You know the Grove. But insiders know what King Mango’s plotting, who’s bringing the funk to the Barnacle and when the Phantom slips back into town. Here’s your weekly advantage over the friend who always says, “How did I miss that?” Or you could be that guy. Today’s recommendation? Read on and be the one who knew.
Friday, October 9
Funk, Rock and Mojo. Mama Fuma brings Caribbean funk, Southern rock and plenty of soul to The Barnacle for an outdoor evening built for picnics, cold drinks and dancing on the lawn. The band pairs bassist Ariel DLP and vocalist Nikki Guerra in high-energy grooves and feel-good mashups. The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Doors open at 6 p.m. Picnics and BYOB welcome; no pets. Tickets. Add to Calendar.
Saturday, October 10
Let Mango Madness Begin. King Mango Strut revs up the absurdity machine with a poster and theme unveiling, plus live music from Coconut Grove School of Rock and The Chili Guys. Fuller Street. Saturday 10/10, 6–9 p.m. Coconut Grove School of Rock performs 6–7 p.m.; the unveiling follows from 7–7:30 p.m.; The Chili Guys play 7:30–9 p.m. Free. Add to Calendar.
Get in the Loop. Miami’s growing network of trails and greenways comes together for the Miami Loop Summit, with updates on projects including the Grove’s own Commodore Trail and a chance for residents to weigh in on what comes next. Free. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday 10/10. Miami Dade College, Chapman Conference Center. Add to Calendar
Speed Walk Culture. Lowe docent Carol Millas traces women’s contributions to art from the Renaissance to the 21st century, including works by Sofonisba Anguissola, Helen Frankenthaler and Cindy Sherman. A guided tour will put your last museum speed-walk to shame. Free. Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables. Saturday 10/10, 11 a.m.–noon. Info. Add to Calendar
Follow the Yellow Brick Road. You know the crew, but Actors’ Playhouse is giving their trip to Oz a fresh musical spin in this adaptation by Jim Eiler. There’s still a tornado, a Wicked Witch and a Wizard who may—or may not—have all the answers, but this funny new production gives even those who know the story by heart another reason to follow that yellow brick road. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. Saturdays, 10/10–10/31, 2 p.m. Tickets. Add to Calendar
Cuba, Heard Through Its Music. CUBA – Música & Memória traces the story of Cuban music from African and European roots through boleros, sones, guarachas and mambos, ending with a tribute to Benny Moré. Sanctuary of the Arts. 8 p.m. Tickets.
Sunday, October 11
Think that thou hast never seen a poem as puzzling as a teen? A teen who stares at screens all day and tells the ’rents to go away. Miami-Dade teens ages 13–18 can put all that mystery to work in the library system’s poetry contest: write an original 14-line sonnet for a chance at prizes. Entries are due by midnight Saturday 10/17. Contest details and entry.
Tuesday, October 13
Tic Toc…Three Weeks Away. The general election is Tuesday 11/3–just three weeks out! Check your registration, review your ballot (here’s a sample), find your polling place and consider your voting options before Election Day. Check your voter registration status. Build your plan with VOTE411 or Miami-Dade Elections. Add to Calendar
Wednesday October 14
Stop and Smell the Umbrellas. Giralda Plaza is blooming overhead again, this time beneath hundreds of flower-patterned umbrellas suspended across the pedestrian promenade. The free Giralda in Bloom installation comes from the creators of the original Umbrella Sky project—so wander over, look up and bring a camera. Through October 31. 100 block of Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables. Info. Free.
Thursday October 15
Science After Dark Gets Weird. Frost Science turns the museum over to adults for nightLAB: Weird Science, an after-hours mix of hands-on experiments, unusual sensory experiences and planetarium soundscapes. Explore The Sex Lives of Cheating Orchids, brave the Gruesome Garden Experience and enter the costume contest for a chance to win a Frost Science membership. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd. 7–11 p.m. Ages 21 and older. Tickets.
Friday October 16
The Phantom Returns to the Grove. Broadway’s longest-running Phantom, Franc D’Ambrosio, opens the St. Hugh–Steinway Concert Series with Broadway favorites and Great American Songbook standards, joined by pianist Roberto Berrocal. Complimentary parking, plus a reception with wine and appetizers. St. Hugh Catholic Church, 3460 Royal Road. Friday 10/16, 8 p.m. Tickets. Add to Calendar.
Seraphic Fire Serenades Coral Gables. Florida’s Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire brings Serenade to Music to Coral Gables for an evening of luminous choral music in one of the city’s most resonant church settings. First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way. Friday 10/16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets. Add to Calendar.
