What’s Good® Guide of Weekly Events in Gainesville and Alachua County, September 12-18, 2024
Kickoff an action-packed weekend and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with What’s Good®. Enjoy tailgating and pre-game festivities at The Swamp as Texas A&M takes on Florida in an SEC matchup. Be immersed in Latin American history with film screenings, concerts and special events during the multi-day Gainesville Latino Film Festival.
Read on for more of What’s Good®,
Your partners at Visit Gainesville, Alachua County
Be Informed: The below information was accurate at the time of publishing.
Please contact organizers directly to double-check details.
Discover Latino History and Culture with Multiple Days of Screenings and Events at the Gainesville Latino Film Festival
Thursday, September 12 – Sunday, September 29 | Multiple Venues
The Gainesville Latino Film Festival is an immersive experience complete with film screenings, live music, art exhibits, dance performances and more. Explore this year’s film festival theme, “Social Memory in Latin America.” Selected films include documentaries, dramas and animation beginning on Thursday, September 12 at the Harn Museum of Art. Learn more about the films and download the festival program online.
Additional activities include an opening ceremony during Museum Nights at the Harn Museum on Thursday. A Latin concert and dance night with Tropix and Gilberto de Paz on Saturday, September 14 and the Taste of the World International Food Festival on Friday, September 27.
Admission is free.
Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County
Immerse Yourself in a Rich Cultural Experience at Museum Nights: Noche de Museo
Thursday, September 12, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Harn Museum of Art
3259 Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32608
The Harn Museum of Art extends its hours into the night for a vibrant celebration of Hispanic/LatinX/Latine heritage. UF student organizations highlight the traditions that shape these dynamic communities. Explore art exhibitions and art making activities.
A film screening of This Stolen Country of Mine at 6 p.m. helps kick off the Gainesville Latino Film Festival. At 6:30 p.m., Gator Salsa provides an evening of Cuban salsa and bachata dancing, and all experience levels are welcome. Free food will be provided. Admission is free.
image: Alfredo Ramos Martinez, “Reina Xóchitl (Xóchitl Queen),” (detail), undated
Cheer on the Orange and Blue as Gators Football Hosts Texas A&M
Saturday, September 14, 3:30 p.m. | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
157 Gale Lemerand Dr., Gainesville, FL 32608
Week three features an SEC matchup with Florida and Texas A&M. SEC Network returns to UF Plaza of the Americas to broadcast SEC Nation at 9 a.m. Plan to arrive early and click here for game-day details including parking, mobile ticketing, pre-game festivities and more.
Photo by Florida Athletics/Matt Stamey
Show Your Team Spirit at Chomp The Block the Official Block Party of the Florida Gators®
Friday, September 13, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Celebration Pointe
4949 SW Celebration Pointe Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608
Join Chomp The Block on select Friday nights before Gators Football home games. Enjoy UF celebrity appearances, live music with the Jamie Davis Band, plus an entertainment zone with bounce houses, face painting and balloon animals for the kids. Enjoy food, drinks and sweet treats from restaurants located nearby. Admission is free.
Discover the Secrets of “Bee-Luther Hatchee,” a Compelling Tale of Truth and Identity Opening this Weekend at Acrosstown
Friday, September 13 – Sunday, September 29 | Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
3501 SW 2nd Ave., Suite O, Gainesville, FL 32607
Bee-Luther-Hatchee presents an intricate plot to confront a complicated question of who has the right to tell another person’s story. The play follows Shelita Burns, an African American editor and publisher of “Bee-luther-hatchee,” the prize-winning autobiography of a 72-year-old black woman. When Shelita decides to deliver the award in person, she is shocked to find out the actual author is a white man. Shelita accuses him of a hoax, while he defends the book as a truthful work of imagination.
Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County
Launch Into the Weekend with AstroJazz from Dionysus at the Free Fridays Concert Series
Friday, September 13, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Bo Diddley Plaza
Downtown Gainesville
Head downtown for a night of jazz fusion at Bo Diddley Plaza. The region’s longest-running free outdoor concert series features a jam session with the four-piece jazz-funk band Dionysus. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy live music as the sun sets. Enjoy food and drinks from walkable restaurants and cafes in downtown Gainesville. Admission is free.
