The 12th edition of the annual South Beach Seafood Festival in 2024 will make its highly anticipated return in October, promising to be bigger and better than ever. Offering an exceptional celebration of fresh ocean flavors and lively entertainment with the Miami Beach atmosphere. The four-day culinary extravaganza, from Wednesday, Oct. 23 to Saturday, Oct. 26, signifies the official commencement of Miami’s stone crab season, featuring the best in seafood cuisine from South Florida’s top chefs and restaurants in partnership with the exclusive wine and spirits provider, Breakthru Beverage Florida. This year’s South Beach Seafood Festival, sponsored by Tequila Herradura and Jack Daniel’s and presented by GOYA Foods, offers an exciting all-inclusive format for Saturday’s main event, providing attendees with unlimited food and beverages included in the ticket price, elevating the overall experience.
“After another successful year, we’re excitedly looking forward to our 12th year of the South Beach Seafood Festival on the sands of South Beach,” says Valerie Roy, Director of Marketing and Client Strategy at CI Management. “This event has seamlessly woven itself into the vibrant tapestry of Miami’s cultural milieu, attracting both locals and visitors alike. Whether it’s the allure of fresh seafood prepared by South Florida’s leading chefs and restaurants, the buzz of live entertainment, or the sheer joy of savoring diverse flavors amidst the tropical beauty of South Beach, our festival guarantees moments that will linger in memory as we join together to get everyone’s favorite local chefs out of their kitchens and onto the sands to celebrate their success with their teams.”
Celebrity chef Robert Irvine from Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible will be a new addition to the lineup, serving as the official “Chef Ref” for the highly anticipated “VIP Chef Showdown.” Known as a world-class chef, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Irvine will be on the main stage to oversee the culinary battles and participate in various events throughout the weekend. He will also introduce his latest venture, Irvine Vodka. Additionally, the South Beach Seafood Festival is proud to welcome Loews Miami Beach Hotel as this year’s hosting hotel partner for the event week, further adding to the excitement of Chef Robert Irvine shining a light on South Florida.
The festival opens on Wednesday, Oct. 23, with An Evening at Joe’s Stone Crab, a five-course meal hosted by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. On Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, GOYA Foods’ Executive Chef Fernando Desa will lead the chef-driven Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs. Chef Robert Irvine will also join this year, adding an international take on the traditional surf and turf dish. Each course will be curated by a different leading South Florida chef, with unforgettable pairings provided by Breakthru Beverage.
Friday night heralds the beginning of an exciting weekend. The Tequila Herradura VIP Chef Showdown will feature 22 of Miami’s top chefs competing in 11 seafood showdowns to showcase their mastery in their respective categories. The event will take place on the renowned GOYA LIVE STAGE presented by Demesmin & Dover and will include the annual Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste, sample and vote in this highly anticipated competition. The chefs will then compete for the judges’ votes on the GOYA LIVE STAGE, with renowned chef Robert Irvine as the new additional chef ref, adding to the excitement of the LIVE BATTLES.
The seafood festival will peak on Saturday, Oct. 26, with the highly-anticipated Seafood Slam. This year, the grand tasting format introduces all-inclusive tickets, allowing attendees to indulge in unlimited food and beverages all day while exploring the Best of the Fest bites in various seafood zones presented by First Horizon. Additionally, premium upgrades will be available upon entry. Guests can look forward to the ever-popular Jack Daniel’s Live Music stage presented by Demesmin & Dover, Pacifico Beach Club, High Noon’s Lifeguard Dance party and much more fun.
Participants can choose from multi-day festival packages, which consist of a two-day weekend pass for $275 and a three-day pass for $475. Additionally, weekend and three-day hotel packages are available for $1,335 and $2,120, with added fees. Tickets to the 12th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival are now available at sobeseafoodfest.com.