Saturday October 17
Ahoy, Matey! Coconut Grove Sailing Club’s annual fall regattas send two fleets onto Biscayne Bay for a full weekend of racing: One Design and BBYRA boats on Saturday, followed by PHRF racing Sunday. Then it’s back to the club for beer, refreshments and trophies—and a good excuse for the rest of us to watch the sails fill the Bay. Saturday–Sunday 10/17–10/18. Coconut Grove Sailing Club, 2990 South Bayshore Drive. Add to Calendar
Sunday October 18
Coffee, Conversation and Voting Rights. The Voting Rights Coffee Chat Series comes to Miami for two conversations on educating, strategizing and amplifying. Sunday 10/18: St. James Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Avenue, at 10 a.m. Add to Calendar; and St. Matthew Community Baptist Church, 3616 Day Avenue, at 1 p.m. Add to Calendar. The University of Miami School of Law’s Center for Ethics & Public Service and ACLU Florida sponsor.
Breathe in the Golden Hour. Sunset yoga’s fall series brings free community classes to the Grove’s park and waterfront settings, with each session highlighting a different movement practice. This evening features sunset yoga and sound healing at Glass & Vine, 2820 McFarlane Road. Sunday 10/18, 6–7 p.m. Free; advance RSVP required. Schedule, information and RSVP. Glass & Vine and OM Movement sponsor.
Save Me a Seat
Good Doc, Bad Doc. Dr. Henry Jekyll has a perfectly reasonable idea: separate the good in mankind from the evil. What could possibly go wrong? Jekyll & Hyde brings Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic tale to the stage with murder, obsession, split personalities and a thunderous pop-rock score as Jekyll’s experiment unleashes an alter ego he can no longer control. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. 10/7–11/1. Tickets. Add to Calendar
CGTFest Wants Your Next Big Idea. South Florida playwrights and directors can now submit work for CGTFest 2027, the Coconut Grove Theater Fest’s celebration of new plays, bold ideas and local theatre artists. Enter here by Tuesday 10/13, 11:59 p.m. Add to Calendar.
Sunny With a Chance of Existential Dread. Fresno weather girl Stacey is paid to smile through forecasts for a planet that seems increasingly determined to prove her wrong. In the blistering dark comedy Weather Girl, that relentlessly sunny disposition begins to crack—and something more primal emerges. Named one of The New York Times’ best plays of 2025, the play gets its regional premiere at GableStage before a planned screen adaptation. GableStage at The Biltmore, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Through 10/18. Tickets. Add to Calendar
¿Hablas Español? Sí, Puedes. Dust off the vocabulary and keep the sentences moving at the library’s relaxed Spanish Conversation Circle. All skill levels are welcome, whether the goal is fluency or simply staying conversational. Free; registration required. Ages 19 and older. Register or call 305-442-8695. Coconut Grove Branch Library, 2875 McFarlane Road. 4–5 p.m. Thursdays 10/22, 11/19 and 12/17. Add to Calendar
A Good Book and Better Company. The Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove Book Club meets at the Coconut Grove Branch Library for its monthly page-turner session. Registration required; ages 19 and older. Monday 10/26, 1:30–3 p.m. Discussing The Maid by Nita Prose. Plan ahead for How to Read a Book by Monica Wood 11/23 and God of the Woods by Liz Moore on 12/28.For registration, call 305-442-8695 or email [email protected]. Add to Calendar.
Monster Mash Returns. The 4th Annual Monster Mash, with a costume contest, dancing, silent auction, food, cash bar and plenty of Halloween spirit. Proceeds benefit Thanksgiving food baskets. Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, 2985 S. Bayshore Drive. Thursday 10/29, 6–9 p.m. $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Tickets. Add to Calendar The Rotary Club of Coconut Grove and Rotary Club of Miami Brickell sponsor.
Move for Parkinson’s. Moving Day Miami marks its 15th anniversary by bringing families, caregivers and friends together to walk, move and raise money for Parkinson’s care and research. Registration is free, and there’s plenty of time to build a team—or simply show up and add your steps to the cause. 9 a.m.–noon Saturday 10/31. Tropical Park Stadium, 7900 SW 40th Street. Parkinson’s Foundation Join or support the walk Add to Calendar
Save the Date. The Pianist Can Come Later. Chopin for All announced its new concert season dates, with the first free Sunday afternoon performance November 8 at Granada Church. The artist hasn’t been announced yet, but last season brought a parade of top-ranked pianists, so it’s okay to claim the date before you know who will be sitting at the keyboard. Free concert, free parking and straight down Bird Road. Granada Church, 950 University Drive. Sunday 11/8, 3:00 p.m. Info. Add to Calendar
The Grove’s Own 18 Wheelers Celebrate 30 Years. The 18 Wheelers mark their 30th anniversary with a hometown concert on The Barnacle lawn. The longtime local crowd favorite returns for an easygoing Friday night of live music under the trees, with picnics and BYOB welcome. The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Friday 11/13, 7–9 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. No pets. Tickets. Add to Calendar.
