St. Demetrios Greek Festival in Daytona Beach, Florida

This post brought to you by Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Brownie Bites.

September has arrived and with it comes the hope of cooler temperatures, vibrant colors, pumpkin everything, and the best part - local food festivals!  I wanted to share some information about the St. Demetrios Greek Festival that will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida in November.  Have you ever been to a Greek festival?  No?  Do you love trying new food?  Yes?  Then a Greek Fest is not something to be missed.

Matt and I have been to the local Greek Fest right here in Knoxville, TN a couple of times and it's now become a mandatory part of our fall schedule.  When planning a trip, I like to do research on any special local events happening during our stay, and any kind of food festival makes me sit up and pay attention.  I wish I had time on my November calendar to make a jaunt down to Daytona Beach, because the St. Demetrios Greek Festival sounds like a great time.

Greek food incorporates an array of unique ingredients and flavor profiles and includes dishes like classic gyros and Greek pizzas to ooey gooey saganaki and flaky spanakopita.  Oh, and how about dessert?  Don't even get me started on baklava - those thin layers of phyllo dough stuffed with honey and chopped nuts is a simple concept that comes together to produce sweet, indulgent perfection.

After you've gotten your fill of culinary delights there are many more cultural activities to behold.  At the Daytona Beach St. Demetrios Greek Festival you can see performers in authentic attire dance for the crowd, listen to live music, or shop a variety of goods and crafts.

Admission to the festival is free and you can enjoy free parking and shuttle service from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.  The festival runs from November 12th-15th, Thursday 11am - 10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am - 11pm, and Sunday 11am - 9pm.

In addition to being the festival capital of Florida, Daytona Beach offers endless activities, places to stay, restaurants to partonize, and 23 miles of sparkling white sand.  Daytona Beach is great for couples as there are endless opportunities for a date night.  Whether you prefer spending an evening at one of the many bars or dance clubs or lounging in the parlor of a quaint bed and breakfast inn, there's something for everyone.

If you're traveling with the little ones, there are a number of kid friendly options to consider, such as petting the sting rays at the Marine Science Center or taking in some outdoor fun as the searing heat of summer finally begins to break.

And if you like to travel on a budget (we definitely do!) check out this list of free things to do in Daytona Beach

Though I have never been to Daytona Beach, I have driven through many times en route to other Florida destinations and it's a possible spot for one of our future trips.  Have any of you guys vacationed there?  What are some places that we should visit, and in particular, restaurants we shouldn't miss?  Let me know in the comments!

Enjoy this lil' clip of some of the fun things to see and do in this city - the beach awaits!