A Monthly Celebration of Connection and Community
By Ava Bourbeau
Photos Courtesy of Coco Market
Humans need at least eight hugs a day. That’s according to a source we’re not sure was an authority on hugs, but whom we’re choosing to believe. It might be the only true thing we read on the internet today. Coco Market wasn’t created solely to satisfy this minimum requirement, but it’s certainly doing it some favors.
This free monthly event in Delray Beach is a culmination of all things wellness with an abundance of curated local vendors, yoga classes, sound healing, music, dancing, crafts and yes, hugs. Kids will forget it’s their last day of the weekend and adults will feel like kids again.
Every first Sunday begins with yoga under the banyan tree’s shade in Old School Square. Dozens of participants roll out their mats next to strangers and friends-to-be for a beginner vinyasa with local yoga instructors. Post savasana, yogis are guided straight into an hour of blissful sound healing as volunteers wander through the gathering with instruments softly sounding. Expectations of participants is low and relaxation is high, so visitors are encouraged to stay for as little or as long as they’d like.
Throughout the day games, crafts and relays encourage fun, a healthy dose of competition, and usually getting a little dirt (or sometimes paint) on your hands. The idea is to not take yourself too seriously.
Coco Market founder Corey Heyman created the event as a way to establish a new pocket of community following one of the most physically and emotionally isolating times in recent history: the COVID-19 pandemic. The cultural shift during and after the pandemic left people realizing just how important connection and community really are.
In 2020, after making the difficult decision to pursue her passions rather than the corporate ladder, Corey completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training and began offering outdoor, beach yoga classes in Delray Beach. Class size quickly grew and left her thinking bigger. Like Corey, lots of her friends and local connections had also made career shifts — many into the wellness space.
“I started making a list of all my entrepreneur friends that I was making, and I had a list of, I don’t know, 15, 16, 17 small business owners that were pouring their hearts into these businesses. They were all sort of in the wellness field and I just had this vision of a day where they can all showcase what they do,” Corey said. “I wanted to create a space where people could make friends and meet their new reiki master or yoga teacher or acupuncturist. It just started with that little vision and it’s kind of blossomed into what it is now.”
In January 2022, the first Coco Market took place with 30 vendors and around 100-200 visitors in attendance. Less than 3 years later, the number of vendors has doubled and the visitor count is in the thousands.
“The timing was perfect, as the community welcomed Coco Market with open arms from the very beginning. It was important to me to create a safe space where people could feel comfortable in their own skin, showcase their passions, and make new friends. That’s exactly what I set out to do, and it’s been incredibly fulfilling to see it come to life and grow the way it has,” Corey said.
Speaking of growth, the monthly Coco Market will no longer be the only event to keep on your calendar. CocoFest, coming for the second time this October, is similar to the Market, but with more on offer. It retains the same pillars of wellness, community, and of course, free admission, but includes more workshops, classes and activities. CocoFest will take place Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus.
Corey shared, “CocoFest thrives on its strong connections with community leaders and wellness experts. The festival is designed to foster community, promote healing, and create long-lasting relationships. With partners like Leslie Glickman and numerous local businesses, CocoFest ensures a vibrant and enriching experience for all attendees.”
We’ll see you there.
51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach
5000 T-Rex Ave., Boca Raton
cocomarket.org
@cocomarket.tribe