Where Cane Fever Catches Fire. Thousands of Hurricanes gather around Lake Osceola for one of the University of Miami’s signature Homecoming traditions: the boat-burning ceremony followed by a fireworks show over the lake. It’s part ritual, part spectacle and a very Miami way to see school spirit at full volume—even if you never attended UM. University of Miami, Coral Gables campus. Friday 11/13 8:30 p.m. Metrorail to University Station. More information. Add to Calendar.
Stars, Stripes and Very Short Pauses. The Miami Sousa Band salutes veterans with Marches of Honor, mixing patriotic favorites, classical selections and solo features. The selections arrive with barely a pause between them, so save the lengthy commentary for the ride home. Free and open to the public. First United Methodist Church Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way. Friday 11/13/2026, 7:30 p.m. Info. Add to Calendar.
Fitness, Health and Unity. Get moving with a beginner-friendly, no-equipment workout at St. James Baptist Church. Expect a full-body class, a judgment-free room and no pressure to arrive already in Olympic shape. St. James Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Avenue. Saturday 10/24, 1–2 p.m. Add to Calendar. Saturday 11/14, 1–2 p.m. Add to Calendar.
Two Wheeled Sundays. Coral Gables Museum’s monthly bike tours offer very different excuses to get pedaling: a costumed pre-Halloween spin through historic Pinewood Cemetery on 10/18, and a ride along the Gables’ old bridle paths and equestrian landmarks on 11/15. Bring your own bike; tours depart at 10 a.m. from the Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Avenue. $10; $5 for museum members and children under 12. Info. Register Add to Calendar
Still Playing
Bring Your Own Muse. Artists of every skill level can bring a favorite medium, a bagged lunch and whatever they’re working on to the Woman’s Club’s weekly Open Studio. Members and prospective members welcome; $10 suggested donation. Details or 786-512-6336. Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, 2985 South Bayshore Drive. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Wednesdays 10/7–10/28. Add to Calendar
We Could All Use a Little Forgiveness. Miami-Dade’s Operation Green Light gives people with eligible traffic, parking and criminal-court debts a two-week window to resolve cases while collection fees are removed. Services include payments, payment plans, license reinstatements, compliance documents and other case assistance. Online service is available 24 hours a day; in-person service is generally Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with extended hours for traffic and parking at selected locations on Thursdays, 4–8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Through 10/18. Late fees still apply. Miami-Dade County Clerk More information.
The Early Birds. Fairchild’s Early Morning Bird Walks start before the garden opens, when hummingbirds and other winged residents are at their most active. Bring binoculars and meet at the South Gate Entrance for a guided walk along the Kushlan Bird Trail, with birding tips and species insights from trained guides. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road. 7:30–9:30 a.m. Capacity 20. Free for members with registration; nonmembers must purchase admission. Schedule and Tickets.
First Draft. A new monthly First-Thursday open-mic night is starting at Emissary Café, giving Grove writers, storytellers and other brave souls three minutes to get something new, rough or vulnerable out into the world. Read in English or Spanish, or just grab a coffee or glass of wine and listen while somebody else takes the risk. Sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m.; the mic opens at 7. Emissary Café, 3308 Mary St. 6:30 p.m. Register.
Sit and Watch the Tide Come In. Miami’s fall king tides are rising. If your usual route sits low , especially near the bay or drainage trouble spots (think South Bayshore Drove, Kennedy Park and Myers Park), remember that a blue-sky day can still come with water in the street. Prime dates: 9/26–9/30, 10/7–10/13, 10/24–10/30, 11/6–11/9 and 11/23–11/26. See the City’s king tide information. Highest tides occur three hours after moonrise and three hours after moonset..
The Doctor Is In. More than a century after Miami-Dade’s first female physician, Dr. Eleanor Galt Simmons, treated patients from a tiny limestone office, Meg Wallace becomes the first artist invited to exhibit inside it. Out of Darkness: The Ecology of Care places antique medicine bottles and archives in conversation with painting, sculpture, poetry, sound and a new film about South Florida’s mangroves, exploring how care sustains both people and ecosystems. Advance reservations recommended. The Kampong, 4013 South Douglas Road. Community preview 12:30–3:30 p.m. Exhibition continues through 9/11/27.
The King Returns. The King Mango Strut Parade reclaims the streets of Coconut Grove for its annual dose of satire, costumes and wonderfully unserious civic spirit. The streets of Coconut Grove. Sunday 1/3, 2–6 p.m. Add to Calendar.
