BugFest is Back at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

The tenth annual lobster mini-season dive party returns July 26-29

Photo courtesy of BugFest/Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Photo courtesy of BugFest/Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

The Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea will host the Tenth Annual BugFest, Florida’s biggest lobster mini-season dive party, July 26-29.

The community is invited to participate in the activities and events throughout the four-day celebration of mini-season, including: a Bug Hunting Seminar and Kickoff Party; the Great Florida Bug Hunt; the Lobster chef competition; and a benefit concert supporting “Scuba for Good,” a nonprofit that teaches people with disabilities how to dive.

Broward County allows night diving, shore diving, and boat diving for Florida spiny lobsters, and divers can take home up to 12 bugs per day. With support from Scuba for Good and Gold Coast Scuba, boat dives for adaptive divers are also available.

The celebration begins on July 26 with the Bug Hunting Seminar at The Plunge Beach Resort, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. After the seminar, head over to the mini-season Kickoff Party at The Plunge Beach Resort, with music by Scuba Cowboy and hosted by Scuba Radio & Gold Coast Scuba, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Photo courtesy of BugFest/Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Photo courtesy of BugFest/Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

On July 27, the fun continues with the beginning of the Great Florida Bug Hunt Contest at 12:01 a.m. Divers can start weighing their catches from 12:20 to 2 a.m. at El Prado Park, and throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alternatively, divers can weigh-in at Sands Harbor Beach Hotel in Pompano Beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That evening, guests are welcome to the Lobster Chef Competition from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the Great Florida Bug Hunt Contest awards and raffle.

Dance in the sand and donate to the cause during the “Scuba 4 Good” Benefit Concert at Plunge Beach Resort on July 29, from 6 to 9 p.m.

To participate in the Great Florida Bug Hunt, divers must register by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26. Registration is $30, and available online or in-person at Gold Coast Scuba (259 Commercial Blvd Suite 2, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea). All other BugFest events are free.

BugFest coincides with Florida’s lobster sport season, which begins the last Wednesday of July and ends at midnight on Thursday. The 2022 regular season begins at 12:01 a.m. August 6, and ends at midnight March 31, 2023.

For more information or to register, call the Town’s Visitor Center at (800) 921-2319 or click here.

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