What: The revival of bed racing after a six year snooze, the inaugural year of The Great Grove Bed Race, was an overwhelming success. The event proved a community can come together, have fun and raise funds ! The race involved a final tally of o36 beds rolling down Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove with our local community, individuals, businesses, organizations, and clubs sponsoring the beds. Teams consisted of 5 members, four (4) race and one (1) rides, racing against the clock until the fastest eight (8) beds were determined and went head-to-head racing for the top position. Prizes were awarded for theme, décor, and racing success.
Who Won
Speed: The Sandbar Grill came in first for speed followed closely by The University of Miami Sleep Center and Newbeeiz in third. A special Honorable mention goes to Animal Crackers who were second fastest qualifying time but went head to head with number one in the first round.
Decor: The Tuuci umbrellas team was all decked out and took best overall, The Woomba was most creative theme and SoFLo Skate and Bike took third.
When: The Bed Races rolled through Labor Day Weekend, with races on Sunday September 6, 2009 All Day
All Day: Bed Race Breakfast and Brunch specials were throughout the Grove, Pit Row display and juding were at 1 pm and The Great Grove Bed Races went from 2 pm to almost 5.
Where: Coconut Grove (Miami), FL on the village streets (Commodore & Grand Ave.) nearby breathtaking Biscayne Bay
Who Attended:
- over 14 thousand spectators throughout the day with a peak high of over 10 thousand at the start of the races
- Multi-ethnic, male and female
- Shoppers, diners and pub goers
- Tourists and travelers
- Public officials & community leaders
- Families & children
- Representatives of the Alonzo Mourning Foundation
- Representatives from the University of Miami
Highlights of the Event:
- A family Pajama Party and story time featuring The Princess and the Pea read by the
Alonzo Mourning Charities Honey Shine Girls was sponsored by The Bookstore in the Grove and sold out!
- Pit Row parade and display of the decorated and themed beds was a media frenzy and a performance not to be missed next year!
- Music, media, interactive activities and merchant specials on Commodore Ave including the Indy interactive and Homestead Miami Speedway show car were standing room only or sold out!
Event Goal Accomplished!
- We encouraged visitors and patrons to enjoy the tree lined streets of Coconut Grove, to brand Coconut Grove as a busy, engaging, exciting and viable village and to create a culture where interaction, innovation, fun and humor help shift the community of Coconut Grove into a collaboration of community leaders and fundraisers.
Registration ( Now Closed for 2009, online registration opens January 1st, 2010)
To be involved in the Gtreat Grove Bed Race 2010 you can volunteer as a Conehead, assemble your team to build a bed, compete by theme and race for best time or come join a pit crew …no bed theme or idea? We have the creative team to assist you and the pit crews to join you! Participants from the 2009 race will be guaranteed a spot in 2010 if they register during early bird registration.
Admission: The event is free to spectators