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Good morning, Melbourne! In today’s edition: Florida’s spaceport investment, an artificial reef from utility poles, the Space Coast Renaissance Fair, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Securing spaceport leadership: Florida is investing $93.4 million to strengthen Space Coast infrastructure in the Floridians First budget. The state logged 109 successful launches in 2025, more than any other site worldwide — get all the details.
Upcycling for ocean life: OUC is donating concrete utility pole sections to help build an artificial reef off the Brevard coast. The project aims to cut landfill waste and boost marine habitat and fishing — get all the details.
Enhancements improve cruise experience: Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 6 added a new debarkation ramp for the holidays, part of a $2.5 million upgrade, letting passengers head straight to the first floor and easing congestion — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Step into medieval revelry: The Space Coast Renaissance Fair in Viera will be held over two weekends, January 10 to 11 and January 17 to 18, at Space Coast Daily Park. The festival will feature jousts, knights, live music, stage shows, and an artisan marketplace. Tickets start at $17. Get all the details.
Coastal science fix: Between hands-on exhibits on barrier island ecology and a breezy dune-to-lagoon trail, Barrier Island Center turns science into a beach day with extra sea turtle cred. Pop in for a quick brain refresh, then let the native habitats do the mood-lifting while you wander.
Burrito night, solved: When a burrito craving hits, Flying Burro comes through, from the El Macho smothered in queso to birria with consommé and a Cali-style wrap stuffed with fries. Quick pickup or a breezy drive-thru makes dinner easy, no decision fatigue.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🌳 Wickham Park First Friday @ Wickham Park Regional Pavilion | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – First Friday at Wickham Park is rolling in rain or shine, with live music from Corey Kipps and a herd of food trucks ready to feed us well. Bring a lawn chair, an appetite, and the umbrella Florida makes you carry anyway.
🎤 3rd Annual Space Coast Battle of the Bands Finals @ Chumley’s Depot | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Chumley’s Depot is hosting the Space Coast Battle of the Bands finals. You get to vote, a ballot with guitar solos, and judges include a former Ramones roadie and a Travis Tritt guitarist. Round winners, the reigning champ, vendors, and a $10 cover.
👯 Girls Night Out @ Painting with a Twist | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Call your crew and make it a girls night. It’s a sip, paint, and relax situation with step-by-step guidance, zero experience required, and absolutely no spectators or babies. Feeling extra? Add a custom candle for 20 bucks, and bask in your masterpiece.
🏰 Space Coast Renaissance Fair @ Space Coast Daily Park | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – If you’ve been craving a break from HOA emails and yardwork, Space Coast Renaissance Fair is your excuse. Think music, turkey legs, and mead, plus jousts and jesters, all at Space Coast Daily Park in Viera. Bring friends, wear something medieval, and call it culture.
🐷 Piggy Banks and Playtime @ Melbourne Kids Village | Saturday (1/10) at 9:30 AM – Bring the kids to Melbourne Kids Village for a free hour of play while you snag money tips from a Fifth Third banker. They get story time, pizza, and piggy bank decorating, you get budget mysteries solved, for once. RSVP or scan the QR.
🎨 Mid-Century Painting Workshop @ Antiques & Uniques Vintage Market | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – Antiques & Uniques Vintage Market on Sarno is hosting a mid-century cat or dog portrait workshop, perfect for pairing your muse with that starburst clock and teak credenza. No experience needed, just step-by-step guidance, your own color palette, and a sense of fun.
🥚 Egg 101 Class @ Big Green Egg Learning Center | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – If your Big Green Egg mostly holds down the patio, this class shows it some respect. Learn to light it properly, work the conveggtor, and deal with ash, all without singeing your eyebrows. New owner or seasoned griller, you’ll pick up real tips.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Melbourne report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 79°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 1%
Patchy fog before 9am. Sunny. High near 79, with temperatures falling to around 75 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. East southeast wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 80°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 6%
Sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Take a peek inside →
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