In 1987, the 550 Building on Biltmore Way had been finished for about a year, and it had a problem. The economy was soft, and the market had more office space than tenants. Developer Al Sakolsky and his partner, Ed McBride, wanted to do something for the holidays that would get the building noticed. According to the competition's own history of the venue, they found a poinsettia tree.
It was a steel frame "constructed like gym equipment," engineered to stand over the building's fountain and covered with 1,200 poinsettias. Bachman's built the frame. The same company had built 25-foot trees for Rockefeller Center and Disney World. The 550 Biltmore Way tree was 32 feet tall, and the competition's history calls it the tallest poinsettia tree in the world. The partners spent about $20,000 on it, then decided they should at least have children singing carols in front of it. They invited every school in Miami to take part, and fifteen came.
This December, that leasing idea turns 40. Most of the Coral Gables holiday calendar works the way it started. The season's largest free public gatherings happen on commercial property, and George Merrick's name ties them together, from a shopping center plaza to an office building's front steps to the coral rock house where the city's story begins.
The Tree on Biltmore Way Is Still the Stage
The competition grew past its original purpose fast. Tenants, neighbors and City Hall took to it, and building tenants became sponsors. In 1992 the event joined the Merrick Festival, which made it eligible for public grants, and that grant money has helped fund its growth since.
The numbers show how far it has come from fifteen schools. According to the City of Coral Gables event listing, more than 1,100 school choirs and 35,000 students have performed over four decades, and more than $650,000 in prize money has been awarded. This year's category awards start at $400 for an honorable mention and run to $800 for a grand prize, and every participating school receives at least $175 as a performance fee.
The concerts are free. Choirs sing on the steps of the 550 Building, in front of the poinsettia tree. The 2026 performer application divides the week by age:
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: middle school choirs
- Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: senior high choirs
- Friday, Dec. 4, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: middle school choirs
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: senior high choirs
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 to 5:30 p.m.: senior high choirs
- Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 to 9 p.m.: the 40th Anniversary Awards Show, with Grand Prize winners returning to perform
The Junior Division covers grades 5 through 8, and the Senior Division covers grades 9 through 12. Choirs compete in four categories: Full Choir, Show Choir, Magnet Choir and Small Ensemble. A panel of community music professionals does the judging. Last year's winners included nearby school names. South Miami, St. Theresa and St. Thomas were among the 2025 middle school winners, and Coral Reef, Lourdes and Miami High were among the senior high winners.
The Sunday matinee is the only daytime session of the week. For anyone who would rather hear the choirs in daylight, that is the session to plan around. Questions go to the competition at 305-491-4180 or carolingcompetition.org.
Merrick Park Opens the Season on a Shopping Center Plaza
Before the choirs, the season starts at another commercial address with the founder's name. The Shops at Merrick Park holds its annual tree lighting on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 358 San Lorenzo Ave. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m., per the city's listing.
The program is a civic event held on private property. Santa arrives on a Coral Gables Fire Department truck and joins Mayor Vince Lago to light the center's 50-foot tree at 7 p.m. Lili Estefan, co-host of Univision's "El Gordo y La Flaca," hosts the evening, which is held in partnership with Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The ceremony and Santa's arrival begin at 6:50 p.m. Anyone coming mainly for the lighting can use that as their arrival time.
The earlier part of the evening is mostly local performers. The lineup includes the Coral Gables Senior High School Gablettes, Miami Royal Ballet, and the Belles of Harmony and Candy Cane Crew from Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park. Miami Mom Collective runs the free activities, which include face painting, holiday crafts, a jumbo snow globe bounce house and an Elf Factory. A Holiday Makers Market brings in local makers, artisans and food vendors. Guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for the holiday toy drive.
A New Table Between the Two Trees
This year the tree lighting comes with a new dinner option a few weeks old. La Pecora Bianca opened at The Shops at Merrick Park on Nov. 2, 2026. As Miami New Times reported, it is the Italian restaurant's first location outside New York.
The room is large for a Gables opening, with 300 seats, more than ten housemade pastas, a wraparound bar of about 20 seats, private dining spaces and an outdoor terrace. New Times listed familiar dishes from the New York menu, including vodka rigatoni, linguine vongole, campanelle al limone, fusilli gigante and Neapolitan-style pizzas. It also listed two dishes made for Coral Gables, a giant carbonara raviolo and a lobster spaghetti fra diavolo.
The hours suit the holiday calendar. According to the restaurant's Coral Gables page, the dining room opens at 4 p.m. daily. It closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Nov. 19, an early table puts you back on the plaza before 6:50 p.m. On the Thursday and Saturday caroling nights, a late table still works after the 9:30 p.m. finish on Biltmore Way.
The One Stop the City Runs Itself
Merrick House, at 907 Coral Way, is a National Register historic landmark run by the city. Docents lead visitors through 14 rooms and the grounds. Its Annual Holiday Open House is Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free and includes Santa, caroling, holiday crafts, live performances and homemade cookies, per the city's event page. For anyone who wants to see the house without a crowd, the city's Merrick House page lists weekend tours at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. with no reservation needed, and suggests calling ahead to confirm.
The city adds a few smaller events around the Merrick ones. Its resident-only Hot Chocolate with Santa is on the calendar for Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the free Giralda Plaza Artisan Market starts at 4 p.m., according to the Coral Gables Magazine calendar. The market runs on the first and third Saturdays of the month with more than 20 vendors. That Saturday is also a senior high night on Biltmore Way, so you can shop the market at Giralda and then hear the 7 p.m. choirs at the poinsettia tree.
Christmas Week Moves to the Biltmore
The season ends at the address that most often represents the city. The Biltmore Hotel has announced its holiday dining program for Dec. 24 and 25, 2026. Fontana will serve Christmas Eve dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Christmas Day brings a brunch with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
From the Nov. 19 tree lighting to Christmas brunch, the busiest stretch of the Coral Gables season runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13. That stretch covers four evenings and a Sunday matinee of choirs, the anniversary awards show and the free open house at 907 Coral Way. The choir concerts are free, and they still take place in front of the steel poinsettia tree the partners brought in to draw attention to the 550 Building in 1987.
At the Cromer Team, we are happy to share the Gables traditions we know best with neighbors, longtime clients and families new to the city. If you would like to talk about your own plans in Coral Gables this season, we would welcome the chance to Request a Private Consultation.
