Gainesville Reads Keynote: Edwidge Danticat

Bo Diddley Plaza 111 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Join the culminating event of the 2025 Gainesville Reads festival featuring Edwidge Danticat in conversation with Lauren Groff and Leah Rosenberg. Gainesville Reads features the collection of essays "We're Alone" by Edwidge Danticat with connected workshops, lectures, concerts and additional free programming. Edwidge Danticat is a Haitian-American writer whose work...

Rock with The Hails at Vivid Music Hall

Vivid Music Hall 201 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Rock with the unique indie-pop rock sound of The Hails with Edgehill, Oceanic and Jupiter Bloom. GA and balcony seating available. Ages 18 and up. Following a string of encounters too strange to be coincidence, Robbie Kingsley, Franco Solari, Dylan McCue, Andre Escobar and Zach Levy came together to form...

Run for Your Life 5K Color Run at Depot Park

Depot Park 200 SE Depot Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Run or walk for a cause at the Run for Your Life 5K Color Run. The fun, family-friendly weekend event includes raffle prizes, breakfast, UF HealthStreet screenings, narcan demonstration by UF Health Florida Recovery Center, F45 instructor-led warm-up session, kids activity area, special appearance by Albert and Alberta, and more....

$40

University of Florida Symphony Orchestra: Concert for a Cause at First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church 300 SW 2nd Ave., Gainesville, United States

Join the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Tiffany Lu, for this off-campus reprise of its first concert of the season. A free-will offering will be received to benefit Made for More, a mentorship program for student-athletes. Featured pieces include Tragic Overture, Brahms; and Piano Concerto No....

Free

Alt-Rock with Parrotfish, Madwoman and Dogs Can Wear Hats at The Wooly

The Wooly 20 N Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Come see Parrotfish, Madwoman, and Visit Neptune at The Wooly on September 28th. Parrotfish will be playing "The Implication," "Miami," and all of their other favorites and latest music. Tickets are now on sale, join the party! 🎉

$12

Southern Rock with JJ Grey and Mofro at Heartwood Soundstage

Heartwood Soundstage 619 Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Experience a powerful voice with a blend of southern soul, rock and blues at Heartwood Soundstage. JJ Grey and Mofro are known for gritty vocals and deeply personal songwriting. Themes of redemption, rebirth and good times are on display. Many songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his...

Wheatus (acoustic) at Heartwood Soundstage

Heartwood Soundstage 619 Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Blend pop, rock and clever lyrics with a special acoustic set by Wheatus frontman Brendan B. Brown. Wheatus burst onto the scene in 2000 with their hit "Teenage Dirtbag," which topped charts in Australia and reached the top 10 in the UK and Germany. Opening the night is Gabrielle Sterbenz,...

$25 – $37

“The Roses” at the Hippdrome Cinema, October 2-12

Hippodrome Cinema 25 SE 2nd Pl., Gainesville, United States

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Coleman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing - as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and...

Funk and Psych-Pop with Magic City Hippies with Rohna at Heartwood Soundstage

Heartwood Soundstage 619 Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Don’t miss a night of dancing and live music with Magic City Hippies and Rohna. Miami’s Magic City Hippies bring their sun-soaked blend of funk, psych-pop, and indie grooves to Gainesville. Known for high-energy performances at festivals like Bonnaroo and ACL, the trio tours behind Enemies (2025), their groove-driven breakup...

$27.20

North Central Florida Blues Society Blues Challenge

Heartwood Soundstage 619 Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Discover which band will represent North Central Florida in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. An affiliate of the Blues Foundation, the North Central Florida Blues Society holds a regional competition, which allows for a winning band, solo/duo, and self-produced CD to compete as a representative of the North Central...

$13.12

Indie Folk with Arts Fishing Club at Heartwood Soundstage

Heartwood Soundstage 619 Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Arts Fishing Club is a Nashville-based indie-folk band known for their energetic live performances and heartfelt lyricism. Led by Christopher Kessenich, the band blends elements of rock, folk, and indie music, often compared to bands like Mt. Joy and Wilderado. Their music captures a sense of adventure and camaraderie, reflecting...

$18.75

“Before Instagram” Sweetwater Print Co-operative 30th Anniversary Exhibition Opening Reception

The Historic Thomas Center 306 NE 6th Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Explore the art of printmaking through the work of Sweetwater Print Co-operative members past and present. Educational displays of printmaking tools include a 120 year old Kelsey Star letterpress, etching plates, lithography stones, and much more. The exhibit is on view through January 20, 2026.

Bingo Loco at Vivid Music Hall

Vivid Music Hall 201 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Bingo Loco brings the world’s most outrageous live bingo rave back to Gainesville! Get ready for a 2.5 hour interactive party experience like no other: epic dance-offs, rave rounds, confetti explosions, throwback hits, and wild prizes like vacations, cars, air fryers, and even lawnmowers.

$33

Movie Night at Bo Diddley Plaza featuring Wicked

Bo Diddley Plaza 111 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

About the film: Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take...

Free

The Great Pumpkin Bash at Bo Diddley Plaza (2025)

Bo Diddley Plaza 111 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Celebrate the arrival of fall right in the heart of downtown Gainesville! The City of Gainesville is thrilled to invite you to the inaugural Great Pumpkin Bash at Bo Diddley Plaza. Enjoy a variety of festive activities including a corn maze, games, pumpkin patch, delicious food, face painting, a themed...

Free

The Shoddy Beatles at The Wooly

The Wooly 20 N Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

The Shoddy Beatles! Back at The Wooly for the first time since 2023 2 Sets! Doors at 8:30pm $15 presale / $20 at the door

$15

Strength in Strides…Supporting Survivors One Step at a Time at Bo Diddley Plaza

Bo Diddley Plaza 111 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Step with Peaceful Paths for the inaugural Strength in Strides awareness walk benefiting survivors of domestic violence. This brand-new fall initiative is a downtown walk to spread awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The short 20-minute walk starts and ends at Bo Diddley Plaza, followed by music, food trucks and fun....

Free

“Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” at the Hippodrome Cinema

Hippodrome Cinema 25 SE 2nd Pl., Gainesville, United States

Scooby and the gang reunite in search of mysteries and adventure, when they chance upon a remote island in the Louisiana Bayou inhabited by an undead pirate and his zombie crew. G 1998 Animation/Comedy 1h 17m

Cade Prize for Inventivity Awards

The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention 811 S Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Join business leaders, investors, and the startup community for the 16th year of the Cade Prize for Inventivity! Meet the finalists, see live pitch presentations, and find out who will walk away with over $100k worth of prizes as the Cade announces the grand prize and category winners. The Cade...

$100