Events and Family Activities
Our Events and Family Activities expert, Tommy Thompson, tells you about upcoming and ongoing events across our ten county area.
Visit Gainesville’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens–You’ll Be Surprised!
While the names Bellingrath, Callaway and Selby bring to mind some of the south’s great botanical gardens, Gainesville’s Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is often overlooked by even the most enthusiastic garden lovers. Florida’s climate is generally tropical, and Gainesville can be hot, but being north of Tampa Bay, where the “tropics” start and it really …
Don’t Miss Octoberfest 2015 at Alachua County’s Rogers’ Farm!
Rogers’ Farms is a culinary landmark in the Gainesville, Florida area. Known far and wide for its strawberries (in the spring) and its late summer crop of peas, Rogers also maintains a healthy stock of healthy fruits and vegetables throughout the year. But October is special! The 2015 Rogers’ Farm Fall Festival, AKA Octoberfest, is …
Gainesville Area’s “Big City” Farmers’ Markets Bustle in Fall
While mostly rural, the 11-county region we call “Natural North Florida” has one large urban area. Gainesville and Alachua County are large, that is, if you count the 75,000-plus college students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Without those venerable institutions, you’d see fewer Publix Supermarkets and more roadside farmers’ markets! Not …
Downtown Festival & Art Show, November 14 and 15, 2015
North Florida’s art scene swings into high gear on Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the arrival of the highly acclaimed Downtown Festival & Art Show. The streets of historic downtown Gainesville, from City Hall to the Hippodrome State Theatre will be transformed into a celebration of …
Join The Fun at the Wood and Swink Preservation Society “Paint Out”, October 19-24, 2015
The Wood and Swink Store and Post Office in Evinston, FL is a cultural landmark in Alachua County, Florida. Located in the southern part of the county, almost adjacent to Orange Lake, the building is considered by many to be one of the few remaining examples of “original Florida architecture”. In recent years, the building …
Gainesville’s “Free Fridays” Concert Series–Lots of Family Fun!
Each summer and fall, Downtown Gainesville comes alive every Friday night from 8-10 pm as our local and regional bands and performing arts are showcased under the stars. Each year thousands come out to enjoy the FREE live concerts and shows in a family friendly environment. For …
Dudley Farm HIstoric State Park in Alachua County is a Florida Gem
When driving on SR26 (Newberry Road) between Gainesville and Newberry, Florida, the casual observer is likely to overlook the less-than-imposing entry and driveway that leads to Dudley Farm Historic State Park (For your GPS: 18730 W. Newberry Road, Newbery, FL 32669). What lies at the end of the quarter-mile drive is astounding in terms of …
Welcome to London!…at Gainesville’s Harn Museum of Art, E.O. Hoppé Photos on Exhibit Thru 9/16/15
Now’s your chance to visit London, England while you’re still in Natural North Florida! The University of Florida’s Harn Museum of Art is showing the work of influential photographer, E.O. Hoppé through September 16, 2016. This is a “don’t-miss” opportunity to see images of royalty, street life, movie stars, circus performers and everyday Londoners, taken …
Take a Ride in Bicycle-Friendly Lake Butler, in Union County, Florida
If you’re looking for a quiet, low-key place to have a leisurely bicycle ride, head to Lake Butler, in Florida’s Union County. Union County is small and rural, but there are plenty of sights to see from either the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail or the not-very-busy city streets. The trail’s western terminus is in downtown …
Visit Fanning Springs, A Natural North Florida Paradise!
Fanning Springs State Park, located on the Suwannee River, this inviting source of cool, clear water has attracted people for thousands of years. Fanning Springs now produces less than 65 million gallons of water daily, making it a second magnitude spring. Historically, Fanning Spring was a first-magnitude springs as recently as the 1990s. Swimming or …