The Deering Estate Foundation announces its annual Seafood Festival will move to October 2021

The Deering Estate Foundation has announced that its popular Seafood Festival will now take place on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, on the grounds of the historic estate overlooking Biscayne Bay. The Festival is the Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year, draws crowds of up to 8,000, and was previously scheduled for March 28, 2021. However, concerns over COVID-19 continuing into the spring led the Board and planning team to push this year's event to this fall.

"After a great deal of thoughtful consideration and considering the continuing alarming increase in positive COVID-19 cases, the Deering Estate Foundation is officially postponing the 2021 Deering Seafood Festival on the Bay," said Nina Zanella, director of the Deering Estate Foundation. "This difficult decision was made with an abundance of caution and care for festival guests, vendors and their employees, volunteers, and our staff. The safety of everyone involved with the Deering Seafood Festival is paramount and we remain committed to offering a quality experience for all who enjoy participating in this beloved and renowned event."

Now in its 16th year, the award-winning Deering Seafood Festival is a family-friendly event celebrating nature's beauty and bounty, filled with plenty of fresh seafood, chef demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, a Bahamian Junkanoo parade, live entertainment and activities for kids.

The Chef's Table on the Bay, an elegant soirée preceding the Festival, will take place on Friday, Oct. 22. It features a three-course dining experience where renowned chefs Cindy and Ashley Hutson demonstrate how to prepare a meal and then pair the results with select wines and cocktails.

All proceeds from the Seafood Festival and The Chef's Table will benefit the Deering Estate Foundation to raise awareness and support programming for community, conservation and culture.

The Foundation is encouraging people to become members of The Deering Estate for free admission to the Festival. Other membership benefits throughout the year include unlimited free admission to the Estate during regular operating hours; no-cost guided tours through the natural areas, historical buildings and archaeological sites; and free entrance to select events and programs billed as General Admission.

Non-member ticket prices range from $7-$25. For more information and to stay up to date on the latest news and events, visit deeringestate.org.

Contact the Deering Estate Foundation office to become a sponsor or request more information by calling (305) 235-1668, ext. 263, or visit the website.

About the Deering Estate
The Deering Estate preserves the 1920s era Miami estate of Charles Deering, Chicago industrialist, early preservationist, environmentalist, art collector, philanthropist and first chairman of the International Harvester Company. The Deering Estate is a 21st Century house museum, cultural and ecological field station and a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida and managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. From kayak tours to butterfly/bird walks and guided museum tours, the Deering Estate has a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy! 

About the Deering Estate Foundation
For those who treasure the Deering Estate, who advocate for its preservation and wish to invest in its future, The Deering Estate Foundation provides opportunities for individuals and corporations alike to partake in membership, signature events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, all in service of providing vital funding and support to the Deering Estate. Through these efforts, the foundation fulfills its mission to uphold the legacy of Charles Deering's cherished 1920s-era property, to provide funding for the cultural, educational and recreational experiences it offers, as well as its significant scientific and archaeological endeavors to conserve its diverse flora, fauna and the eight native ecosystems that thrive on its 450 acres, and to ensure its longevity as a prized American heritage site. Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c)3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic partner of the Deering Estate.