Weekend things to do: Rocking Veterans Day, DJ god Paul Oakenfold in Delray Beach, free mojitos at The Wharf

Veterans Day and its themes of sacrifice and honor can feel like an abstraction, but these ideas will get very real on Friday night in Delray Beach with a free concert by The Resilient — a rock band made up of severely wounded U.S. combat soldiers.

The concert will takes place as part of a pre-Veterans Day tribute from 6 to 10 p.m. on Old School Square, in the heart of one of South Florida’s most lively downtown commercial corridors, which, of course, could not exist without soldiers doing what needs to be done.

The Resilient got their start more than a decade ago when singer Tim Donley and guitarist Nate Kalwicki were rehabilitating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from horrific injuries suffered in Afghanistan. They soon joined MusiCorps, a music program for wounded warriors, where they met musician and teaching artist Greg Loman, who continues to perform with The Resilient.

Through MusiCorps, they were introduced to Pink Floyd icon Roger Waters, joining him onstage for performances at Madison Square Garden, The Beacon Theatre and Constitution Hall. Through Waters, they met Juan “Dom” Dominguez, a decorated Marine and triple amputee who plays drums for The Resilient.

The Resilient’s set will offer originals and favorite rock covers, and their goal is to entertain, not dwell on the past. Their wounds do not define them, Donley says on the band’s website, TheResilientBand.com.

“Being wounded warriors … it’s a part of us. It’s something we did. It’s something we experienced. But it’s not our end all, be all. It’s not the limiting factor in who we are,” he says.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday, with guest act DNA performing until 7 p.m., followed by The Resilient. There will be food and beverage vendors on site. Visit DelrayOldSchoolSquare.com.

THURSDAY

Chiklis is here: The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival hits a few high notes this weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. Thursday Savor Cinema screening of “The Senior,” with star Michael Chiklis (“The Shield,” “The Commish,” “Fantastic Four”) in attendance. The film is a fact-based account of Mike Flynt, a 59-year-old family man who decides to return to college football 35 years after being kicked off his team. Chiklis will receive the FLIFF Career Achievement Award prior to the screening, which will also include an appearance by Flynt, the subject of the film. The film itself, alas, is sold out. But you can still get into the after-party, which will turn Southeast Sixth Street, in front of Savor Cinema, into a football field complete with referees, cheerleaders, bleachers, stadium lighting, a jumbo TV screen showing the Chicago Bears-Carolina Panthers game, plus bars and buffet tables of stadium food. The after-party costs $50+. Visit FLIFF.com.

Juanes is coming: Global rock star (and part-time South Florida resident) Juanes is bringing the world tour supporting his critically praised album “Vida Cotidiana” to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on March 30, with tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday at LiveNation.com. The album, which Rolling Stone called “his best, most soulful album yet,” is up for multiple awards (including Album of the Year, Best Rock Song for “Gris”) at the Latin Grammys, where Juanes is scheduled to perform during the Nov. 16 telecast. Visit Juanes.net.

Comedy stars:Bill Burr, comedian, writer, podcaster and star of the new Netflix series “Old Dads,” performs at Hard Rock Live at 8 p.m. Thursday. It’s all but sold out, but a few remaining tickets cost $148+ at MyHRL.com. … Similarly, comedian and actor George Lopez will be at a nearly sold out Hard Rock Live at 8 p.m. Friday, with space on the Couches available for $396+, and scattered singles for $56+.

Zat you, Santa Claus? It’s 10 days after Halloween, which must mean it’s time for Santa. The family-friendly Riverwalk holiday-lights party known as Light Up Lauderdale will take place at Esplanade Park on Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with food and drink, live entertainment and pictures with St. Nick. Visit GoRiverwalk.com.

Wharf turns 4:The Wharf Fort Lauderdale celebrates four years of partying on the New River with a four-day anniversary celebration from Thursday through Sunday awash in cocktails, food and entertainment. RSVP at WharfFTL.com to get free mojitos each day until 9 p.m.

FRIDAY

More FLIFFing:Continuing through Nov. 16, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will screen two of the more intriguing films of the weekend at Savor Cinema on Friday, beginning at 8 p.m. with “Drugstore June,” which FLIFF president Gregory von Hausch calls “one of the funniest films of FLIFF38.”

The story follows a self-absorbed young woman (rising talent Esther Povitsky) who sets out to solve a robbery while struggling to get over her ex-boyfriend. The cast includes a parade of familiar faces, not the least of which is Boynton Beach’s Danielle Bregoli, the rapper better known as Bhad Bhabie. Also in the film are Beverly D’Angelo (“National Lampoon’s Vacation”), Patricia Williams (“The Ms. Pat Show”), Miranda Cosgrove (“iCarly”), Haley Joel Osment (“The Sixth Sense,” “The Kominsky Method”), Matt Walsh (“Veep”), Jackie Sandler (“You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!”), comedians Bill Burr and Bobby Lee. Povitsky and director Nicholaus Goossen are expected to attend a post-screening party in the courtyard.

At 9:45 p.m. Friday at Savor Cinema, FLIFF will screen the Cannes Film Festival hit “Robot Dreams,” a “delightfully bittersweet animated wonder” (IndieWire) based on Sara Varon’s popular graphic novel about a dog, a robot and friendship.

