Stars to descend on South Beach for Food & Wine Festival

Hungry celeb spotters are going to eat this up.

The South Beach Wine & Food Fest (SOBEWFF) — the nation’s largest wine and food event, which turns Miami into foodie central during the last week of February — is celebrating its 21st birthday. And like any newly legal-to-imbibe adolescent, the annual four-day festival is going big this year.

Not only will the festival boast an impressive lineup of chefs and culinary personalities, but a red-carpet’s worth of celebrities (many of whom have brands to showcase) will be in attendance.

With so many talent-packed events to choose from, here is a how-to guide when it comes to eating, drinking and maybe even rubbing elbows with the sun-kissed stars of this year’s SOBEWFF.

Eva Longoria Bastón

The award-winning actress, entrepreneur and activist will present her new ultra-premium female-powered tequila, Casa Del Sol, at an al fresco dinner on Friday evening at Verde, the Pérez Art Museum Miami’s picturesque restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay.

She’ll be joined by the brand’s creative collaborator and celebrity photographer Brian Bowen Smith, along with renowned chef Lorena Garcia, who is set to prepare a multi-course, Latin-inspired menu with the tequila’s distinctively layered flavor in mind.

Guy Fieri

While the self-proclaimed Mayor of Flavortown is no stranger to the festival, he’ll be busier than ever this year as he headlines three events starting on Thursday night with “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE,” an homage to the many hole-in-the-wall eateries he’s profiled on his long-running Food Network show.

Festivalgoers will also get the chance to see him in an altogether different light — as the honoree of our annual SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on Friday evening, which is being emceed by Rachael Ray.

José Andrés will be on hand to present Fieri with his award, after which attendees can trade their champagne flutes for a zingy cocktail made with Fieri’s Santo Tequila at an exclusive after-party hosted by Grammy Award winner Rev Run. (Tribute Dinner ticket holders will automatically get access to the after party.)

Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo

You can catch the Maroon 5 front man and his Victoria’s Secret model-wife kick off the Festival weekend in style on Thursday evening as they toast their buzzy new tequila brand, Calirosa Tequila, at a spirit-forward happy hour at 1 Hotel South Beach’s chic Tulum-inspired beach club.

After sipping a few cocktails, scoot on over to Como Como, Scott Linquist’s marisquería (seafood restaurant), and join the couple for a swanky dinner featuring elevated Mexican fare paired with their luxe trio of tequilas.

Kate Hudson

Life is all about balance, so to offset the weekend’s late nights and indulgent dishes, you’d be wise to make your way over to the festival’s much-loved (and in some cases, much-needed) yoga event on Sunday morning at Nikki Beach, where Kate Hudson will be making her Festival debut.

Fans of the Academy Award nominee can toast her arrival with a refreshing post-workout cocktail made with Hudson’s new King St. Vodka, inspired by her former home on King Street. If yoga isn’t quite your thing, head to our signature Grand Tasting Village, instead, where Hudson will be pouring her craft vodka under the Festival’s iconic white tents.

More celebrity sightings

The Festival’s epic burger showdown — headlined by longtime host Rachael Ray (and her co-host this year, José Andrés) — is back with another stellar line-up of chefs, all vying for the coveted Schweid & Sons’ Very Best Burger Award.

The panel of judges for this year’s competition is starrier than ever, featuring the likes of Jeff Mauro, Melba Wilson, Al Roker, Dwyane Wade, and Brian Kelly (aka The Points Guy).

Events don’t get more joyous than the festival’s annual Drag Brunch, hosted this year by social media star and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” contributor Kalen Allen, featuring showstopping performances from Mistresses of Ceremonies Kim Chi and Athena Dion and a special appearance by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris, who always know how to make an entrance.

The festival weekend wouldn’t be complete without a David Grutman Experience at our 3 to 5 on Ocean Drive at the Grand Tasting Village. The nightlife and hospitality impresario will curate the ultimate Sunday Funday on the beach, with high-energy beats from Italian DJ and Instagram sensation Gianluca Vacchi and collaborative hip-hop star French Montana.