Look to the Sky and Observe the Moon with UF Astronomy and Alachua County
Saturday, September 14, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center
210 SE 134th Ave., Micanopy, FL 32667
Join nearly 3,000 events across the globe and learn about Earth’s nearest neighbor during NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. Telescopes from UF Astrophysics and Astronomy departments help visitors get a closer look at the moon. Enjoy food trucks located onsite. Pre-purchase parking passes are available for purchase online.
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary Season of the Gainesville Community Band at “Swing is King”
Sunday, September 15, 3 p.m. | Santa Fe College Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall
3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606
The Gainesville Community Band, under the direction of R. Gary Langford, presents Swing is King, a tribute to the big band era. In the 1930s and ‘40s, big band swing music was the dominant music genre in the country. Performed by large musical ensembles with saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm sections, swing music created stars of band leaders like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman.
Enjoy an Afternoon of Live Music on the Porch to Celebrate Sarah’s Birthday Bash with the Matheson History Museum
Saturday, September 14, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. | The Historic Matheson House Behind the Matheson History Museum
513 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601
Join a celebration of Sarah Hamilton Matheson’s birthday with live music and cake. Sarah Matheson was the last resident of the historic Matheson House, which was bequeathed to the Museum on her death in 1996. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy music from Patchwork performing from the front porch. Admission is free.
Enjoy an Entertaining Mashup of Compelling Drama and Sitcom Comedy at the Stage Production of “Perfect Arrangement”
Now through Sunday, September 22 | Hippodrome Theatre
25 SE 2nd Pl., Gainesville, FL 32601
The Hippodrome Theatre and UF School of Theatre and Dance blend zany sitcom antics with compelling drama based on true events from the early days of the gay rights movement. Perfect Arrangement follows two closeted U.S. State Department workers striving to uphold their facades in 1950s America.
Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with Local Events
Sunday, September 15 – Tuesday, October 15
Film Screenings, Live Music, Food and More at the Gainesville Latino Film Festival
Thursday, September 12 – Sunday, September 29
Fiesta Latina with The Tropix at One Love Café
Sunday, September 15, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Latin Night with Elio Piedra at Bo Diddley Plaza
Friday, September 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Viva Museum at the Florida Museum of Natural History
Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Upstage at the UF Phillips Center with Tres Souls
Saturday, September 21, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Taste of the World International Food Festival at Matheson History Museum
Friday, September 27, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Exhibitions featuring Latin American Art include Metamorphosis, Windows and Mirrors, In Our Time and a special installation in Highlights from the Modern Collection at the Harn Museum of Art
Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays: 1 – 5 pm
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Pop-Up Markets and Retail Shopping
Running Shoes, Hiking Gear and More at the Reopening of Lloyd Clarke Sports
Thursday, September 12, 9:30 a.m.
Homecoming Dress Kick Off at Dillard’s at the Oaks Mall
Saturday, September 14, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Shop local boutiques and national brands at Butler Enterprises, Celebration Pointe, The Oaks Mall and Shoppes at Thornebrook.
Arts & Theatre
Go Behind the Scenes with the “Queen of Disco” at Summer: The Donna Summer Musical at Star Center Theatre
Now through Sunday, September 22
Discover the story of how Donna Summer broke through barriers to rise from a gospel choir voice to the record-breaking dance floor diva. The vibrant musical features iconic chart-topping hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff.”
See a Moving Story Set in the American Education System at Pipeline at UF Constans Theatre
Thursday, September 12 – Sunday, September 22
Events & Festivals
Learn About Aquatic Ecology at Family Fishing Day at UF/IFAS Fishing Ponds
Saturday, September 14, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Introduction to Permaculture with Joe Pierce at Mosswood Bakehouse
Sunday, September 15, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Kickoff Alachua County’s Big Read with a Celebration of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God at Alachua County Library District Headquarters
Wednesday, September 18, 6 p.m.
Music & Performance
Blues with Moondog at One Love Café
Thursday, September 12, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Classic Rock with The Shambles at the Live on the Lawn Concert Series at Heartwood Soundstage
Thursday, September 12, 6:30 p.m.
