ON THE MENU The centerpiece of the festival is a seafood lover’s dream, with a wide array of local restaurants, caterers and seafood purveyors, including Golden Rule Seafood, Antigua & Barbuda Association of South Florida, Catering by Les, Don Camaron Seafood Grill & Market, Paella Party, Popo’s Seafood, Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill, Sports Grill, Tacos & Tattoos and more. And, Chill-N, Gringa Flan and Wendy’s Chocolates will be there to satisfy your sweet tooth! More than two tons of ice keeps the thirst-quenching backyard beverages, presented by Landshark Lager, ice cold and the frozen drink machines humming all day.
CELEBRITY CHEF DEMOS For the foodies, cooking demonstrations presented by Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay take place throughout the day under the big top tent over the Deering Estate’s historic courtyard, featuring five popular chefs preparing local seafood fare. Following each presentation, each of the 100 attendees receives a copy of the recipe, a sample of the food prepared and the opportunity to engage in a Q&A with each chef. Prior to the festival, students from Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts compete for a coveted spot as a Guest Chef, presenting his or her award-winning recipe alongside the celebrated chefs.
ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION & ADVENTURES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! While Florida’s freshest fish and seafood are always the main event, continuous live entertainment takes place throughout the day on the main stage. It’s a day of family fun, dancing and grooving to the tunes of Visions Band FL, Caribbean Crew and Mr. Nice Guy, along with the world-renowned Bahamian Junkanoo and Virgin Island stilt walkers.
The Deering Seafood Festival offers activities that are both fun and educational for children of all ages, including inflatables, creative activities and a kid-friendly menu. At the Deering Discovery Cove, kids can experiment and explore the wonders of nature. For the younger ones, the Li’l Shrimp Kids Zone provides unlimited play on inflatables, creative activities and a kid-friendly menu for when hunger strikes. Ongoing activities include a rock-climbing wall and the Pelican Skipper pontoon boat rides to Chicken Key, as well as Artists Lane, featuring paintings, photography, crafts and jewelry by local artisans.