Deering Seafood Festival

If you’re craving fresh-off-the-boat seafood from Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s marine-rich waters, you’ll be hooked on the 19th Annual Deering Seafood Festival. This family-friendly event, set on the picturesque grounds of the historic Deering Estate in Palmetto Bay, will satisfy your appetite with all the delicious seafood you can eat, plus musical performances, chef demos and fun activities for kids. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the 400-acre estate and nature preserve that industrialist Charles Deering owned in the 1920s. Today, guests are treated to majestic, palm-lined walkways that lead to sparkling Biscayne Bay and regular wildlife sightings, including birds and manatees.

Seafood and Top Chefs Are The Stars Of This Annual Festival

Since you’re here to eat, you’ll want to make a beeline for Seafood Alley, where you'll find all kinds of seafood served raw, fried, sautéed and in other imaginative ways. Local favorite Golden Rule Seafood, a family-owned seafood market and restaurant, will be back and serving fresh-off-the-boat fish, pink Key West shrimp and Miami's coveted stone crabs. In the mood for sushi? Locally loved Pubbelly Sushi will be there, too, with delicious seafood creations. Other vendors will include Cutler Bay seafood staple Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill, Sports Grill, Catering by Les, Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream and many more.

At the Deering Estate’s Stone House Courtyard, you can see some of the destination’s finest chefs in action under the chef demo tent. Throughout the day, five different chefs will show off their culinary skills, preparing their favorite seafood dishes (many of which are on their restaurants' menus) during 45-minute sessions. A sixth demo will be presented by the winner of the festival’s culinary student competition. Guests can ask questions, taste samples and bring home copies of the recipes. Each cooking demo is limited to 100 guests, and it’s first come, first served.

Music, Art And Plenty For Kids To Do

One of the highlights of the festival is the music, which always showcases Miami’s diverse cultural makeup and talent. You’ll be tempted to break out in dance when the Junkanoo bands wind through the crowds, dressed in vibrant costumes and blasting traditional music. Festivalgoers will also hear from hometown cover bands, like Brothers of Others, a trio that belts out soulful rock and roll, and the popular Cutler Stew band (with band members from Cutler Bay), which plays everything from country to rock and pop.

When you're not eating, dancing and singing along, stop by the Artist Village to peruse local artisans' handcrafted goods. You'll find artwork, from paintings to woodwork, candles, soaps and more.

Parents can let their kids run free and burn off pent-up energy at the Kidz Zone, sponsored by Florida-based Kiddos Magazine and presenting a mix of fun and educational activities.

Also returning to the festival: scenic pontoon boat rides throughout the day. Hop onboard for a 45-minute ride across Biscayne Bay toward Key Biscayne and back. This is a separate ticketed activity not included in the festival entry fee.

Top Tips For Enjoying The Event

The best way to experience the Deering Seafood Festival is to arrive early to snag prime parking. In addition to street and area parking, guests can hop on a free Park and Ride shuttle bus that will take festival-goers from Westminster Christian School and Palmetto Bay Village Center to the Deering Estate every 15 minutes. There’ll also be a courtesy bike valet for those wishing to bike to the festival.

This event will be held outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and cool clothing. Remember your protective sunscreen, hat and sunglasses so you can enjoy the day in the sun. With so much beauty and nature in one place, bring along your camera to capture the memories – and those food pictures that'll make everyone on your social media feed hungry. Keep in mind that the historic museum homes will not be not open during the festival.

Tickets

Advance tickets are $25 for adults; tickets are $30 the day of the festival. Tickets for children ages 4-14 are $7 in advance and $10 the day of the event. If you're a member of the Deering Estate Foundation, entrance is free, but you must reserve your tickets online before the festival. Your ticket includes entrance to the festival, but food, drinks and some activities are not included.

By: Angela Caraway-Carlton | February 26, 2025