12th Annual Greek Heritage Festival

Jay Humphreys, Communications Director for the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, announced to Historic City News the 12th Annual Greek Heritage festival.

The exotic sights and sounds of Greece return to St. Augustine when the 12th Annual Greek Festival takes place October 9-11 at the city’s Special Events Field. Featuring food, music, dancing and fun, the festival provides a total immersion into Greek culture – in the bright Florida sun.

Hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, this year’s edition of this popular festival provides three days of indulging in the traditional flavors of Greece, including spanakopita and baklava, as well as refreshing Greek beverages. An agora market will offer a fascinating selection of products imported from Greece. Plus, Nick Demos and the Greek Islanders will provide classic Greek music and colorfully-costumed Greek dancers will perform throughout the festival.

Many Greeks arrived in St. Augustine in 1777 after fleeing from the failed British indigo plantation at New Smyrna where they had been mistreated as indentured servants. They held their first religious service in St. Augustine at the Avero House, more commonly known as the St. Photios Shrine, on St. George Street.

The 12th Annual Greek Festival takes place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults, free for ages 16 and under. The Special Events Field is located on West Castillo Drive just to the east of U.S. 1 in downtown St. Augustine. For more information, call 904.829.0504 or visit www.stauggreekfest.com .

The Greek Festival is supported in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.