Free Fuller Street block party Oct. 10 offers first look at the 2027 Strut, with live music, a new poster by DaveL and the parade theme reveal
Another wild and wacky year is winding down, which can mean only one thing: It’s time to make sure the NUT remains in Coconut Grove. The countdown to the 43rd King Mango Strut begins Saturday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., with the Poster and Theme Unveiling Block Party, a free community celebration on the Fuller Street pedestrian block featuring live music and the much-anticipated poster reveal.
Known as the “Weirdest Parade in the Universe,” the King Mango Strut has spent more than four decades celebrating — and skewering — what’s weird and wonderful about Miami and the year gone by.
The Coconut Grove School of Rock opens the evening. At 7 p.m., organizers unveil the poster by artist DaveL and announce the 2027 parade theme. Miami reggae-fusion-funk band The Chili Guys close out the night.
The parade itself steps off Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at 2 p.m. (PICTURED: King Mango Strut)
“The poster and theme unveiling is really where the King Mango Strut begins each year,” said Carl Levin, president of the King Mango Strut. “It’s the first chance for everyone to get a taste of what’s coming and to start thinking about all the wonderfully ridiculous material the past year has given us. More than anything, it’s a chance to bring people together in the heart of the Grove, have some fun and officially kick off another season of Mango madness.”
Strut Beginnings
For longtime Grovites, the unveiling means more than a new poster. It signals the start of another King Mango season and offers the first clue to the irreverence that will spill onto the streets in January. That’s when hundreds of Strutters turn the year’s headlines, personalities and absurdities into costumes, signs, performances and decidedly unconventional parade entries.
Predicting what will show up is nearly impossible. That’s part of the fun.
Over the decades, audiences have met the Marching Freds, the Synchronized Briefcase Brigade, the Million Chad March, Weapons of Mass Distraction and the Running of the Bullshitters. Each captured its moment in time, and with another headline-heavy year nearing its end, the 2027 parade should not lack for material.
More Than Four Decades of Mango Madness
Coconut Grove is home to some of Miami’s most colorful outdoor traditions, from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Goombay Festival to the legendary Coconut Grove Bed Race. But the King Mango Strut occupies a particularly eccentric corner of Grove history.
The Strut began more than four decades ago as a parody of the pomp surrounding the King Orange Jamboree Parade, the former Orange Bowl tradition. It has since grown into a beloved community institution without losing touch with its bohemian roots.
“The Strut has always reflected the personality of Coconut Grove — creative, unconventional and never afraid to laugh at itself,” Levin said. “After more than four decades, people still come out because they never quite know what they’re going to see. We take the headlines and absurdities of the year, turn them upside down and have a good time with them. That spirit is what has kept the Strut going all these years.”
Today, more than 10,000 spectators turn out to laugh, cheer and dance along as Strutters poke fun at the year gone by. The parade remains free and open to all, whether watching from the curb or marching in it. The only requirements are an open mind and a willingness to laugh — occasionally at yourself.
In Coconut Grove, even announcing a parade calls for a party. So what madness will the 2027 Strut bring? The first clue comes Oct. 10.
EVENT INFORMATION
WHEN:
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, 6-9 p.m.
RUN OF SHOW:
6-7 p.m. — Coconut Grove School of Rock
7-7:30 p.m. — Poster and theme unveiling by artist DaveL
7:30-9 p.m. — The Chili Guys
WHERE:
Fuller Street pedestrian block, between Main Highway and Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
WHY:
The unveiling launches the countdown to the 43rd King Mango Strut, stepping off Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at 2 p.m.
ABOUT THE KING MANGO STRUT
The King Mango Strut is a satirical parade through the streets of Coconut Grove that celebrates — and skewers — what’s weird and wonderful about Miami and the year gone by. Born more than four decades ago as a parody of the former King Orange Jamboree Parade, the Strut has become one of Coconut Grove’s most distinctive community traditions. The 43rd King Mango Strut steps off Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at 2 p.m. For more information, visit kingmangostrut.org.