Review: The Coconut Grove Art Festival 2023 Is Better Than Ever

 
It is finally here! We made some time today to visit the 59th Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival with the family; it was an amazing time for all. Here is what we discovered.

For starters, this year’s festival is bigger than ever. The theme is “a different kind of hue” with a nod to Coconut Grove’s renaissance over recent years. The festival also is experiencing a renaissance, beginning with the artists themselves. The organizers were encouraged to find a different kind of hue in the artists that were invited to show. In order to accomplish this, over 1,000 artists submitted their applications to a panel of judges who were blind to the artists’ background, name or any other identifying information. They looked at the work alone in order to be sure and have plenty of fresh faces this year.

The strategy worked, as the art displayed came from all over. Our personal favorite was Kaiser Suidan from Next Step Studio and Gallery with a series of fun wall sculptures that are sure to become conversation pieces. We chose one for the bar area in our home and are very excited to have it installed. One of Kaiser’s pieces is pictured above, and here is another one.

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2023 Kaiser Suidan

In order to encourage a different type of hue in art collectors, the Young Collector’s Club has been expanded. There are plenty of activities for the junior collectors and artists alike with a watercoloring station, and the special Young Collector’s Club tent where artists have donated pieces for children to be able to purchase. They are able to enter the tent and choose their first work that is affordable enough for the kiddos to make their first purchase.

Our little one wasn’t quite big enough yet to make her first choice, but she was all-in for the watercolors and the overall vibe of the outing.

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2023 Young Collectors

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2023 Sculptures

Speaking of the vibe, what an excellent weekend to hold an event like this! With the sun shining and temperatures resting in the high 70’s, it is a perfect weekend to be outdoors. The venue is nestled between the beautiful condo towers and the Biscayne Bay, offering plenty of space to wander and browse, taking your time and also enjoying people-watching but not so many people that you feel cramped and rushed. It is very pleasant this year.

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2023 Park Grove

The organizers had promised expanded food and beverage choices and boy did they deliver. There were countless food trucks and vendors with a grassy picnic area or covered picnic tables. The perfect weather played up to this aspect very nicely as well. Our personal favorite was Pig Floyd’s BBQ. It was our first time to try it and we found the menu to be culturally inclusive with all sorts of offerings. They are based in Palmetto Bay and were voted “Best BBQ in Miami” for a reason. Their offerings take a long time on the smoker, so they can and will run out. Try to visit earlier rather than later.

After the BBQ experience, we tested out several different types of churros. They were all amazing. All of the others we visited with really enjoyed their selections as well, even a quick hot dog.

Really the only thing to remember before attending the Art Festival is that this is one of the busier weekends in Miami as a whole. In a city where there is always something to do, this weekend can be a bit of overload for our roadways. Traffic can be frustrating if you don’t plan ahead or already live in Coconut Grove. If you are free tomorrow (Sunday, February 19) or Monday, we definitely recommend a stop at the Coconut Grove Art Festival to see for yourself why it is already in the “Top 5 Best Outdoor Art Festivals” in the nation.