North Florida Things to Do
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Alachua County, Florida

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Map of Alachua County, Florida



Events & Festivals in Alachua County, Florida



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  • 324 Florida

  • Archer Florida

    • Yulee Railroad Days
      Various events at different venues throughout the day celebrating the history of the Florida Railroad System! Come out and join the fun!

  • Gainesville Florida

    • 41st Annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival
      Voted "Best Arts & Crafts Festival" in Florida Monthly's 2008 Best of Florida Awards! The SF Spring Arts Festival, April 10-11, is garnishing its 41st birthday celebration with a twist of jazz. The Santa Fe Jazz Big Band, Santa Fe Jazz Combo, Santa Fe Rhythm & Blues Band, The Tazers, 6th Street Rhythm & Blues Review, and GrüvTherapy will perform in a free jazz and blues festival on the Thomas Center lawn 3-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10. There's lots of festival activity at the Thomas Center, where young artists sell their work and families make art projects at the Kids' Art Jungle. Another Spring Arts "first" this year is a direct tie-in to the SF Teaching Zoo. The zoo will be open festival weekend so folks can visit two family-oriented events in Gainesville - an art festival for excitement and a kid friendly zoo for enchantment.

    • 5th Avenue Arts Festival
      The 5th Avenue Arts Festival is presented by the Cultural Arts Coalition. The festival will feature art, entertainment and music which celebrates the rich culture of African-Americans in Gainesville. The Annual FAAF is a celebration of the rich African American culture of Gainesville through the arts. The Festival has traditionally been held the weekend of Malcolm X birthday (May 19th) The Festival is a two-day street event which host gospel, blues, jazz, R & B, Rap, modern and African dance performances throughout the day. The are activities for children and information relevant to the health and welfare of the community. Food booths line the streets of the Festival that ranges from barbecue to Jamaican to seafood.

    • Art in Thornebrook Village
      The Art Festival at Thornbrook is a two-day festival of juried fine arts and fine crafts under the covered walkways and on the grassy areas and plaza of Thornebrook Village.

    • Cane Boil & Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle Contest
      Cane boils were a time for friends and neighbors to gather for work and for play. Honoring that tradition, Morningside Nature Center invites you to kick up your heels and enjoy the sounds of the Youth Fiddle Contest from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Fiddlers wanted! Complete contest rules and registration forms are available online at http://www.friendsofnatureparks.org.

    • Downtown Countdown New Year's Eve Celebration
      8 PM - 12:30 AM Bo Diddley Community Plaza The City of Gainesville’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will host Downtown Countdown, a New Year’s Eve celebration concert at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.

    • Downtown Festival and Art Show
      The Downtown Festival and Art Show is Gainesville’s most beloved tradition and a nationally recognized event. The 29th Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show is a great way to kick-off the holiday shopping season. Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    • Feed a Frog Fridays
      First Friday of the Month, from September 7th to May 2nd, 2008, at 2:00 pm in the Education Building. Join the fun, get the facts! Youngsters, with an adult, can join a Morningside Nature Center animal caretaker for amphibian and reptile feeding during Feed-A-Frog-Fridays. This FREE program begins at 2:00 pm and lasts about 45 minutes to an hour.

    • Fifth Avenue Arts Festival
      Theme: "We are our children's keepers" The Annual FAAF is a celebration of the rich African American culture of Gainesville through the arts. The Festival has traditionally been held the weekend of Malcolm X's birthday (May 19th) The Festival is a two-day street event which host gospel, blues, jazz, R & B, Rap, modern and African dance performances throughout the day. The are activities for children and information relevant to the health and welfare of the community. Food booths line the streets of the Festival that ranges from barbecue to Jamaican to seafood.