Tickets to each film cost $13 in advance; $10 for seniors, military and students; $8 for members. Tickets sold at the door cost $15. Visit FLIFF.com.

Weekend laughs:Brooklyn-born wiseguy Chris Distefano’s steady climb to stardom reached a peak about six weeks ago when his show at Radio City Music Hall was a sellout. The comedian and podcaster will bring his tour to the Dania Improv in Dania Beach for shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $45+. Friday’s 7:30 p.m. show and Saturday’s 7 p.m. show are sold out. Visit DaniaImprov.com.

Around the Horn:In West Palm Beach, the Norton Museum of Art’s Friday-night Art After Dark series returns with a performance (7:30 to 9 p.m.) by the frisky French Horn Collective, led by Parisian multi-instrumentalist Vincent Raffard. The evening will include gallery tours, art workshops and an artist talk with Rachel Rossin, a self-taught programmer who works in painting, installations and virtual reality. Art After Dark admission is $10, or $5 for students. Parking is $5. Visit Norton.org.

Three for all:Featuring three performers who helped make the modern Miami sound a global thing, the Trilogy Tour will feature Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin in distinctive headlining sets from each artist at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Miami’s Kaseya Center. Tickets start at $135+. Visit KaseyaCenter.com.

SATURDAY

Country in Miami: If country music can work on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, why not Key Biscayne? The inaugural two-day Country Bay Music Festival will debut on Saturday and Sunday at Miami Marine Stadium with a strong lineup of big names and up-and-comers, among them Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Lainey Wilson, Elle King, Chris Young, Lee Brice, Nate Smith, Hailey Whitters, Breland and more. The all-ages shows start at noon each day. Single-day general-admission passes cost $143.23, with two-day passes $249.99+. VIP Beach Club accommodations cost $799.99+ for two days and include an open bar, elevated food options, expedited entry, front stage access and more. Visit CountryBayMusicFestival.com.

Oakenfold in Delray:DJ-producer and global EDM icon Paul Oakenfold will perform at downtown Delray Beach nightclub Honey on Saturday night, beginning at 11:30 p.m. You may reasonably ask: How can that be?! His team says Oakenfold is in South Florida for another event “and wanted to perform at a small venue, so it’s one of the last-minute, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for his South Florida fans.” Tickets cost $40+. Visit Instagram.com/honeydelray.

Dogs and drinks:The 17th annual Riverwalk Mutts & Martinis returns to Esplanade Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., a dog-friendly event that includes pet-oriented vendors, animal rescues, entertainment and, of course, martinis. Admission is free, but the Tito’s-sponsored VIP, with martini samples and light bites, costs $35. Visit Facebook.com/RiverwalkFTL.

SUNDAY

Swank Table is set: The annual Swank Table dinner series returns to the 8,500-square-foot pole barn at Swank Farm in Loxahatchee on Sunday, a beloved kickoff for South Florida’s fall foodie season. The remote, 20-acre working farm (known more formally as Swank Specialty Produce, located at 14311 North Road) will be the setting for 10 themed dinners through April 21, bringing nationally known chefs, local brewers and musicians together to support a local charity. The series-opening Fall Harvest Hoe Down, at 4 p.m. Sunday, has an elevated country theme, with a menu prepared by Nick Dellinger (chef de cuisine, Brick and Barrel, Jupiter), Clayton Carnes (owner/chef, Cholo Soy Cocina, West Palm Beach), Rodrigo Mezadri (executive chef, Hilton, West Palm Beach) and Anna Ross (owner/baker, Anna Bakes, Wellington). The brewer will be Prosperity Brewers in Boca Raton, with music by Philippe Harari and his All Star Country Band. Tickets cost $180, with a portion of the proceeds supporting Beachwood Integrative Equine Therapy. Visit SwankSpecialtyProduce.com.

Night-vision dinner:Members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, wearing night-vision goggles, will be your servers on Sunday night during the 15th annual Dining in the Dark fundraiser by the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The three-course dinner, which runs from 4:30 to 8 p.m., includes entertainment, speakers, a silent auction and cash bar. Tickets cost $125, with tables for 10 going for $1,000. Visit FloridaOutreachCenter.org.

Sunday night live:Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening returns to Hard Rock Live at 7 p.m. Sunday with music from his old man’s band. Tickets start at $40+ at MyHRL.com. … SoCal reggae-rock groovers Iration and Cydeways will be joined by simpatico locals Artikal Sound System on Sunday at Revolution Live at the Backyard in Fort Lauderdale. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $37.50+ at JoinTheRevolution.net.

Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye: In Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, Rhythm & Vine Beer Garden’s girlie happy hour known as Daddy Chill returns on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. with rosé pong, pop-up shopping with local vendors, a throwback ’90s-2000s soundtrack (NSYNC, anyone?) and a complimentary ladies-only welcome drink from 4 to 5 p.m. Think of it as counter-programming for the NFL. However, with the Dolphins on a bye week, fellas may have more time to stop by to kill the buzz. Visit Rhythm-Vine.com.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.