KING MANGO COMING TO WYNWOOD

Next Saturday, The King Mango Strut Parade will march through the streets of Miami for the 30th time . Be there at 5 PM on December 10, to enjoy the fun.

It steps out in the Wynwood Arts District this time. Strut fans should gather at the Wynwood's food truck lot, 2250 NW 2 Ave., to witness the artful zaniness.

Free parking is everywhere.

The parade begins MIami's most popular monthly event, Wynwood's Second Saturday Art Walk.

The Strut got started in 1981 when I tried to enter The Mango Marching Band in the City of Miami's Orange Bowl Parade. For some reason, the Orange Bowl Committee would not let our Hawaiian-shirted , conch shell-blowing assemblage in their spiffy, televised event.

"What the heck", I thought, "I'll start my own".

In the fall of '82 I teamed up with my buddy, Bill Dobson, and we did just that. The first Strut went well and there's been an annual King Mango parade ever since. At 5 pm we will have the Little Miss Mango Pageant on a flatbed truck in the food truck lot. Parade Queen, Adora, will cast a spell and a gaggle of dancing zombies appear. When the zombie slow, King Mango will come forward to drop his magic mango. This makes the parade begin. This year's entries include a school of "Lyin' Fish", "The Angry One Percent", and a group of school teachers that swear they're paid too much. A new group of women plan to come forward to complain about former presidential candidate Herman Cain ("Harassed by Herman") and a tiger mother, with whip in hand, will show off her two studious daughters. Eighteen more groups round out the King's procession. At sunset (5:20) the parade will begin marching from the west end of the food truck lot. They will strut in circles, around the rolling restaurants parked in the three-acre field, until the they are dizzy, or, 5:40 pm. The pedestrian parade then disbands so participants can travel north three blocks. The parade will re-group at Wynwood Walls (an outdoor art gallery located at 2550 NW 2 Avenue, next to Joey's Restaurant). The King's Procession will march around the Walls complex until 6 pm. It will then gather in the Wall's central courtyard for the post-parade party. Miami's premiere surf band, "Gold Dust Lounge", will play. As the party begins so does Wynwood's Art Walk. Over thirty art galleries, plus restaurants and retail shops will be open for business until 10 pm. If you're in Miami next weekend we hope to see you at the parade. Help us celebrate the mango king's birthday and put a grin on your face.

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