    • First Annual Garden Bike Tour of Gainesville
      Bike Tour: 14-mile loop around gainesville to public and private gardens. The tour starts at the Downtown Plaza and ends at Citizens Co-op new store location, 435 South Main. Citizens Co-op is a local food market offering a dependable marketplace to small farmers in our area. It is a cooperatively-owned business with over 500 current members. The retail store aims to be fully operational in May 2010. Registration 9-11am at Downtown Plaza in Gainesville to receive Bike Tour Map, including workshops, classes, and garden visits around the greater Gainesville area. Pay a $20 fee to enter, receive event t-shirt, bike tour map, sponsor gifts, and entrance to music festival at Citizens Co-op new storefront, 435 South Main. Music Festival takes place from 5-12pm at the Co-op store to kick-off the opening of Citizens Co-op and help raise funds to further the Local Food Movement. Tickets are $10 if not attending the bike tour. Featuring Swamphead Brewery and Local Gainesville Musicians

    • Florida Crane and Nature Festival
      Join the Florida Trail Association and the Alachua Conservation Trust during MLK weekend to celebrate the wintering Sandhill Cranes, endangered Whooping Cranes, wild horses, bison and more than 270 species of birds in Alachua County. Activities include: Discovering more than 150 wintering birds, including the American Bald Eagle Biking the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail Saturday night dinner with a keynote speaker Silent Auction Wildlife and Birding Presentations There is a fee for registration that covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and shuttle service to bird-watching locations.

    • Florida Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Fest
      Fun takes flight at ButterflyFest: Admission to ButterflyFest is free! ButterflyFest is dedicated to increasing awareness of Florida's butterflies as fun, fascinating ambassadors to the natural world. Activities will promote inquiry and provide a call to action for the conservation and preservation of backyard wildlife and habitats. ButterflyFest offers something for everyone! Throughout the weekend, all ages can participate in fun and educational activities, including take-away crafts for children, informative workshops, and presentations on conservation and attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Take part in a special field trip or tour and shop for unique butterfly and garden gifts.

    • Gainesville Christmas Historic Home Tour
      Step back in time and kick-off the holidays by reserving your luxurious and cozy weekend away at one of our charming Bed & Breakfasts during Gainesville’s Annual Historic Holiday Homes Tour December 11–13. Lavishly decked for the holidays, each of our four downtown B&B’s are offering exclusive holiday packages; including two-night accommodations, holiday wine & cheese, and admission for two for the Holiday Historic Homes Tour on the evening of Saturday, December 12. For full details about the Holiday Historic Homes Tour visit the Matheson Museum website(http://www.mathesonmuseum.org/).

    • Historic Holiday
    • Historic Holiday Weekend Festival
      Gainesville hosts its seventh annual Historic Holiday Weekend Festival Dec. 10-12, 2010 in the heart of its Southeast Historic District. The weekend features guided tours of charming historic homes, including four of Gainesville’s bed and breakfast inns, as well as the Polar Express Holiday Train Show at the Matheson Museum and tree lighting at the historic Matheson House. This year will include a turn-of-the-century street festival on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 5-9 p.m. For additional information about special weekend vacation packages, visit our website at www.visitgainesville.com or phone Marcheta Keefer at the VisitGainesville toll-free at 866-778-5002 or 352-376-7720.

    • Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
      Step back in time at the 26th Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Fair at the Alachua County Fairgrounds on Jaunary 28 and 29 and February 3,4,and 5. Cheer on royal knights as they joust on horseback for their ladies' honor. Visit eight stages of continuous entertainment featuring gypsy dancing, full-flight falconry and incredible magic acts. Shop at the marketplace, where hundreds of artisans sell their medieval wares. Feast on food fit for a king, including giant turkey legs and bloomin' onions. For information call the City of Gainesville at 352-334-ARTS.

    • Hot Sauce and Pepper Festival
      Where they like it hot, hot, hot! The Hot Pepper Festival (now in its 14th year)celebrates all things hot, from peppers to spicy ice cream. The festival will take place at Harmony Gardens in Gainesville.

    • Kanapaha Spring Gardens Festival
      Every spring, Kanapaha hosts its Annual Spring Garden Festival, the region's premier horticultural event. The weekend affair features more than 200 booths offering plants, landscape displays, educational materials, arts and crafts, and food. Educational seminars and entertainment are offered throughout and both live and silent auctions offer many bargains on arts, crafts, plants, and gardening supplies.

