A Foodie’s Guide to Greater Fort Lauderdale Food Festivals, Events and Tours
Written for Visit Lauderdale
What does every vacation have in common? Here’s a hint: it involves that rumbling in your stomach (which, let’s be honest, is probably why you landed on this article). Whether you’re lounging at the pool or kayaking on the Intracoastal Waterway, when a traveler has to eat, a traveler has to eat.
Greater Fort Lauderdale hosts a feast of food festivals, events and tours year round. Dig into our top foodie experiences with the list below.
Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
First stop on our Fort Lauderdale food extravaganza is the ever so scrumptious Las Olas Blvd. The street may only stretch one mile long, but that’s one mile of restaurants, bars, shops and courtyards that will do more than satiate your appetite.
Thankfully, Las Olas Wine and Food Festival is a foodie’s opportunity to dive into the rich, culinary scene on the boulevard, and it’s been happening annually for over 20 years.
Usually taking place in April, the festival elevates the already thriving food culture of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Tickets include entry into the festival, as well as access to over 50 restaurants and 40 wineries and lounges.
Not to mention, you can enjoy unlimited tastings from participating restaurants. Sip, sample and savor every moment as you dine, mix and mingle with the menu of your choice. Whether it’s sushi at ETARU or a slice at Piazza Italia, you won’t regret trying something new.
Some highlights from the 2019 festival were a silent disco party, 1920s-inspired speakeasy, meet-and-greets with top chefs and a VIP experience with the Hard Rock’s Kuro.
As if good food and great company isn’t enough, the festival also brings philanthropy to the table. Proceeds from Las Olas Wine and Food Festival benefit the American Lung Association. Give into your cravings as you give back to a well-deserved cause.
Cycle Party Las Olas Happy Hour Tour
If your schedule isn’t jiving with Las Olas Wine and Food Festival’s timeframe, you can still experience all the area has to offer all year long.
Sure, you can visit the restaurants on the boulevard any time you want, but there’s another way to get a taste of the food and drinks you so desire without the stress of deciding where to go.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]A less conventional food tour, Cycle Party Las Olas Happy Hour Tour occurs every weekday and allows you to try out different drink specialties on the move. Hop on board a party bike and pedal faster to discover the best happy hours in town.
Along the way, your pilot will play music and entertain as you cruise Las Olas for two hours. You even get a souvenir cup to bring your drinks from the bar back on the bike and keep the Cycle Party rolling.
Let’s divert your attention away from the boulevard to the tropical flavor of the Caribbean. Every April a series of island-inspired events takes place near the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the beautiful Riverwalk area. You can immerse yourself in Caribbean culture at the three-day Taste the Islands Experience.
The food and drink festival features celebrity cooking demonstrations; authentic, culture-infused cuisine; live music; an artisan shopping village; fashion events and more — all in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Past appearances include culinary demos by Chef Ralph Motta of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a performance and meet-and-greet opportunity with Julian Marley and a “Brunch on the Sunny Side” event.
You can just taste the Caribbean Sea breeze with a deep inhale of the spices surrounding you and a stroll through the dozens and dozens of unique vendors. You really feel like you’re living the island life along the river.
The folks over at KISS Country 99.9 have figured out a way to fuse the two things that cause people to unite: music and food. KISS Country Chili CookOff is the biggest country music festival and chili competition in South Florida.
Taking place annually in Pembroke Pines for over 34 years, this festival is for the people that can’t help but put on their cowboy boots and stomp on over to C.B. Smith Park for some country tunes and good old fashioned chili.
And thousands do. They lay out their blankets and beach towels and enjoy the killer lineup that the radio station’s cooked up. Nashville superstars Brooks & Dunn, Luke Combs, LOCASH, Rodney Atkins and more have all stepped onto the two CookOff stages.
Don’t forget the most important part: the chili! The event hosts a colossal chili cooking competition, along with dozens of other food and drink vendors to enjoy throughout your day. As for the winner, you be the judge.
Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Burger Battle™
The spirit of competition is apparently thriving in Greater Fort Lauderdale. After all, we don’t mess around when it comes to food. Burger Battle™ in Huizenga Plaza at Riverwalk pits top South Florida restaurants against each other for a head-to-head culinary experience.
The nighttime event, occuring in the spring, comes complete with entertainment, iced cold beer, classic cocktails, a french fry bar and, of course, gourmet burger masterpieces.
A recent rule change really got the participating chefs’ creative juices flowing: entrees can now also include meat or non-meat ingredients.
A panel of food industry professionals decide the “Best Burger,” while previous winners can also decide the “Best of the Best.” Hungry guests, like you, get to choose the “Fan Favorite.” Good luck picking the winner; these burgers are sizzling with out-of-this-world flavors that’ll make your decision extra challenging.
John Offerdahl’s Gridiron Grill-Off
Another food-related contest is the Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Music Festival at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater. This event is considered to be the best-valued food and wine event in South Florida, and a lot of that value is for its celebrity and charity factors.
Food and sports fans gather in November at the amphitheater to witness beloved Miami Dolphins legends and local restaurants in a battle of the BBQ, benefitting near and dear causes.
You can indulge in gourmet samples straight from the grill, play in a cornhole competition and taste wine and spirits — all while seeing your favorite football players in their competitive element. You may be surprised: the field isn’t the only place they get their game on.
Pompano Beach Sunset Stroll Food Tour
Besides Gridiron Grill-Off, Pompano Beach has more food events you should be aware of. The city’s Sunset Stroll Food Tour is a great way to experience the dining of the destination and the breathtaking views all in one.
Uncover local delights as you travel along the Intracoastal Waterway, sun-kissed beaches and the Shoppes of Harbor Village. You’ll start beachfront on tour at the new Beach House Pompano, then make your way to Sands Harbor Marina Patio Bar, an institution in this town for over 50 years.
Next stop is The Foundry, a hip, industrial hotspot with trendy bites, then get a slice of the good life at Phil's Heavenly Pizza. Lastly, go to Trattoria Novello for some homemade Italian Dessert by Chef Pasquale Solarino himself. For only $55 per adult, this food tour puts your everyday dinner outing to shame.
South Beach Wine and Food Festival
Each year, the Food Network & Cooking Channel features the hottest chefs in South Florida at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF®). However, that doesn’t mean the hottest chefs are only in South Beach.
Culinary experts in Greater Fort Lauderdale are given their time to shine in SOBEWFF®, too. The five-day Greater Fort Lauderdale Series features an all-star line-up of chefs, celebrities and events that’ll make your mouth water.
In 2019 alone, the series featured radio host Elvis Duran at a Drag Brunch, world barbeque champion Chris Lilly and Jorge Ramos (chef at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach), a Rooftop Rose Happy Hour with Kristin Callivari, fan-favorite Lucky Chopsticks event hosted by Andrew Zimmern, and more sweet and savory events. Check back each year to see what the chefs of Greater Fort Lauderdale will stir up next.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival
Last, but not least, what better way to experience food in Greater Fort Lauderdale than with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Food and Wine Festival, itself?
This destination takes pride in its culinary power, and we have the festival to prove it. Occuring in March, foodies flock to celebrate local chefs, wine, craft beer & spirits for the 3-day event.
You can discover the “culinary renaissance” of the area at a number of food activitions. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival events range from Cocktail Confidential led by Mixologist Danwel Olivo at the Conrad to 4 hours of unlimited food and beverages at The Grand Tasting at Artspark Hollywood.
No matter your craving, you’ll find all there is to love about Greater Fort Lauderdale — one bite at a time.