Editor’s note: This story has been updated. The latest developments appear at the bottom.
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Boca Raton’s Seafood Festival is coming back to Mizner Park next month, and the city is promising a full-day mix of food, music, and hands-on activities that lean hard into the nautical theme.
The City of Boca Raton will host its 2nd Annual Seafood Festival on Saturday, January 10, 2026, running from noon to 8 p.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 10 and under are free.
City organizers are pitching it as an all-day event built around local seafood vendors, plus live music and a slate of competitions. The setup includes a “Seafood Stage” with multiple local bands performing throughout the day. The announced lineup includes the Jutt Hoffman Band, Southern Blood, Leave It To Us, and Nothing Wrong with Wet Socks.
Food is the centerpiece, and vendors will be selling seafood dishes on site — the city’s promotional materials mention everything from conch fritters to crab legs. The event also includes Neptune’s Marketplace, a vendor area focused on nautical-themed goods and coastal-style gifts and décor. The city says vendor applications are open.
On the culinary side, the festival will again include a Chef’s Seafood Showdown, a live competition featuring chefs from local restaurants. The city has named Executive Chef Moises Hernandez from DRIFT at the Boca Raton Marriott and Executive Sous Chef Julian Bernal from Corvina Seafood Grill as participants, with a third restaurant competitor to be announced.
Video from the 2025 event:
For families, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is scheduled to run an activity area from noon to 6 p.m., with games, crafts, trivia, and interactive programming tied to marine ecosystems. The city says attendees will also be able to take photos with Gumbo Limbo’s mascot, Luna.
Then there are the contests, which are expected to draw crowds and some competitive energy. One is the Crab Cake Challenge, where up to four contestants will race to finish a stack of crab cakes, with a championship belt going to the winner. The city says sign-ups will happen on site at the City of Boca Raton tent. Another is the Conch Blowing Competition, billed as a lung-power-and-skill showdown.
The rules are straightforward, and the city is emphasizing them ahead of time. The event is rain or shine. Outside chairs, blankets, coolers, outside alcohol, and pets are not allowed, except service animals. The city says seating will be available on site.
Anyone looking for additional details — including tickets and vendor information — can contact [email protected].
Source: City of Boca Raton (event details and ticket information provided by the city via myboca.us)
UPDATE (1/6/2026): Planning to attend? The city has since released updated details on tickets, parking, entertainment, and on-site activities for this year’s Seafood Festival.
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