Events in Gainesville & Alachua County
Kick off a weekend of art displays, live music and football with What’s Good®. Pack The Swamp for Florida’s first football game of the season. Meet artists and peruse local art galleries on the self-guided Artwalk Gainesville tour. Browse pop-ups at the Thornebrook Tailgate event and Wooly Mammoth Night Market. Relax with island vibes at Heartwood Soundstage during the Gainesville Reggae Festival and Jimmy Buffet Fest. Open up a new chapter with the month-long Gainesville Reads festival at The Lynx bookstore.
Events & Festivals
Aug 28
Thursday Night Swing Dancing at Rosa B. Williams Center
Rosa B. Williams Center
Aug 29
Now Open: Escape Rooms, Axe Throwing, Rage Rooms and Splatter Rooms at Gamers Excape
Gamers Excape Gainesville
Aug 29
Pottery and Sculpture at Artisans’ Guild Gallery
Artisans’ Guild Gallery
Aug 29
Gallery Spaces Showcase the Local Art Scene at Artwalk Gainesville
Downtown Gainesville
Aug 29
Big Bazar Block Party
How Bazar
Music & Performance
Aug 29
Aug 29
De Lions of Jah at the Free Fridays Concert Series
Bo Diddley Plaza
Aug 30
Music from Disney Stars at Bop to the Top at Heartwood Soundstage
Heartwood Soundstage
Aug 31
Jimmy Buffet Fest – The Labor Day Weekend Show at Heartwood Soundstage
Heartwood Soundstage
Sep 5
Free Fridays Concert Series
Bo Diddley Plaza
Arts & Theater
Aug 28
Aug 29
Tailwhip Comedy’s Stand Up Showdown at CordaRoy’s Showroom
CordaRoy’s Showroom
Aug 29
“Sinners” at the Hippodrome Cinema, August 29-31
Hippodrome Cinema
Aug 30
Children’s Puppet Short Film Festival at Legacy Park
Legacy Park Multipurpose Center
Sep 5
Tailwhip Comedy’s Stand Up Showdown at CordaRoy’s Showroom
CordaRoy’s Showroom
Seasonal
Sep 13
Waldo Sweet Potato Festival and Car Show
Waldo City Square
Oct 11
A Weekend of Art and Fun at the Annual Thornebrook Fall Arts Festival
Shoppes At Thornebrook
Oct 11
The Great Pumpkin Bash at Bo Diddley Plaza (2025)
Bo Diddley Plaza
Oct 24
Roll out the Barrel! It’s Blocktoberfest at Blackadder!
Blackadder Brewing Company
Oct 26
Fall Fest at Trinity United Methodist Church
Trinity United Methodist Church
Craft Breweries
Aug 29
Football Friday: Florida vs. LIU at Swamp Head Brewery
Swamp Head Brewery
Aug 29
Art Walk Night at First Magnitude
First Magnitude Brewing Company
Aug 30
Ales and Grails: The Quest Continues at Blackadder Brewing
Blackadder Brewing Company
Sep 3
Open Mic Night at Swamp Head Brewery
Swamp Head Brewery
Sep 7
Birds and Brews Guided Bird Walk
First Magnitude Brewing Company
Pop-Up Markets
Aug 29
Weekend Indoor Market at Grove Galleria, August 29-31
Grove Galleria
Aug 29
Aug 30
Back-to-School Fill-A-Bag Clothing Sale at Humane Society of North Central Florida Thrift Store
Humane Society of North Central Florida Thrift Store
Oct 25
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale, October 25-29
Friends of the Library
Nov 20
Festival of Trees at the Gainesville Woman’s Club
Gainesville Woman’s Club
Museum & Galleries
Aug 29
SPARC Place Artwalk Reception at Oakview Studios
Oakview Park
Aug 29
Exhibit Reception for Continuum: Collective Works from UF Arts in Medicine
Gainesville Fine Arts Association Gallery
Aug 30
Little Sparks at the Cade Museum
The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Aug 30
Saturday Open Hours at the High Springs Historical Society Museum
High Springs Historical Society Museum
Aug 30
Maker Workshops at the Cade Museum
The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Outdoors
Aug 30
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Sep 6
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Sep 7
Perspectives in the Parks: Reclaiming Sacred Ground
Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park
Sep 13
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Sep 20
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Sports & Fans
Aug 29
Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast: Volleyball at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center
Alachua County Sports and Event Center
Aug 29
Chomp the Block: The Official Block Party of the Florida Gators
Celebration Pointe
Aug 30
Ride Lite Dressage Shows One and Two at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center
Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center
Aug 30
Aug 30
Gators Football Home Opener vs. Long Island University
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Farmers Markets
Aug 29
High Springs Farmers Market
Downtown High Springs
Aug 30
Waldo Farmers and Flea Market
Waldo Farmers and Flea Market
Aug 30
Haile Farmers Market
Haile Village Center
Aug 30
Alachua County Farmers Market
Alachua County Farmers Market
Sep 1
Grove Street Farmers Market
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company
Workshops & Educational
Sep 3
UF Lecture Explores Confluence of Art and Science through Florida’s Springs at the Harn Museum
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Sep 3
DivorceCare – Weekly Divorce Recovery Support Group
Westside Baptist Church
Sep 3
Sep 4
Sep 7
Bites & Brunch
Sep 6
Tea Party at Haile Village Bistro
Haile Village Bistro
Oct 4
Tea Party at Haile Village Bistro
Haile Village Bistro
Nov 1
Tea Party at Haile Village Bistro
Haile Village Bistro
Dec 6
Tea Party at Haile Village Bistro
Haile Village Bistro
Jan 3
Tea Party at Haile Village Bistro
Haile Village Bistro