    • Lucas Oil 2011 Racing Series at Gainesville Raceway
      Featuring race vehicles that range from five-second Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars to 15-second stockers, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is the premier series of its kind in drag racing. The series boasts the eight categories of Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street and whose racers make up the vast majority of entries at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national events.

    • Morningside Farm and Forest Festival
      The Farm and Forest Festival is the largest festival at Morningside Nature Center Living History Farm. The Festival, which takes place on April 25th, highlights North Central Florida rural life in 1870. Visitors can view historic-breed farm animals, hear period music, and observe traditional crafts and trades such as sheepshearing, spinning, weaving, and woodstove cooking. Horse-drawn wagon rides and crafts add to the merriment of this family-friendly event!

    • Morningside Nature Center - Farm and Forest Festival
      The Farm and Forest Festival Returns to Morningside Nature Center Saturday, April 24, 2010 Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for children under 3. The Farm and Forest Festival is the largest festival at Morningside Nature Center Living History Farm. The Festival, which takes place on April 24th, highlights North Central Florida rural life in 1870. Visitors can experience historic-breed farm animals, hear period music, and observe traditional crafts and trades such as spinning, weaving, and woodstove cooking. Horse-drawn wagon rides and crafts add to the merriment of this family-friendly event!

    • Morningside Nature Center Barnyard Buddies
      Every Saturday the living history farm comes to life with staff interpreting life on a rural 18th century farm. Morningside Nature Center has a farm, ee—i—ee—i—oh! On this farm youngsters and their parents can meet and greet animals by helping staff with the afternoon feeding. This FREE program begins at 3:00 pm and lasts about 45 minutes to an hour.

    • Spring Native Plant Sale at Morningside Nature Center!
      “Go Native” – it’s easy at the 2010 Spring Native Plant Sale at Morningside Nature Center. Take advantage of the largest offering of native plants in North Florida during the 2010 Spring Native Plant sale on Saturday, April 17th - open to the general public from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free expert plant advice at the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) booth Free Park-A-Plant service that allows you to shop hands-free while we tag, store and help load your plants Free naturalist-led wildflower walk at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday Family-friendly event Cash and checks only

    • University of Florida Homecoming Weekend
      Homecoming at UF is one of the largest celebrations in the world run completely by students.

  • High Springs Florida

    • High Springs Pioneer Days
      34th Annual High Springs Pioneer Days Event! High Springs celebrates its wild past with Pioneer Days, a two-day festival featuring music, food, an arts-and-crafts show, and fun for children. "Outlaws" roam the streets to tease tourists into attending the main action: a shootout at the railroad tracks.

    • High Springs Thursday Farmer's Markets
      Hours: Thursdays 2-6 pm A wonderful farmer's market featuring fresh produce, local breads and home made goods. There are often live music or entertainment groups as well.

    • Pedal/Paddle Challenge
      A Family Event for All Ages! The Pedal Paddle Challenge is being produced by the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society and includes a full day of activities for all ages. Participants will bike their way through the River Rise State Preserve and O’Leno State Park, and paddle the Sante Fe River upstream to River Rise Resort in order to complete the entire course. A specially marked “Family Route” will be available for all ages. Food and entertainment will also be provided to Challenge participants. The Pedal Paddle Challenge will test participants’ bike handling skills and endurance on trails through swamp land, sandy uplands and hills. Sag or bail out points will be available through the course. Schedule of Activities (all activities at River Rise Resort) 9:00 a.m. Registration and Start of Pedal portion of the Challenge 9:00-6:00 p.m. Lake and river swimming 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m. Turtle Talk with Jerry Johnston 2:00 p.m. Tube Race by High Springs Main Street 2:00-4:00 p.m. Kayak Exhibit and ‘Test Drives’ 3:00 p.m. Culminating Meal 4:00 p.m. Pedal Paddle Awards for Most Challenged Points Reached 4:00-6:00 p.m. Live Music with County Road Band

    • Santa Fe River Jam
      Live at the Santa Fe River Park at Poe Springs! Performances by LoCash Cowboys, Woodard Johnson, McKinley and Beggs, Roadhouse, and a tribute to Elvis by Teddy-Mac Don't forget your lawn chairs! Great Country Music.....Great Food & Fun for the entire family....

