Stone crab season is already open in Florida, and this weekend Miami Beach is giving it a very South Florida welcome: two days of seafood competitions, restaurant tastings and beachside festivities at Lummus Park.
The 14th annual South Beach Seafood Festival runs October 21–24, but its two sand-based events are Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24. Friday night is a ticketed, 21-and-over chef competition. Saturday brings the all-inclusive Seafood Slam, where guests sample dishes from dozens of South Florida restaurants and vote for Best of the Fest.
One important distinction for crab fans: Florida’s legal stone crab season opened October 15 and runs through May 1, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This weekend’s festival is a high-profile local celebration of the season, not its actual opening day. Stone crab will be available at the festival for an additional purchase, not as part of admission.
Friday night: chef battles after dark
The weekend starts with the VIP Chef Showdown, Friday from 7 to 11 p.m. at Lummus Park. Tickets are listed at $175 online, and the event is strictly for guests 21 and older.
Think of it as a beachside tasting party with a competition running through the evening. Chefs face off in a bracket of seafood battles, while guests sample dishes and cast votes. The event page lists matchups spanning seafood pasta, shrimp, ceviche, tuna, crab and more. Bartenders also compete, with cocktail showdowns and full bars adding to the after-dark energy.
The Friday ticket is all-inclusive, with restaurant battle tastings, additional seafood bites, drinks and live entertainment included. DJs will be on the Jack Daniel’s stage, and the hospitality village features beverage experiences from partners including Tequila Herradura, Hendrick’s Gin and Pacifico.
This is the best fit for guests who want the competition itself to be the main event: follow a battle, try the dishes, then decide which chef earned your vote. It’s also a later, livelier night than Saturday’s daytime tasting format. If you’re considering both days, the festival lists a $275 weekend pass for Friday and Saturday.
Saturday’s Seafood Slam: sample, vote, explore
Saturday, October 24, is the festival’s flagship beach day. The Seafood Slam: Best of the Fest runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at Lummus Park. All Access tickets are listed at $160, and the festival describes the experience as all-inclusive: food samples, complimentary cocktail stations, beverage tastings and entertainment are part of admission.
Restaurants serve small bites for guests to try before voting for the Best of the Fest, presented by Baptist Health South Florida. The lineup includes names such as Pubbelly, Area 31, The Citadel, Doma, Jarana, Old Lisbon, CJ’s Crab Shack, Lobster Shack Miami, Palace Bar and Baia Beach Club at the Mondrian South Beach. The event site lists samples from 40 to 50 hand-selected restaurants, so it’s worth pacing yourself rather than filling up at the first stop.
The beach clubs and tasting areas give the afternoon different ways to roam: Pacifico Beach Clubs, High Noon Beach Club, Hendrick’s Gin Garden, Gosling’s Rum Tasting Wall and Disaronno’s La Dolce Vida are among the listed experiences. There’s also a Wódka Vodka feature with Hutong and Dead Flamingo, plus a Wild Fork tasting experience with a seafood paella grill. Everglades Oysters is among the festival’s corporate partners.
For anyone keen on stone crab, look for the Stone Crab Pavilion, including the CJ’s Stone Crab Pavilion experience. Stone crabs are available for purchase at festival pricing, but they are not included with the Saturday ticket. Check the event’s ticket and festival information before you go for the latest details about pavilion access and availability.
A useful Saturday schedule for food lovers
The Showcase Kitchen adds a second layer to the day, with demonstrations and competitions scheduled alongside restaurant tastings. The published Saturday highlights are:
- 1:00 p.m., doors open
- 1:15–1:30 p.m., Miami Beach Senior High Chef Showdown: Battle Causa
- 1:30–1:50 p.m., GOYA with Chef Fernando Desa
- 2:00–2:20 p.m., SEABOX tuna carving with Chef Diego Rivera of Ikigai
- 2:30–2:50 p.m., Fresh From Florida with Executive Chef Justin Timineri
- 3:00–3:30 p.m., Milam’s Market At Home Chef Competition, hosted by Mika Leon with finalists Amy Kimberlain and Mira Mikati Athos
- 3:15–4:15 p.m., Indian River Oyster Company Oyster Shucking Competition at Fresh From Florida, presented by Raw Bar Vinho Verde
- 4:30–4:45 p.m., the 2026 Best of the Fest winner is announced, with votes counted live on the Showcase stage
The oyster shucking contest overlaps with the final part of the home-chef competition, so if both are on your must-see list, check the festival’s schedule when you arrive and decide where you want to be. The Miami Beach Senior High culinary showdown is another draw for guests interested in the next generation of local chefs.
Make the sand part of your plan
Lummus Park is on the beach, not a ballroom floor. Choose sandals or other comfortable footwear over heels, and dress for October heat: the sun is still strong, and warm sand reflects it. Going near the 1 p.m. opening on Saturday gives you time to get oriented, visit the tasting areas and catch the first kitchen events before the busiest part of the afternoon.
Friday is a 21-plus event. Since ticket availability can change at events this size, check the official ticket page before making plans. The City of Miami Beach hosts the festival, with proceeds and community partnerships supporting the CI Foundation and its EatSmart programs.
Whether you’re there to cheer on a chef, find a new favorite restaurant or buy the first stone crab of your season, the weekend is a chance to taste South Florida’s food scene in its natural setting: outdoors, beside the ocean, and together on the sand.
