This year’s South Beach food festival kicks off with a huge party with Diplo
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival is known for showcasing top chefs, fine and fun food and spirits and wine. It’s a nightlife destination, sure, with private dinners, cooking demonstrations, walk-around events and competitions. But you don’t expect bottle service and a club vibe under the big tents on the beach.
That all changes this year, as the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary by turning the Grand Tasting Village venue into a club with a performance by a hot, internationally known DJ and music producer, Diplo.
His event Diplo: Live from South Beach kicks off the big weekend, which runs Feb. 19-22, at the Grand Tasting Village venue at 12th Street and Ocean Drive on Miami Beach.
That venue has never been activated on opening night, but this year there will be food, drinks, music and even bottle service, not something you generally find at the large, under-the-tent events.
For such a significant anniversary, festival founder Lee Schrager wanted to create something special.
“It was just something I wanted to do, to introduce music,” he said. “I had to do a lot of homework before I committed to Diplo, but I thought 25 years calls for something different. And I thought it could bring in a different audience and a different demographic.”
Still, hiring a name as big as Diplo requires a big financial commitment, and Schrager admits he didn’t know at first if the festival could sell tickets to the event. The prospect seemed daunting. That’s when nightlife guru David Grutman of Groot Hospitality stepped in to help.
“He was great,” Schrager said. “He gave us his club team to help us figure it all out, the VIP packages, the pricing. Him telling us how to price the tickets was important. Then I just listened to the members of my team who are young, and they said to get Kygo or Diplo. So we went with Diplo.”
The festival is calling the evening “more than just a concert,” highlighting the open bars and late-night bites. There are general admission tickets available, but high rollers can purchase LIV Beach VIP Deck packages, which range from $1,250 for individual seats to $12,500 for a table for 12 (you will be happy to know a $2,500 gratuity is included in the price).
There’s an open bar as well as the Goldbelly Chill Lounge, where founders Joe and Vanessa Ariel will serve specialty ice cream.
And if Diplo isn’t your thing, don’t worry — the Grand Tasting Village will be its usual self on Feb. 21. There are also tons of other festival events throughout the weekend.
“I say it every year: There’s something for everybody,” Schrager said. “
Diplo: Live From South Beach
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 19
Where: 12th Street and Ocean Drive on the beach, Miami Beach
Cost: $229 for general admission, $1,250-$12,500 for VIP
Tickets and full South Beach Wine & Food Festival schedule: sobewff.org