Food & Restaurant Industry Events Miami/South Florida 2019

Food Network & Cooking Channel’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival reels in hungry revelers each February. Now in its 18th year, the festival stayed fresh with new events such as the Taste of Puerto Rico with José Andrés; Mixing it Up on the River: Best Bars, Bites & Beats with Travel Channel’s Adam Richman; Wine & Cheese Happy Hour with Martha Stewart; and Sunset Stone Crab with Emeril Lagasse. The festival raises money for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. Next: February 2020

The 2019 Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction raised $13 million, surpassing its $12.8 million total from 2018. The full fund-raising total hit $16 million. The festival, held January 24 to 27 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, kicked off with a wine tasting and luncheon, followed by a vintner dinners with high-profile chefs like Tom Colicchio and more than 30 winemakers, and it wrapped up with the live auction. Next year marks the festival's 20th anniversary. Next: January 24-26, 2020

The 20th annual South Florida Garlic Festival (formerly the Delray Beach Garlic Festival) is devoted to the stinky but tasty bulb and equally satisfying entertainment. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Steel Pulse headlined two nights of music at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. The festival’s signature Gourmet Alley was also featured on Travel Channel’s Carnival Eats. Next: February 2020

James Beard award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi headlined Veritage Miami’s 2019 Interactive Dinner, in which guests prepare a gourmet dinner under the chef’s guidance. Now in its 23rd year, the multi-day event that raises money for United Way of Miami-Dade remains at downtown’s InterContinental Hotel, and City National Bank is the marquee sponsor. Next: March 2020

The 31st South Florida Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry returns to Wynwood’s Ice Palace Film Studios this May with some 50 chefs, wineries, and mixologists participating. In 2018, the event raised more than $189,000 through local event proceeds and national partnerships, which the organization says equates to more than 1.8 million meals for children. This year’s event will feature food by Timon Balloo of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, co-chair Cesar Zapata of Phuc Yea, chef co-chairs Paula DaSilva of the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale and Alex Kuk and Diego Ng of Temple Street Eatery, and more than 50 of the area’s restaurants. Next: May 17, 2019

Up from #11
Billed as the country’s premier plant-based food festival, Seed Food & Wine Festival expanded into Los Angeles in 2018. The fifth edition boasted a vegan Burger Bash, Best of the Best dinner, and its signature event, the all-day Tasting Village. The festival reported some 10,000 attendees across the five-day fete. Next: November 6-10, 2019

Up from #8
A who’s who of chefs such as Daniel Boulud and Marc Murphy helped sell out every event during the four days of the 2018 Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival. Boulud’s lauded brunch at Café Boulud and the 12th annual Grand Tasting presented by JetBlue continued to be major draws. Around 5,000 people attended the festival, which took place at venues throughout the city. Next: December 12-19, 2019

Now gathering more than 2,500 food lovers into Downtown Fort Lauderdale to raise money for the American Lung Association, the 2019 Las Olas Wine & Food Festival promises a “new look” and more than 50 restaurants and beverage providers. This year’s festival, its 24th edition, is presented by Breakthru Beverage, J Vineyards, New Amsterdam Vodka, and Woodford Reserve. The 2018 festival raised more than $180,000, breaking its fund-raising and ticket sales record. Next: April 5, 2019

The 35th annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival lands at the Community Park & Amphitheatre in April with a slew of ocean eats, live music, and arts and crafts. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and crawfish are plentiful, and the musical lineup includes the Guess Who, Fogart, Inner Circle, and Zach Deputy. Proceeds benefit multiple organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Pompano Beach, Boy Scouts of America, and the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce. Next: April 26-28, 2019

Produced by Swarm Inc., 2018’s Grovetoberfest lured more than 500 participating breweries to pack Florida’s largest beer festival. In addition to beers, last year’s event featured live performances and an outdoor throwback game room. The event draws some 5,000 attendees to Coconut Grove’s Regatta Park. Next: October 2019

The 15th annual Deering Seafood Festival on the Bay beckons more than 8,000 people to the grounds of the historic 450-acre Deering Estate. This hyper-local gathering features bounty from Golden Rule Seafood, Antigua & Barbuda Association of South Florida, Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill, Sports Grill, and more, as well as offers a Kids Zone, Artists Lane, and more. Next: March 31, 2019

The 24th annual Bank of America Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration returned on March 15 to raise money for the Museum of Discovery and Science. Organizers anticipated 1,500 guests who sampled fare from more than 40 of South Florida’s restaurants and 100 wines, spirits, and craft beers. This year’s major sponsors included Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Doubletime Digital, JetBlue, JM Lexus, JM Family Enterprises, and Wells Fargo.
Next: Spring 2020

New to the list
Drink Miami Hostel invites guests to take “passports” from room to room at the Freehand hotel to sample cocktails and concoctions from the city’s best bartenders, mixologists, and brand ambassadors. Now in its fifth year, the event’s popularity has led to multiple Drink Miami-backed events, including a fitness-focused partnership, a Miracle in Miami pop-up, and speaking engagements and events under the South Beach Food & Wine Festival. Next: Summer 2019