FEST 23

Downtown Gainesville 111 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Party with thousands of music fans for a weekend of live music featuring hundreds of bands. Multiple venues transform downtown Gainesville for three days as the annual independent music festival with a lineup of over 350 bands, comedians and professional wrestlers. Headliners in 2025 include The Get Up Kids, Dillinger...

Roll out the Barrel! It’s Blocktoberfest at Blackadder!

Blackadder Brewing Company 618 NW 60th St Ste A, Gainesville, FL, United States

Break out the lederhosen and dirndls! It's time for the 9th Annual Blocktoberfest! Have barrels of fun with live Bavarian music, traditional German food from Strega Nona’s Oven and Uppercrust, specialty brewed Blocktoberfest Lager and a variety of German-style beers, and commemorative steins with refill discounts. Looking for a little...

The Hope Weekend – 20th Anniversary at UF Champion’s Club and Hawkstone Country Club

Champions Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 121 Gale Lemerand Dr., Gainesville, FL, United States +1 more

Join The Hope Weekend, Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure’s premier annual fundraiser and their most inspiring event of the year. Celebrating 20 years of relentless progress, this milestone weekend will honor the families, scientists, donors, and community members who are making a cure for DYT1 dystonia possible. The Hope...

Cancer Chomp 2025 at UF Cancer and Genetics Research Complex

UF Cancer & Genetics Research Complex 2033 Mowry Rd., Gainesville, FL, United States

The 4th annual Cancer Chomp takes place at the Cancer & Genetics Research Complex on the beautiful University of Florida campus. This free event includes a 5K, Kid Zone, charitable organizations, mini horses, a variety of UF Health services, the UF Gator Mascots, the UF Gator Band, and more. This...

Free

Fall Plant Sale and Orchid Show

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens 4700 SW 58th Dr., Gainesville, FL, United States

Each October, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens holds an Open House & Fall Plant Sale, in conjunction with the Gainesville Orchid Society, inviting visitors to see the facility ADMISSION FREE. In addition to viewing the botanical gardens, approximately 50 booth will be set up selling a wide variety of plants. The American...

Free

Orchids in the Garden at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens 4700 SW 58th Dr., Gainesville, FL, United States

See beautiful floor displays of blooming orchids highlight this popular annual event for one day only, Saturday, October 25. The show is hosted by the Gainesville Orchid Society at the annual Kanapaha Botanical Gardens during fall plant sale and open house. Orchids and orchid supplies are offered for sale. Educational...

Free

Florida Bat Festival

Lubee Bat Conservancy 1309 NW 192nd Ave, Gainesville, FL, United States

Meet the world’s largest bat species up close while supporting conservation at the 21st Annual Florida Bat Festival! Celebrate Halloween with live music, food trucks, craft beer, activities for all ages and of course, amazing bats. Batty attire encouraged, fun guaranteed!  

$5 – $45

History of the Death Care Industry in Alachua County

Matheson History Museum 513 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Join local historian Don Davis and a panel of local funeral home industry leaders for a unique presentation on the history of the death care industry in Alachua County. Learn about the county’s many funeral homes and cemeteries and how the industry has changed over the years. Admission is free...

Free

The Gainesville Orchestra Presents “Harvest Gold”

Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville, FL, United States

Experience an evening with the Gainesville Orchestra and their season opener "Harvest Gold." Enjoy Tchaikovskey's powerful "Fifth," Florence Price and the Halloween-themed "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." The 2025-2026 season celebrates 250 years of cultural tapestry with performances at the Santa Fe College Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall.

Event Series Drag Bingo at First Magnitude

Drag Bingo at First Magnitude Brewing Company

First Magnitude Brewing Company 1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL, United States

🌈 Grab your friends and enjoy a game of bingo fit for a Qween with Drag Bingo in the First Magnitude beer garden. The Pride Center of North Central Florida will be selling bingo cards ($2 each of 3 for $5) and you’ll have the opportunity to win some awesome...

Free

Perspectives in the Parks: Connecting Communities with the Outdoors at Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Center

Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park 1500 NW 45th Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Learn how to help communities benefit economically while promoting the enjoyment public lands. Presentation by Austin Burton. Join at Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Center on the first Sunday of each month for Perspectives in the Park, a monthly program featuring experts in their field sharing information on a variety of...

Free

Florida: A History in Pictures

Matheson History Museum 513 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

View highlights from the popular Facebook group “Florida: A History in Pictures,” with founders Jeff Davies and Mike McGinness. Learn how their group of 300,000 members inspired a bestselling book featuring photos from historical institutions, including the Matheson History Museum, and personal photos from the group’s members. Their presentation focuses...

Free

Veterans Day at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens 4700 SW 58th Dr., Gainesville, FL, United States

On Veterans Day, any active or retired military get free admission into Kanapaha.

“Chambers v. Florida and the Criminal Justice Revolution” Author Talk

Matheson History Museum 513 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

Learn how the 1940 Supreme Court decision in Chambers v. Florida banned coerced confessions and helped launch the criminal procedure revolution. Join Dr. Richard Brust as he discusses the 1933 trial in Pompano, FL that sparked this chain of events and how the landmark ruling still impacts us today. Presented...

Downtown Festival and Art Show

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

The nationally recognized Downtown Festival & Art Show transforms historic downtown Gainesville into a masterful blend of art, music, and entertainment. Presented by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, this juried fine art festival celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2025. On November 15 & 16, 10:00...

“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas”

Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center 250 Gale Lemerand Dr, Gainesville, FL, United States

Celebrate the season with "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas" by Chip Davis, a holiday tradition for over 40 years. Experience classic hits, dazzling multimedia effects and 15 musicians playing 20+ instruments in an immersive show that captures the magic of the Christmas holiday.

Event Series Grief Care Support Course

Grief Care Support Course at Trinity United Methodist Church

Trinity United Methodist Church 4000 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL, United States

For anyone who has lost a loved one, the feelings of sadness, loneliness and heartbreak can be unbearable. Grief support gives hope and encouragement to those who are grieving. In this 11 week course, support group members learn ways to accept their loss and move forward on their grief journeys....

Festival of Trees at the Gainesville Woman’s Club

Gainesville Woman's Club 2809 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL, United States

The Gainesville Womans Club will host a Festival of Trees on November 20, 2025 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse on University Avenue. In addition to Santa’s Workshop there will be Auction of fully decorated trees, door prizes , a drawing for a $1000 gift card tree, silent auction ,...

$40.00

Opening Weekend of Roald Dahl’s Beloved Story “James and the Giant Peach” Live on Stage

Gainesville Community Playhouse 4039 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL, United States

Experience a family-friendly holiday musical as Roald Dahl's beloved story "James and the Giant Peach" comes to life on stage. Follow the adventures of young James as he escapes from his conniving aunties in a magi-potion-induced giant peach with a group of human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. James' quick...

$15 – $25
Event Series Art Walk Night at First Magnitude

Art Walk Night at First Magnitude

First Magnitude Brewing Company 1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL, United States

✨ It’s not every day that your beer comes with a side of live art, music, and creative connection, but it is every last Friday at First Magnitude! First Magnitude Brewing Company brings back Art Walk nights - a curated gathering of local artists and makers, live music, food trucks,...

Free