Paradise Bound
Plan a weekend of eating and drinking at one of these five destination festivals
The holidays are over, the decorations are boxed away, and most of us are hunkering down for what’s usually the coldest few months of the year.
If snow, sleet, and wearing mittens have got you down, maybe it’s time to think about packing a bag and flying someplace warm. Sure, you can just go to Florida or the Bahamas any day — no excuse needed, but why not plan your weekend getaway to coincide with a fabulous food festival?
Seaglass Rosé Experience
If your motto is “Rosé all Day”, this three-day festival is for you. Drink rosé wines directly on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach at the Seaglass Rosé Experience. Attendees go all out at this festival, wearing shades of pink, sipping on wine, and dancing to Yacht Rock favorites. The event also includes bites, plenty of photo ops, and several lounge areas, making this one of the chillest beach festivals ever.
Friday, January 20, through Sunday, January 22; seaglassexperience.com.
Wakefest
J. Wakefield Brewing hosts its eighth annual craft beer festival in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. 95 independent craft brewers from across the country will offer beer at the festival, with about 120 different brews available to sample. To celebrate its eighth anniversary, the festival will have an 80s theme, and attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite outfits from the neon decade.
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 11 (venue TBA); eventbrite.com.
Everglades Seafood Festival
If you love stone crabs, you should absolutely attend this festival. Everglades City is the stone crab capital of the world. The small town is the home to most of the fishing boats that harvest the crustaceans for their prized claws. Each year, an estimated 50,000 people converge on this small town located about 45 minutes from Naples, Florida, and about 90 minutes from Miami. This festival offers the freshest seafood in Florida, along with some old-school vibes. Don’t forget to get a bowl of gumbo or Everglades swamp cabbage — a stew made from the heart of the cabbage palm, the official state tree of Florida.
Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19; evergladesseafoodfestival-2023.com.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Dubbed “spring break for chefs”, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival is a nonstop weekend of feasts, fetes, and free-flowing wine and spirits. Festival founder, Lee Schrager, has grown this festival from a one-day dinner to one of the most animated festivals in the country. Premiere events include the Burger Bash (hosted by Emeril Lagasse this year), a drag brunch (with a special performance by disco diva, Thelma Houston), and the Grand Tasting Village directly on the sands of Miami Beach.
Thursday, February 23, to Sunday, February 26, 2023, at various locations throughout Miami and Miami Beach; sobewff.org.
Nassau Paraside Island Wine & Food Festival
The Bahamas, known for its crystal clear water, white sand beaches, and fabulous resorts, has just announced a brand new wine and food festival. Located at Atlantis Paradise Island, the five-day festival will play host to some of the biggest names in the culinary world including Tony Abou-Ganim, Duff Goldman, Alex Guarnaschelli, JJ Johnson, Aarón Sánchez, Alon Shaya, Michael White, and Andrew Zimmern. Throw in musical guests Wyclef Jean and DJ Kim Lee, along with the opulent backdrop of Paradise Island, and this promises to be a weekend you won’t want to miss.
Wednesday, March 15 to Sunday, March 19 at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort; atlantisbahamas.com.