October Fest in St. Augustine Beach

This weekend, Friday October 16th is

The largest outdoor beer sampling festival in North Florida!

The largest outdoor beer sampling festival in North Florida! The festival grounds at the St. Augustine Beach Pier & Pavilion serve as a "small German Oktoberfest", which extend over an area of 5 acres with a large pavilion and 600 foot pier.

The event features unlimited samples of over 50 beers from around the world, a 45 foot Ferris wheel, vendors, carnival games and two large tents adorned with German decorations containing food and entertainment. Listen to traditional German tunes, Polish songs, polkas, drinking songs, and toasts performed by the Heidelberg Hotshots & the Bavarian Bad Boys. Six pairs of German folk dancers perform traditional German dances.

Come for October Fest and Stay for the weekend with Friends at the St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.

This event is ages 21 and up. Admission price includes unlimited sampling of over 50 beers, & entertainment. Food and Games are not included in admission price. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the Door for General Admission. VIP tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets are available at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, A1A Ale Works, and Ragtime Tavern & Seafood Grill. VIP 6pm, General Admission 7pm-10:30pm

Come for October Fest and Stay for the weekend with Friends at the St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.

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New York Times travel: 100 hotels in Europe under 150 dollars ...

This article in New York Times' travel pages has terrific info on finding budget hotels in the main European cities.

Halloween in St. Augustine, FL

Halloween is coming. What better place to be than in our nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, FL.

From the old lighthouse, spooky cemeteries to the country's oldest house, St. Augustine is the place to be for Halloween. The entire city embraces the spooky holiday. There are haunted pub tours, ghost tours and more.

Come Stay with Friends at the St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.

Here's a low down on what's going on:

A GHOSTLY ENCOUNTER OCTOBER 28 - 31 Walk the dark, narrow streets of St. Augustine and hear stories of those who came before us…and refuse to leave. A Ghostly Encounter Tours depart from the Spanish Military Hospital on Aviles Street. For more information call 904-827-2035

CASTLE WARDEN MYSTERY TOUR OCTOBER 28 - 31 Enjoy a late night tour of Ripley’s Believe It or Not Castle Warden to sleuth the mystery of the building’s haunting from a long ago incident. This mystery tour has visitors guess at solving the mystery that surrounds the death of the two women and learn about other spirits that are said to haunt Castle Warden. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum For more information call 904-824-1606

GHOSTS AND GRAVESTONES OCTOBER 28 - 31 Enjoy a most haunting experience this Halloween on St. Augustine’s premier "Frightseeing" Tour that explores the darker side of St. Augustine's past. Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley tour takes you inside the three most haunted places in the entire city. For more information call 904-829-3800

HAUNTED HAYRIDE OCTOBER 28 - 29 Take an old-fashioned hayride this Halloween and discover the nighttime beauty of the maritime hammock while meeting haunting goblins of the forest, spooks from sandy graves and other denizens of the dark. Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. St. Augustine Amphitheatre For more information call 904-461-2035

HAUNTED HOSPITAL OCTOBER 28 - 31 Tour the ghoulish spooks at the haunted Spanish Military Hospital – a real certified haunted building. The spine tingling experience is sure to leave you in the haunts. Spanish Military Museum. For more information call 904-827-0807

A GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE OCTOBER 28 - 31 This award winning tour has been voted "Best Guided Tour in Florida" for 7 years. The venture begins with a guide in period dress who will light the way by lantern light through the historic streets of one of the nation’s most haunted cities. For more information call 904-829-1122

THE HOUSE OF WAX OCTOBER 28 - 31 The long time art of wax casting is used to portray the likeness of the Dead. Professor Vincent is in need of new wax figures and is in desperate need of volunteers. Come join us this Halloween - if you dare - at Potter's Wax Museum. For more information call 904-829-1711

HALLOWEEN AT WORLD GOLF VILLAGE OCTOBER 28 Enjoy films, festivities and fun at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater. The family fun night includes a variety of Halloween games and activities. Children receive free bags of Halloween treats. Family films include Bears, Fighter Pilot and Mystery of the Nile.

Come Stay with Friends at the St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.

European travel

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Discounts on fall sailings from Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Celebrity Cruises.

Greek Festival Comes to St. Augustine

This coming weekend, October 9, 10 & 11th the Greek Festival will be in St. Augustine, Florida.

The exotic sights and sounds of Greece return to St. Augustine when the 12th Annual Greek Festival takes place at the city's Special Events Field. Featuring food, music, dancing and fun, the festival provides a total immersion into Greek culture.

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 . Stay with Friends at the St. Augustine Hostel Casa Yallaha.

European travel

Michelle Obama: It's a 'sacrifice' to travel to Europe to pitch ...
In her speech in Copenhagen today, First Lady Michelle Obama said her trip to Denmark, along with the travel of her "dear friend" and "chit-chat buddy" Oprah Winfrey, as well as tomorrow's visit by President Obama, is a "sacrifice".

Art Walk in St, Augustine, FL

Art Walk is held the first Friday of every month in the Historic District in downtown St. Augustine, FL. Stroll from art gallery to gallery sipping wine and enjoying snacks while meeting artists and their artwork. It's Free!

This Friday is the first Friday of the month and the perfect time to celebrate Fall and enjoy the Art Walk in the cooler weather.

Come stay with Friends at The St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha