This week in Pembroke Pines: Gaming contest, VetBaseball, free theater and more
The FIFA World Cup rolls on this week with group stage matches, keeping soccer fans tuned in to the excitement.
Two matches are this week at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, including Scotland against Brazil on Wednesday, June 24.
If Scottish supporters arrive with the same enthusiasm they took to Boston, where fans seemingly drank the city dry, bars may want to stock up.
For residents looking to step away from the soccer frenzy, Pembroke Pines has plenty on tap, with events catered for the whole family, gamers and all age groups.
Here’s what’s happening around your city from Monday, June 22, through Saturday, June 27:
Paleo Sue Unearths Stories!
Hosted by the Friends of South Regional/Broward College Library, this event will take guests back to a time when humans where not the apex predators that roamed the land.
In a free hour-long event on Monday, Suzy Hammer, as a paleontologist by the name of Paleo Sue, will entertain guests with cave stories, a dinosaur hunt and other activities for the family.
Families can register through the library’s website.
‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz’
Free live theater is making a stop in Pines for residents wanting to travel down the yellow brick road.
A Miami-based traveling theater company will bring a reimagining of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to the Susan B. Katz Theatre at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to the Fantasy Theatre Factory, the production offers a fast-paced and comedic twist on L. Frank Baum’s cult classic, featuring “South Florida flavor, playful surprises, and big-hearted adventure.”
Admission is free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Susan B. Katz Theatre, a 442-seat venue and home to the Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts, is located inside the River of Grass ArtsPark campus.
VetBaseball game
The city’s veterans have a chance to be treated to a ballgame on Wednesday to watch the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park.
The event, hosted in partnership with VetBaseball, will pick up guests at 10 a.m. at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, located at 601 City Center Way.
The Marlins face the Texas Rangers at 12:10 p.m.
VetBaseball, the nonprofit organizing the event, has taken thousands of veterans to Major League Baseball games at no cost. Since launching in 2018, the program has hosted more than 3,000 veterans.
Veterans Dinner
On Friday, the city of Pembroke Pines invites resident veterans to participate in a free dinner at the Carl Shechter Southwest Focal Point Community Center, located at 301 NW 103rd Ave.
The dinner is meant to honor those who have served the country ahead of the country’s 250-year anniversary on July 4. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the event runs until 9.
Guests must be veterans or transitioning service members and must show proof of status at the door.
Each veteran is limited to a plus one with a $15 cost per guest.
Halo LAN classic tournament
Keiser University’s Pembroke Pines campus will host a two-day Halo LAN classic competition on Friday and Saturday.
Friday features “best of three” matches and the second day will include “best of five” matches, with a bracket reset “Grand Finals” portion.
The competition, which will be held at 1640 SW 145th Ave., has a team entry fee of $40, with a scaling prize pool based on participation. The pool has reached $1,000 and the tournament serves as a fundraiser for the Keiser University Esports Program. Players are encouraged to bring their own equipment, including controllers, keyboards, mice and headsets. No controllers will be provided on site.
Once signed up, players can join with their team on Discord.
