TARPON SPRINGS “Night in the Islands,” a free city-sponsored event, returns this Saturday with Greek music, dancing and food on the Sponge Docks.

The event is held the first Saturday of each month from 6 to 11 p.m. along Dodecanese Boulevard between Hope and Athens streets.

Saturday’s event features live music by Ellada, a band that performs nisiotika, the lively traditional music of the Greek islands, as well as old and new Greek tunes.

“The live band plays from 7 to 11, and the tables start filling up around 6 despite the heat,” said Tina Bucuvalas, Tarpon Springs’ curator of arts and historical resources. “When the sun goes down, it’s really quite pleasant out there by the river. Restaurants put tables by the docks, and a lot of the dancing is in the street.”

“It’s very culturally Greek. People say it’s kind of like a village celebration. It’s as close as you can get to being in Greece.”

Night in the Islands also will be held on Sept. 8, Oct. 6 and Nov. 3.

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