Kick off stone crab season at this popular seafood festival in Miami Beach

Just in time to kick off Florida’s stone crab season is Miami Beach’s annual seafood bacchanal.

The South Beach Seafood Festival runs Oct. 19-22, with chef cookoffs, private dining events and walk-around tents with food and adult drinks. It kicks off with a sold out dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, but tickets remain for a five-course, Thursday night surf-and-turf with drink pairings at the iconic Surfcomber Hotel. Chefs Danny Ganem (of Fiola South Miami), Giorgio Rapicavoli (Eating House, Luca Osteria) and Sean Brasel (Meat Market) highlight the marquee.

Ticket packages range from $55 for a day pass to $450 three-day passes that include the Thursday night dinner and the popular Friday night Chef Showdown. This year, the cooking competition features 20 chefs in 10 seafood battles, ranging from ceviche to lobster. The winner gets $10,000.

Live music acts feature country music singer Granger Smith performing Oct. 22.

South Beach Seafood Festival

Dates: Oct. 19-22

Tickets: Sobeseafoodfest.com