  • Melrose Florida

    • Open Air Arts
      Melrose Bay Art Gallery, Bellamy Road Fine Arts and Shake Rag Artists' Collective will host this 4TH annual Melrose "en plein air" event. Artists from the region will be making art to celebrate the beauty and heritage of north Florida. As always, the celebration will include art, music, food and festivities.

  • Micanopy Florida

    • 36th Annual Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival
      Micanopy Florida is a scenic location for a fall arts & crafts festival. Micanopy is the town that time forgot. This quiet little town bustles with activity as the vendors pour into town and fill Cholokka Boulevard. Many local artists, crafters, and musicians participate in the festival, as well as other artists from across the southeast. The tradition and ever evolving quality of the show attracts a broad range of the buying public. Along with the two hundred displays of arts and crafts there are many other attractions. The main stage plays host to a variety of good time music throughout the festival and an old time auction of items donated by participating vendors on Saturday afternoon. Today, Micanopy has entered the new century with strong roots to the past. It maintains the small town atmosphere as evident by the involvement of the local citizenry. Along with the many homes being restored, our town boasts an array of historic landmarks; the Micanopy Historical Society Museum and Archives, a variety of shops of art, rare books, antiques, casual eateries, and one of the finest Bed and Breakfasts in the area. Also, many beautification improvements have been made along the boulevard. This environment makes the perfect setting for one of the town's biggest events, The Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival! For the past 34 years, thousands have gathered under the old oak trees for the Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival. The festival is sponsored by a committee comprised of fifteen local nonprofit groups ranging from churches to youth groups to historical organizations. All of the proceeds from the festival go back to these groups to assist in their annual operating costs. The many local artists, crafters, and musicians, represent works from all over the southeast. The tradition and ever-evolving quality of the show attracts a broad range of the public. Along with over two hundred displays of arts and crafts, there are other attractions. The main stage plays host to a variety of good-time music throughout the festival and an old-time auction of items donated by participating vendors on Saturday afternoon.

    • Doc Hollywood Days
      As depicted in the movie “Doc Hollywood”, starring Michael J. Fox, doctors who serve rural areas possess rare and special qualities. In an effort to recognize and honor rural practitioners, the Micanopy Area Chamber of Commerce has planned a two-day event to commemorate the 1991 film and honor a true “Doc Hollywood.” The setting for the events will be Micanopy, Florida, a small historic town with a population just over 600, where “Doc Hollywood” was filmed! For more information, please contact the Micanopy Area Chamber of Commerce. P.O. Box 331 207 Cholokka Blvd Micanopy, Florida 32667

  • Newberry Florida

    • 65th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival
      Each year the Newberry Watermelon Festival committee works hard to improve the festival and its activities. The watermelons are always provided from a local grower and given to the festival goers for FREE. We have beauty pageants for ages 0-22 years. Our pageants are held at the Newberry Oak View Middle School Auditorium starting on Friday for girls ages 5-16 years old and on Saturday for the boys and girls ages 0-4 years old. Our Queen's pageant for young ladies ages 17-22 years old are held on Friday with the Queen being crowned on Saturda. Our 2008 Master of Ceremonies for the pageants was 93.7FM K-Country’s very own Midday DJ, Mr. Lewis Stokes. Lewis has graciously volunteered his time and talents to our festival pageants for several years now. Some of the favorite festival activities started many years ago and still continue today. These activities include contests for watermelon eating, seed spitting, hog calling, pie/cake baking, and of course the “Big Melon.” In 2005 we added a FREE concert on the Saturday night of the festival. In 2008, our concert opened with Newberry’s own, Mr. Mark Copeland. Mark has provided the festival and pageants with his entertainment for many years. Then, Cowboy Crush headlined our 2008 Festival concert.

    • Dudley Farm Fall Harvest
      October and November, visitors can help harvest heirloom crops of field corn, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins.

