Tarpon Springs Annual Events
subdivisions | overview | beach & park | homes under $500K | homes over $500K | condos | restaurants & shopping | events
Annual Events in Tarpon Springs
The Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival is held every year at the beautiful and
historical Craig Park on the Spring Bayou. This event is one of the largest and most
respected fine arts festivals in the United States. This popular festival has been enjoyed
by many for over 30 years and has grown enormous with over 225 artists from around
the United States presenting their exhibits. Whether you come with a friend or bring
the whole family, there is something to enjoy for everyone. Besides the fine art, there are
t-shirts, posters, and continuous entertainment throughout the entire weekend. Come soak
up the sunshine while you stroll through this scenic park and enjoy some authentic Greek cuisine
as well as other types of fare. Walk around the picturesque Spring Bayou and gaze at the homes,
they are a sight to behold. Owning a home like this in Tarpon Springs offers unique architectural
detail that can't be matched elsewhere in northern Pinellas County. During the winter months,
manatees can often be seen in Spring Bayou. The art festival is an event that the
Tarpon Springs community looks forward to each year and a cultural experience that
should not be missed!
Tarpon Springs Epiphany Celebration
As you pass the courtyard of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in downtown Tarpon Springs
you won’t help but notice a statue of a soaked young Epiphany diver gazing at the cross
that he just retrieved from the Spring Bayou. The Epiphany celebration was brought to
Tarpon Springs as many Greek men, primarily from the Dodecanese Islands, found work
here diving for the abundance of natural sponges found in the area. In continuing this
occupation, they brought their families and deep religious beliefs with them to Florida.
Since the sponge industry has persevered, so has Tarpon Springs strong Greek heritage.
Since 1920 brave young Greek-American males between the ages of 16 and 18 dive into
the frigid waters of the Spring Bayou each January in hopes of retrieving the coveted Epiphany
Cross. On this day, a Divine Liturgy begins the event followed by a procession to the bayou where
the archbishop blesses the waters and casts the white Epiphany Cross into the bayou as a dove
of the same color is released. Approximately fifty young men dive for their chance at what the
local Tarpon Springs residents believe will ensure a year of good luck and blessing. The dive for
the cross is the highlight of the day’s events. Once a diver finds the cross the crowd applauds
and cheers with happiness. The boy is then carried by the procession and is blessed at a short
service back at the church. This event, held traditionally in Greece, has become just as famous
in the Tarpon Springs area, and is attended by many families living Tarpon Springs and its surrounding areas.
Back to the Tarpon Springs Real Estate page
