Cultural Festivals in St. Pete/Clearwater

The largest festivals in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area focus on cultural pride. Travelers crowd the Greek enclave of Tarpon Springs every January 6 for the region’s Epiphany Celebration, hosted by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The day’s highlight comes when an Orthodox archbishop tosses a cross into Spring Bayou. The town’s young men dive for it, and the finder of the cross is believed to enjoy a year of good luck. A Greek festival in the church's community center follows.

Celebrate Scottish heritage in Dunedin with the annual Highland Games and Military Tattoo, held each year in April. During the tattoo, you’ll see more than a dozen clans performing traditional Scottish military exercises at the Dunedin High School athletic field. The Dunedin Highland Games, held at Highlander Park, feature feats such as the caber toss (a caber is a wooden pole weighing up to 130 pounds), sheep dog demonstrations and traditional Scottish music and dance.

Largo goes into high gear at the end of February with the African American Celebrations at Heritage Village. This family event spotlights African-American music, dance, arts, storytelling, crafts and ethnic food.

Finally, St. Pete's gay and lesbian community celebrates every year with the St. Pete Pride festival. The last Saturday in June marks the St. Pete Pride parade and street fest, both on Central Avenue. The street festival serves up live music, carnival games, fair food and vendors.

If You Go:

Epiphany Celebration, www.epiphanycity.org

Dunedin Highland Games, www.dunedinhighlandgames.com

African American Heritage Celebration,www.pinellascounty.org/unity

St. Pete Pride, www.stpetepride.com