    • Dudley Farm Historic Preservation in Progress
      Date: August and September, 2009. Description: Park Service staff and volunteers carry out the preservation projects necessary to maintain this National Register property. THE FARM BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 2009. This preservation work provides an educational opportunity for visitors to see the behind-the-scenes work involved in properly conserving the historic structures and landscape so that they are preserved for future generations to enjoy. For these two months the farmstead will be open for self-guided tours while the buildings get a rest from traffic and use. Fees: Regular park admission of $4.00 Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142 Park History: The Historic Dudley Farm is a working farm demonstrating the agricultural history of Florida during the 19th and 20th centuries. The farm rests on approximately 2,598 acres and consists of 18 buildings. Park staff members in period clothing perform daily chores, raising crops, and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants. Deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and bluebirds are still seen in the fields. The park has a visitor center, picnic area, and nature trail. Self-guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Group tours can be reserved one month in advance. Smoking and pets are not allowed at the farmstead.

    • Dudley Farm Plow Days
      Mule teams and draft horses demonstrate old-time farming before the days of tractors as they prepare the fields for spring planting. Demonstrations held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

    • Dudley Farm Spring Planting Days
      Date: Last week of March and early April 2009. Call the park for specific dates and times. Description: Come and participate in the traditional planting of the Dudley family heirloom corn and gardens. Fees: Regular park admission of $4.00 per vehicle, up to 8 passengers. Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142. Farm History: The Historic Dudley Farm is a working farm demonstrating the agricultural history of Florida during the 19th and 20th centuries. The farm rests on approximately 2,598 acres and consists of 18 buildings. Park staff members in period clothing perform daily chores, raising crops, and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants. Deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and bluebirds are still seen in the fields. The park has a visitor center, picnic area, and nature trail. Self-guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Group tours can be reserved one month in advance. Smoking and pets are not allowed at the farmstead.

    • Evening at Dudley Farm & Dessert Gala
      EVENING AT DUDLEY & DESSERT GALA Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009. 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Description: This gala event is a chance to experience the evening atmosphere of the historic Dudley farmstead and enjoy homemade desserts and the full spring blooming of the gardens. There will be music in the evening air and good conversation while strolling through the rose garden or walking through the 100 year old pear orchard. Sponsored by the Friends of Dudley Farm. Proceeds go towards special projects to support the farm. For more information and to purchase tickets call 352-472-2004 or 352-2059. Fees: $25.00 per couple, $15.00 single ticket. The Historic Dudley Farm is a working farm demonstrating the agricultural history of Florida during the 19th and 20th centuries. The farm rests on approximately 2,598 acres and consists of 18 buildings. Park staff members in period clothing perform daily chores, raising crops, and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants. Deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and bluebirds are still seen in the fields. The park has a visitor center, picnic area, and nature trail. Self-guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Group tours can be reserved one month in advance. Smoking and pets are not allowed at the farmstead.

    • Sugar Cane Grinding at Dudley Farm
      Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009. 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Description: This is the annual Cane Grinding and commemoration of Miss Myrtle Dudley's birthday. This event continues the farm family tradition of grinding sugar cane and boiling cane syrup, making this a unique old-time community gathering. Visitors can tour the farm and see other traditional activities and craft demonstrations or enjoy a wagon ride. Syrup and farm products are sold on this day. Farm History: The Historic Dudley Farm is a working farm demonstrating the agricultural history of Florida during the 19th and 20th centuries. The farm rests on approximately 2,598 acres and consists of 18 buildings. Park staff members in period clothing perform daily chores, raising crops, and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants. Deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and bluebirds are still seen in the fields. The park has a visitor center, picnic area, and nature trail. Self-guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Group tours can be reserved one month in advance. Smoking and pets are not allowed at the farmstead.

  • Windsor Florida

    • 25th Annual Windsor Zucchini Festival
      8:00AM-4:30PM When spring has sprung and zucchinis are spreading on the ground -- once again it will be time for the Annual Windsor Zucchini Festival. Events include: Zucchinithon Fun Run Duke of Zuke & Zuqueenie Pageant Arts & Crafts Vendor Show Cook-A-Zuke Contest Zucchini Contest: Carving, Biggest, Ugliest Fried Zucchini - Zucchini Ice Cream Live Band providing music Food - Food - Food Raffle The Famous Kazucchini Marching Band (played in the Doc Hollywood movie)