The air hummed with the sound of distant music and laughter echoing through the streets of Coconut Grove. People carrying stuffed animal plushies mocking political candidates paraded through the streets, while several floats featuring bands and traditional dancers from all cultures followed behind them. Children sat on their parents’ shoulders, waving at the absurdity passing before them. This was the King Mango Strut—a parade where satire reigned supreme, and the spirit of Miami was alive in every exaggerated costume and irreverent float.
Among the most eye-catching sights were marchers dressed as oversized Pfizer syringes, bouncing through the crowd with exaggerated plungers, poking fun at the frenzy surrounding vaccinations. Some had labels reading ‘Boost Me Again,’ while others danced alongside a float featuring a giant, grinning virus cell, drawing both laughter and conversation from onlookers. The mix of absurdity and social commentary highlighting the Strut’s unique ability to entertain while making a statement.
Every year, Miami’s Coconut Grove transforms into a lively display of satire, humor, and activism with the King Mango Strut Parade. What started as a countercultural lampoon of the now-defunct Orange Bowl Parade has outlived its predecessor, becoming an iconic celebration of Miami’s unique spirit.
The President of the King Mango Strut Parade, Carl Levin, has played a crucial role in evolving the event while maintaining its grassroots energy. “When I first got involved, I saw an opportunity to bring in more organization and community engagement,” Levin said. “We’ve focused on increasing sponsorships from local businesses, implementing structured events leading up to the parade, and ensuring the event remains financially sustainable.”
Levin emphasized the importance of maintaining the parade’s unique spirit while also expanding its reach. “The King Mango Strut has always been a grassroots event, but we’re working on ways to get younger generations involved while keeping the humor and satire that make it special,” he explained.
Planning the parade is no small task. Levin and his team start organizing months in advance, from securing city permits to developing a theme that reflects the biggest cultural and political moments of the year. “The Strut thrives on its ability to blend humor with local and national issues,” Levin said. “It’s a way for the community to come together and laugh while also making a statement.”
One of the biggest challenges Levin has faced is securing funding. “The cost of running the parade has skyrocketed over the years,” he noted. “What used to be a $10,000 event now requires upwards of $50,000 to cover permits, police, barricades, and insurance. That’s why we’ve made a push for more sponsorships and community support.”
Beyond logistics, Levin sees the Strut as a vital part of Coconut Grove’s cultural identity. “This is one of the last great traditions of the Grove,” he said. “We’ve lost a lot of festivals over the years, but the Strut remains because people believe in it. It’s wacky, it’s unpredictable, and it’s uniquely Miami.”
Levin and his team are constantly brainstorming ways to make the parade even more engaging. One idea in the works is to create a pre-parade event to draw in more attendees early and boost local business traffic. “We want to make sure the businesses here benefit from the influx of people,” Levin said. “We’re looking at ways to make the day even more of an event, not just a parade.”
Mr. Schachner, a teacher at Ransom Everglades and longtime attendee, also sees the event as a celebration of resilience and satire. “It started as a way for locals to poke fun at corporate-sponsored parades, and over time, it has evolved into something much bigger,” he said. “This year, it felt like Miami was ready to revisit the tradition, and it was exciting to see.”
The Coconut Grove Women’s Club, led by President Illene Davila, plays an active role in the event each year. “We always walk in the parade as part of our commitment to the community,” Davila explained. “This year, we had members serve as superior judges, rating the floats and engaging with the crowd.”
Community organizations also used the parade as an opportunity to spread awareness. “This year, I joined the Coconut Grove Food Pantry and the Coconut Grove Food Pantry Youth Council,” said one participant. “As a member of the council, we participated in the King Mango Strut and passed out a bunch of flowers to everyone in the crowd. It was really great because we got a lot of cool attention and a lot of people saying that they would donate.”
Ella Crowley, RE ’26, also took part in the Strut. “Being in the parade was such a fun experience,” she said. “It’s not every day that you get to be part of something so unique to Miami, where humor and activism go hand in hand.”
Davila appreciated how the parade tackles both lighthearted and serious issues. “One float about the Brightline train running over cars made me laugh, but it also made me think about how it reflects real concerns in Miami,” she said. “Others focused on environmental advocacy, which is something important to many residents.”
At its core, Levin said, the King Mango Strut is about bringing people together through satire, laughter, and civic engagement. “It’s good to show up because it ends a year and transitions us into a new one,” he said. “It’s a way for people, regardless of their politics or backgrounds, to come together, laugh, and reflect on what’s happened over the past year. It’s about celebrating what needs to be celebrated and making light of what needs to be reexamined.”
