingling you actually enjoy. Health First is footing the bill, so grab complimentary snacks, plus a free drink or ice cream, then call it wholesome, low-effort fun.

🎈 Space Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival @ Space Coast Daily Park | Friday (3/20) at 5:00 PM – Swap rocket launches for rainbow balloons at Space Coast Daily Park, with $35 tethered rides, live DJs, and food trucks that lift spirits. The nightly glow and laser show is a stunner, so bring a chair, a blanket, and your favorite co-pilot. Tickets vanish.

🎳 Space Coast USBC Women’s Tournament @ Bowlero Melbourne | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Bowlero Melbourne is setting the lanes for the Space Coast USBC Women’s Tournament, where league legends, ringer aunties, and spare assassins flex those oil-reading chops. Details drop this fall, so rally your trio, dust off the wrist brace, and claim those bragging rights.

🏺 Collector’s Showcase @ America’s Antique Mall | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Swing by America’s Antique Mall in Melbourne for a Collector’s Showcase where fiestaware, CorningWare, rare coins, Pokémon, cards, and baubles all flex their pedigree. Meet die-hard collectors, swap stories and tips, and maybe discover a new obsession, or just validate your carefully curated junk drawer.

🐥 Rollin’ with My Peeps! @ Galaxy Skateway | Saturday (3/21) at 4:30 PM – Grab your crew and roll into spring at Galaxy Skateway for Rollin’ with My Peeps, a 321 Pride Sports skate where both rink legends and lovable wall-huggers fit right in. All ages, ten bucks at the door, cash saves you the card fee, vibes included.

🎯 Cornhole Challenge for Change @ Melbourne Auditorium | Sunday (3/22) at 10:00 AM – Do some good while tossing beanbags at Melbourne Auditorium, as Serene Harbor hosts a cornhole throwdown benefiting survivors, their kids, and their pets. Competitive and casual brackets, prizes, raffles, and community impact, so grab a partner, practice the humble brag, and toss for a cause.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Melbourne report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 70°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 10%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 22%

A slight chance of rain showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Fully renovated 4-bed, 3-bath equestrian estate on 5.5 secluded acres in central Melbourne, blending country calm with swift access to beaches, dining, and shops. A new porte cochere opens to vaulted beam ceilings and a gas fireplace. The chef’s kitchen features Viking appliances and a gas range, overlooking a resort-style pool with dual sun shelves. Assumable 4.25 percent loan.

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