11th Deering Seafood Festival On the Bay
What a day! The sun was shining and a gentle breeze blew in off Biscayne Bay creating the perfect setting for the record-breaking numbers at the 11th annual Deering Seafood Festival. Festivalgoers came on foot and by bicycles, golf carts and automobiles.
The colorfully costumed Bahamian Junkanoo musical parade, stilt-walkers and a steel drum band created an island-vibe. Specialty restaurants served thousands of people delectable fish and seafood dishes, and south Florida celebrity chefs Dean Max, Cindy Hutson, Paula DaSilva, Damian Gilchrist and Todd Erickson hosted cooking demos to standing-room-only crowds. There were pontoon boat rides to Chicken Key, nature hikes, self-guided tours of the historic homes and an Artists’ Lane. On the main stage, Caribbean Crew, Fourth Dimension Reggae and Mr. Nice Guy bands kept the music going with guests dancing on the lawn until the end of the day. Kids became junior scientists and immersed themselves in hands-on activities at the Swiss Family Robinson-style adventure created by the Estate’s Educational and Interpretive Staff. All proceeds from this year’s very successful Deering Seafood Festival benefit the Deering Estate Foundation for preservation, educational programs and restoration of the historic Deering Estate at Cutler.
