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Seafood and Entertainment in the Heart of Beautiful Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale was heralded by young adults as a top spring break destination during the 1960’s. Over the past 50 years, it has grown into a world-class vacation spot with something to offer visitors of all ages. Travelers can enjoy great community events, world class shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, or relaxing on miles of white sand beaches.  

 

The Stone Crab & Seafood Festival celebrates the middle of Florida’s stone crab season, and is South Florida’s yearly kickoff event for the seafood industry. The festival is free to attend and is held at the beautiful Esplanade Park in the center of Fort Lauderdale. The event is a seafood lover's dream featuring stone crab and other seafood dishes prepared by the top restaurants in the community. It’s a great event for all ages with live music, hermit crab races, games, prizes, and more. Patrons will also encounter a beer garden with a variety of beers from Islamorada Beer Company, Blue Point Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company and 10 Barrel Brewing Co. We got the chance to interview Cristina M. Hudson, Director of Operations for the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, to talk about this seafood celebration.

 

RAL: How long has the event been running?

CH: This is the 6th year of this event.

 

RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?

CH: The attendance has grown each year. Last year, the estimated attendance was over 6,000.

 

RAL: What is the typical demographic makeup of the event? Children? Families? Couples?

CH: We see a wide range of people in attendance. We have families, young adults, people vacationing, snowbirds, and local retirees.

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

CH: One thing that makes this event different from other seafood festivals is that it is free to attend. Understanding how quickly the bill can go up when attending a food festival, we made this model where each seafood vendor will offer at least one seafood item for $5. This allows individuals and families to sample items from multiple vendors without breaking the bank. We also have hermit crab races that kids of all ages can enjoy.

 

RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.

CH: We have live music all day, a beer garden for 21+ attendees, crafts and hands-on activities as well as a trackless train ride for kids, and the crowd-favorite hermit crab races.

 

RAL: Tell me about the overall environment?

CH: The event takes place outdoors at Esplanade Park. The park is a lovely setting that overlooks the iconic New River. Attendees can come by land or sea (river).

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

CH: The Riverside Hotel is one of the closest hotels to the festival. Their staff will make you feel like you are in a mom-and-pop place, with their history of long-tenured employees. Another location is the Granada Inn, which is a few miles from the event. This little gem is a private establishment located a block away from the beach. It's lovely for kicking back and enjoying the beautiful Fort Lauderdale weather.

 

RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?

CH: This event brings a lot of extra money to our economy. Our featured restaurants get a chance to shine and give thousands of attendees a sample of what makes them so great. With so many visitors to the area at this time of year, this event leads to more significant sales and return visits to their establishments. We also have local artists on hand selling some of their pieces and it’s a great way for them to gain exposure. Visitors get a chance to see the abundant seafood industry that we have in South Florida. They are more likely to want to be a part of it and take a fishing or diving excursion while they are here.

 

RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community?

CH: Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale is a non-profit organization. We oversee the public land which is the linear Riverwalk Park. We also manage the activities, maintenance, special projects, and the compliance with the City’s Master Plan when it comes to development. We partner regularly with multiple other charity organizations.

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

CH: Riverwalk’s Stone Crab & Seafood Festival will give travelers a sample of South Florida's beautiful weather and amazing seafood. This event has something for everyone, and even the four-legged family members are welcome (on leash). We have music, food, cold cocktails, beer, and enough activities to keep the kids happy.


For more information about the Stone Crab & Seafood Festival, please visit their website.