South Beach Seafood Festival returns October 21–24, with a choice that matters for your plans: an adults-only night on Friday or an afternoon tasting event on Saturday.

The main events take place at Lummus Park on Ocean Drive. The week starts across the bay, with a chef dinner at Phuc Yea on Biscayne Boulevard. Thursday brings a separate set of dinners in Miami Beach.

Tickets vary by event. A weekend pass is an option, but you can also pick one night or afternoon. The posted prices below are base prices. Fees may be added when you buy.

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Saturday: the afternoon option

The Seafood Slam runs Saturday, October 24, from 1–5 p.m. The organizer lists an All Access ticket at $160. That covers food, drinks and entertainment, with one key extra: stone crab purchases are not included.

A weekend ticket starts at $275. It pairs Saturday with the Friday night Chef Showdown. Compare that with the single-event prices before choosing a pass. Saturday also allows guests to leave and return, according to the event page.

This is the daytime choice for people who would rather spend an afternoon on the beach than plan a late night. The tourism bureau describes Saturday as a family event. Friday has a different age rule.

Friday: taste, then vote

The VIP Chef Showdown is Friday, October 23, from 7–11 p.m. at Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive. Guests must be 21 or older. The posted base price is $175.

Chefs compete while guests taste their dishes and vote. A live DJ is also part of the night. The competition format makes this a different outing from Saturday’s afternoon event, even though both use the beachside park.

The week begins on Biscayne Boulevard

Made in Miami opens the festival on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. at Phuc Yea, 7100 Biscayne Boulevard. The $235 base ticket covers a five-course dinner with drink pairings. That means drinks chosen to go with the food.

The chef lineup includes Cesar Zapata, Jose Mendin and Fernando Desa. The announced menu includes Florida fish, oxtail tacos and guava-cheese doughnuts. It is a seated dinner option rather than the park tasting format.

On Thursday, October 22, the dinner series moves to Miami Beach. The organizer lists 7 p.m. dinners at Macchialina and Rao’s. Tickets are tied to each venue, so check the dinner you want rather than expecting one shared price.

Choose your event through the festival’s official pages. Check the final total, age rule and venue before paying. If stone crab is your main reason to go Saturday, set aside money beyond the admission price.