"It's the highest honor of Coconut Grove to design this poster," muralist David "DaveL" Lavernia told the Coconut Grove Spotlight, at the Fuller Street block party where his artwork for the 43rd annual King Mango Strut was unveiled.
That party took place on Saturday, October 10. The parade it promotes is on Sunday, January 3, 2027. In the twelve weeks between those dates, Coconut Grove runs a full season of its own. It starts with a pumpkin patch on Fuller Street, continues with a stamp card that keeps paying out through December, adds a weekend of events at The Barnacle, and ends with the Strut on Main Highway. Neighborhood organizations run every part of it, and most of it happens within a few blocks of Commodore Plaza.
The season started on Fuller Street
Fuller Street is the stage for most of this season. This year's poster unveiling was a block party there, where more than 100 people turned out to see the 2027 theme, "The Weird Cup," a King Mango take on the 2026 World Cup, as the Spotlight reported.
Lavernia's poster shows the King Mango mascot in soccer cleats kicking a soccer ball that looks like the Earth. Many neighbors already know his work. One of his murals is outside the CocoWalk restrooms, and for five years he has painted a container in The Stacks at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival.
Carl Levin, president and organizer of the Strut, explained the theme to the Spotlight in terms of community. "Every year we've made the decision," he said. "We're going to focus on the community. We're going to focus on what brings the world together."
Ten days of Harvest, then one Halloween night
On Friday, October 23, two weeks after the poster party, Fuller Street hosts Coconut Grove Harvest. The Coconut Grove Business Improvement District presents the event, and the published event listing gives the details.
- Pumpkin patch on Fuller Street: October 23 through November 1
- Fall photo setup at CocoWalk: October 30 through November 1
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Fuller Street and Downtown Coconut Grove have a two-hour family program planned that night:
| Time | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Halloween storytelling | Books & Books Coconut Grove |
| 6 to 8 p.m. | Live DJ, trick-or-treating at participating businesses, Grove Stamp Scavenger Hunt | Fuller Street and Downtown Coconut Grove |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Fantasy Theatre Factory presents Little Monsters Tales | Fuller Street |
| 7:30 p.m. | Costume contest | Fuller Street |
Every stop on the program is within walking distance, from the storytelling at Books & Books to trick-or-treating at participating Grove businesses, and the listing describes the Fantasy Theatre Factory piece as Halloween stories for young audiences.
The stamp card keeps Halloween going into December
The Harvest program reaches past Halloween with the Grove Stamp Scavenger Hunt, which also launches October 31. Participants collect 10 Grove Stamps while exploring Downtown Coconut Grove. A completed card unlocks perks from participating businesses, and those perks can be redeemed throughout November and December 2026.
The listing describes the hunt as a reason for families to try a new place, revisit neighborhood favorites and come back to the Grove after Halloween. A card filled on Halloween night can be redeemed on an ordinary weekday in mid-November or on a Saturday close to the holidays. That carries Harvest across the weeks between the pumpkin patch and the Strut.
One weekend at The Barnacle
In the middle of the season, attention moves from Fuller Street to the bay. The Barnacle Historic State Park has two events on back-to-back days in mid-November.
The Barnacle Society's Moonlight Concert Series runs from October to April, and its new season began this month. Mama Fuma played on Friday, October 9. The next show on the concert calendar is The 18 Wheelers on Friday, November 13.
The next day, the park hosts the Fifth Annual Holiday Barkzaar. It is a holiday market and fundraiser presented by Equipaws Pet Services and The Barnacle Society, and it welcomes dogs.
| The 18 Wheelers | Holiday Barkzaar | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Friday, November 13 | Saturday, November 14 |
| Time | Doors 6 p.m., music 7 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Admission | Tickets from $10 | $7 |
| Dogs | No pets | Dog-friendly, with a lure course |
| Bring | Picnic and BYOB welcome | Holiday shopping list |
The pet rules differ on the two days. Dogs stay home on Friday night. On Saturday they are the main guests, with a Barkzaar program that includes live music, food, drinks and activities for dogs. The two days together make one of the easiest Grove weekends to plan. Pack a picnic for Friday evening and bring the dog back on Saturday morning.
January 3: the 43rd Strut on Main Highway
The season ends where it started, in the village center. According to the official event page, the 43rd King Mango Strut is on Sunday, January 3, 2027. The parade runs from 2 to 6 p.m., and street closures start at 10 a.m. The route is a short loop:
- Start at the corner of Commodore Plaza and Main Highway.
- Turn left onto Main Highway.
- Turn left onto Grand Avenue at CocoWalk.
- Turn left again at Commodore Plaza.
The organizers add that if the marchers are having too much fun, "we will go around again until we all fall down." Entertainment on Commodore Plaza follows right after the parade.
The Strut's attendance figures show why the street closures start four hours early. The Spotlight reported that the January 2026 parade had more than 700 costumed marchers and more than 10,000 spectators. The parade began in 1982, paused for two years during COVID and came back for its 40th edition in 2024, according to the Spotlight.
Some practical details from the organizers:
- Parking: The municipal garage at Oak Avenue and Mary Street is one block from the route. Parking is also listed at CocoWalk, Mayfair, Coconut Grove Playhouse, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and Coconut Grove Elementary School.
- Admission: Free.
- Children: All ages are welcome. Children under 16 should be with an adult.
- Pets: The organizers recommend leaving pets at home.
- Drinks: The Strut does not sell alcohol. Restaurants and bars along the route serve at their own discretion.
The Coconut Grove Playhouse lot on that parking list is also part of a longer project. On July 9, 2026, the City of Miami Commission approved Miami-Dade County's appeal. According to Miami-Dade Arts, that decision allows permitting to move forward on Phase 2: the Historic Gateway, a new theater and a public parking garage.
Lavernia gave the Spotlight his own view of the Strut. "It's my favorite thing to do in the Grove," he said. "If it could be every weekend, I would be happy."
If you're hosting family during the holidays or thinking about where to live next year, Miami Rental Queen knows Coconut Grove on foot, from the walk between Fuller Street and Commodore Plaza to the buildings closest to The Barnacle. Let's Connect to talk through what would put you within walking distance of this calendar.
