Eat. Drink. Educate.

It is on! That is the theme once again of the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival, much to the delight of food and wine connoisseurs. This year, the festival invites everyone to join the 20th anniversary celebration of food, drink and camaraderie in May 2021. Sponsored by the Food Network & Cooking Channel, the SOBEWFF has become of the most popular food and drink events in the country with its sprawling sea of canopies and tents, entertainment venues and outdoor bars and grills for cooking.

The SOBEWFF attracts some of the biggest names in the food and drink industry, adding a level of excitement for those looking for unique recipes, wine and spirits and opportunities to bond with other foodies.

When and Where?

Usually held the end of February each year, the 2021 South Beach Wine & Food Festival was delayed until Spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Dates: May 20-23, 2021

• Events in two locations
o South Beach, Miami, FL
o Hallandale Beach and Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, FL

The event will take place rain or shine, and all events except a couple of them are hosted outside. It is wise to dress for the predicted weather, and bring whatever you need to make sure you enjoy your time at the festival. South Florida is known for its summer pop-up rain storms, and you can count on walking on sand.

Choose Your Ticket Amount

This year, attendance is limited to 20,000 people in deference to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is approximately one-third of the 2020 attendance. This means those people who do attend will find the festival less crowded which equates to even more opportunities to enjoy the events and the festival grounds.

The amount spent on tickets depends on the events chosen. They can range from a low of $15 for the Kidz Kitchen event in Hallandale Beach to $600 for events like the Tribute Dinner honoring Giada De Laurentiis and Eduardo M. Sardina. This high level even is hosted by the Masters of Ceremonies Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

Check out the packages too. You choose three events from a list of events and build your own package. The advantage of this approach is that you can save 15-20 percent on the bundle.

Group Hospitality packages net people 30 event tickets, private lounge space and dedicated food and drink servers.

Events for Everyone!

There is so much talent to be found at this festival that all the names cannot listed here. Each participating celebrity is hosting one or more events. There are famous chefs, Food Network celebrities, cookbook authors, bakers, restaurant and bar owners and others in the food, wine and spirits industry.

You will find well-known names like Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Marcus Samuelsson, Andrew Zimmern, Jumoke Jackson, Melba Wilson, Fabio Viviani and others. There is plenty of music too, delivered by famous performers like Sammy Hagar and a surprise musical performance at the SOBEWFF 20th Anniversary Celebration.

The festival offers:

• Grand Tasting Village – Most of the events are on the sand, and this is one of the most popular. It is a great place to start your festival experience because the huge tent houses a large number chefs, winemakers and drink mixers under one canvas roof. You can sample to your heart’s content while also enjoying celebrity-chef cooking demos.

• Miami Beach Signature events – There are a variety of high-profile events, some of which have become iconic for the festival. The Heineken Burger Bash hosted by Bobby Flay and held beachside at the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach is a good example, Each day of the festival you can attend one of the events, like the Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Italian Bites on the Beach found beachside at Delano.

• Intimate dinners – Elegant and contemporary dinners are held at upscale and upbeat local restaurants.

• Late night parties – Night owls never have to worry about finding events later in the evening. There is Tacos After Dark hosted by Jeff Mauro; the Celebration Dessert Party hosted by Scott Conant; and A SOBEWFF 20th Anniversary Celebration hosted by Martha Stewart and David Grutman.

• Other events – There are walk-around tastings, culinary demonstrations and seminars and other events to choose among.

You can even find a variety of corporate-sponsored events like the Buddhas & Bellinis yoga session with renowned yoga instructor Dawn B and marketing guru Arlene Chaplin. (Be sure to RSVP online.)

Staying Safe: COVID-19 Protocols

The festival planners have taken great care to keep attendees safe. Thorough Covid-19 protocols that were implemented include:

• Number of attendees limited to 20,000 people
• Contactless registration
• Most events are held outdoors, with a few held at area hotels
• Attendees must have proof of a negative PCR COVID test within 72 hours of entering the festival or proof of a vaccination (be able to present a cleared SymCheck QR Code)
• Masks required at all times unless seated at a table
• One-way lines at events
• Mandatory temperature checks
• Seating together limited to those who order tickets together
• Maximum of six people per table
• Seating and tables will be separated
• Large tented areas, like the Grand Tasting Village, are divided into two sessions that are timed
• Social distancing enforced
• Smaller festival in terms of the number of events to avoid over-crowding
• Maximum of 50 percent capacity at all events and venues
• Staff health screening
• Regular sanitizing of all equipment, restrooms and tent areas
• Acrylic and plexiglass dividers between talent areas
• No buffet style food setups allowed

How to Get the Most Out of the Festival

This is certainly a jam-packed three days of food and drink and may seem a bit overwhelming if this is a first visit. With so much food, wine and cocktails to enjoy, it is easy to overdo. Here are a few tips to make your festival visit as enjoyable as possible.

• For the greatest walking or riding convenience, stay at the SOBEWFF headquarter hotel – the Loews Miami Beach Hotel
• Buy tickets for a variety of events, like a signature food event, a dessert and dancing event and an intimate dinner
• Bring several pairs of shoes for walking on sand, walking from event to event, dancing and attending a more formal meal
• Dress casual for daytime events and wear cocktail attire for formal events (though casual dress is acceptable day or night)
• There is a lot of opportunity to drink wine and cocktails, so plan on safely getting to and from the festival
• People with dietary restrictions should be aware there are no guarantees the dishes served will not contain allergens, meat or gluten
• Leave pets at home because they are not allowed (only service dogs are allowed)
• Sign up for the Juicy Tidbits e-newsletter online to keep up with any schedule or event changes

Raising Funds for Charity

For event organizers, one of the most important facts about the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is that 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center and the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory, both at Florida International University. The university students are festival volunteers and utilize the event as an opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Get Ready to Eat, Drink and Enjoy

Tickets went on sale March 22, 2021, so if you plan on attending, it is time to register. The much anticipated events will sell out fast, and the festival operators want attendees to get the opportunities of most interest. Everyone who loves the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is thrilled the event is planned once again. It may be scaled back, but it remains one of the premier food and restaurant industry events in the United States.

If you have not attended a festival yet, get ready to have an extraordinary culinary and beverage experience. Visit sobewff.org or call 877-762-3933 for more information.