It's the art, the vibe, the cucumbers and the music

The Gifford Lane Art Stroll is back, Sunday March 18 from noon to 5 pm. This is the block party that the Grove can call its own. Arts and crafts take up Gifford Lane between Oak and Day Avenues. It's the 14h annual event.

The nice part about Gifford Lane is that the whole Grove comes out for this one festival. Artists actually price their art right and they sell. A lot. Over 70 artists are stationed in front of the houses under the shady trees that make up Gifford Lane and the quiet little street becomes the hub of activity for the day.

Along with art, there are home made burgers barbecued right on site, grilled shrimp, wonderful ribs and of course Dave Collins' famous Cucumber Punch.

All profits raised that day go to the St. Stephen's AIDS Ministry and the St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center in Village West. Over $40,000 has been donated so far from the stroll.
Live music is always part of the stroll, too. It's non-stop all afternoon and there's a lot of dancing, too. Headlining this year is Josh Rowland and The Pit Bull Blues and also the Sam Sim's Trio along with the Grove's own Solar Dogs.

More than a decade ago, a half-dozen active artists lived along this block. They started the tradition. Most of them have now moved away but a hearty band of some 30 to 40 neighbors meet frequently to carry on this most unlikely of all arts festivals.

The Art Stroll has now changed Gifford Lane itself. “We only have the Art Stroll one afternoon a year”, says founder Trina Collins, ‘but we now have residents who have purchased homes on the block because of the Art Stroll. They came, they stayed. In the months of January through March we have potluck suppers with 30 to 40 folks in people’s homes and have some amazing food and planning sessions. It is really quite remarkable how this little festival has brought so many diverse neighbors together. We all know each other as a result of this. It has made us a community. That doesn’t happen in Miami. The Gifford Lane Art Stroll is a real friendly afternoon in Coconut Grove. Everybody should come on out and buy some art and have some cucumber punch. It is a good vibe because all of the money raised stays here in the Grove to help people here," says Trina.