The Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID) celebrates the finale of its three-month #BlueGrove season with the #BlueGrove Jazz & Blues Water Festival, a vibrant music and arts stroll featuring entertainment all along the streets of the central business district, Sept. 23, 7- 9 p.m.
Using the color blue as the central theme palette, #BlueGrove is one of four quarterly initiatives here in the BID. This seasonal campaign, July 1-Sept. 30, focused on water-quality awareness, is connecting a series of interrelated events inspiring businesses to take a leadership role in providing smart, sustainable options to their customers and guests.
“Introducing an entirely new and exciting theme every three months serves to sustain consumer interest in the area’s local shops, restaurants, and hotels,” says Cynthia Seymour, acting executive director of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID). Seymour and her marketing and operations team work on behalf of local businesses to create unique initiatives, activations, and promotions that continually elevate the profile of the Grove to keep visitors and residents coming back all year round.
Celebrating Our Waterfront Community
“We want the world to know that our historic and beautiful bayside business community is intent on being good stewards of our most precious resource – water,” says Seymour. “By working together, every incremental change we make, both large and small, can have a lasting impact over time.”
Activations falling under the umbrella of #BlueGrove Sustainability Initiative are designed to celebrate Coconut Grove’s waterfront community, water quality, and eco-friendly initiatives that promote elimination of single-use plastic and unnecessary waste.
Launching the #BlueGrove season was the installation of dazzling blue lights in the trees along Main Highway on July 1.
“This distinctive display serves as the spark that lights up the spirit and meaning of our annual Sustainability Initiative,” adds Seymour.
Immediately following was a plastic-free picnic and Fourth of July celebration employing a thrilling drone show of lights – as opposed to using environmentally harmful fireworks.
Now for the final month of #BlueGrove season, several creative and family-fun actions are planned to further underscore how BID businesses are making a big difference in preserving the Grove community’s natural beauty.
September Promotions & Activations
The following are promotions and activations to be promoted by BID businesses for the remainder of the #BlueGrove initiatives:
- Grove Restaurant & Business Cleanup Sept. 12: Debris Free Oceans hosts a cleanup for Grove businesses and rollout of the pilot program to distribute reusable Bekko Box take out containers to local restaurants. A step-by-step guide will be provided to businesses on how the customer and restaurant processes works. Peacock Park, Sept. 12, 2 – 4 p.m.
- Distribution of blue reusable Coconut Grove shopping bags for businesses to use.
- Distribution of SoluBag plastic-free and water-soluble retail bags.
- Reusable cafecito cups (porcelain) for use by area restaurants and coffee shops during the month of September.
- Distribution of reusable, blue-colored water bottles to reduce use of plastic.
- The Grand Finale: #BlueGrove Jazz & Blues Water Festival, Sept. 23 (details below).
#BlueGrove Jazz & Blues Water Festival
Culminating the season is the #BlueGrove Jazz & Blues Water Festival, Sept. 23, 7 – 9 p.m., an evening of music and fun for the whole family focused on creating awareness around water quality and sustainability opportunities throughout the Grove. This vibrant music and arts stroll features a variety of 10 entertainment installments along the streets of the central business District with local Jazz and Blues musicians and artists.
The #BlueGrove Jazz & Blues WaterFestival will also feature: Special entertainment for kids and face painting at 5 p.m., hydration stations, food specials, drink specials, and retail promotions throughout the area.
“The month of September is the last chance for visitors and residents to enjoy the beautiful blue lights over Main Highway before we switch on the white lights on Oct. 1, signifying the start of the BID’s fourth quarter Initiative featuring activations celebrating the fall season and year-end holidays,” adds Seymour.
Mission Possible
Boosting the health of the Grove and the local economy is at the very core of the mission of the BID. Not only does the BID keep local businesses in the spotlight with great events, programs, and seasonal initiatives – but they also help keep area streets and green spaces clean, safe, and inviting.
Upcoming quarterly initiatives include #GroveHeritage (October-December 2023) celebrating the final months of the Coconut Grove’s 150th anniversary year; Heart of the Grove, celebrating the everyday, local heroes and creatives who have helped shape the Grove during modern times (January-March 2024); and then #GreenGrove Sustainability (April-June 2024).
Source: Miami’s Community News