Indie Music with Two Bands and One DJ at Indie Demolition Night at Loosey’s Downtown
Thursday, September 12, 8 p.m.
Jazz with Eko Vizion Meusik at Baby J’s Bar
Thursday, September 12, 8 p.m.
Bluegrass with Boilin’ Oil at Lightnin’ Salvage
Friday, September 13, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Jazz and Funk with Uncle Morty’s Rhythm Cream at One Love Café
Friday, September 13, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Blues with Dr Jules Cool Blues Trio at Top Hog BBQ Bourbon and Blues
Friday, September 13, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Singer-Songwriter Jason Eady with Kyle Keller at Heartwood Soundstage
Friday, September 13, 8 p.m.
Chamber-Folk with The Wirebirds at Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall
Friday, September 13, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Post-Punk and Goth with Vazum at Loosey’s Downtown
Friday, September 13, 8 p.m.
Motown with Raftus Brown at One Love Café
Saturday, September 14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Jazz with Brazil Side B at Jazz on the Green at Celebration Pointe
Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Blues with Mister Aullie at Lightnin’ Salvage
Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Noche de Baile with Tropix and Gilberto de Paz at Bo Diddley Plaza
Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
DJ Zero Cool and DJ Chelsea at Taylor Swift Brat To-Go End of Summer Dance Party at Capones Nightclub
Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m.
Shrek Rave at The Wooly
Saturday, September 14, 8 p.m.
Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk and Soul All Vinyl Set with DJ Waxatom at Baby J’s Bar
Saturday, September 14, 9 p.m.
Comedy with Chris Kattan at The Wooly
Sunday, September 15, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Percussion and Euphonium Recital with The Moreau | VanTuinen Duo at UF School of Music
Sunday, September 15, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Pianist Douglas Jurs Guest Artist Recital at UF School of Music
Monday, September 16, 7:20 p.m.
Traditional Irish Session at Lightnin’ Salvage
Tuesday, September 17, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Jazz with Ben Champion Trio at Public and General
Tuesday, September 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Jazz with The Wave Mechanics at One Love Café
Wednesday, September 18, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Singer-Songwriter Kyle Keller and Skillshare Workshops at Community Nights at Heartwood Soundstage
Wednesday, September 18, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Metal with (hed)PE at Loosey’s Downtown
Wednesday, September 18, 7 p.m.
Craft Breweries
Local craft breweries serve refreshments and make a perfect gathering place after a day on the water or hiking the trails. Enjoy live music and special events. Learn more about the Alachua County Ale Trail at visitgainesville.com/sippinseven. Cheers!
Football Fridays at Swamp Head Brewery
Friday, September 13, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Kick-off Fridays at First Magnitude Brewing Company
Friday, September 13, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Reggae with 352 Easy Crew at Cypress and Grove Brewing Company
Friday, September 13, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Blues and Rock with Daryl Hance at Cypress and Grove Brewing Company
Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Line Dancing at Swamp Head Brewery
Wednesday, September 18, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Summer is great time for a Pedal, Paddle, Pub adventure.
Find inspiration at visitgainesville.com
U-Picks and Farmers Markets
Grove Street Farmers Market with Live Music
Mondays, 4 p.m. –7 p.m.
Archer Farmers Market at Archer Historical Society Railroad Museum
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Farmers Market at Celebration Pointe
Wednesdays, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
High Springs Farmers Market
Fridays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Haile Village Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Alachua County Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Waldo Farmers and Flea Market
Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bites and Brunch
Now Open: Samba Brazilian Kitchen in Haile Village Center
5141 SW 91st Way, Gainesvile, FL 32608
Live Music and Specials at Noche Mexicana at Las Carretas
Sunday, September 15, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wine Tasting and Jazz with Eric Diamond for Ages 21+ at Beaker and Flask Wine Co.
Thursday, September 12, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wine Tasting for Ages 21+ at the Traveler Wine Bar
Thursday, September 12, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wine Tasting for Ages 21+ at Superette
Thursday, September 12, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
(sold out) Brunch and Crepes Cooking Class at the Fat Tuscan
Saturday, September 14, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
September Wine Tasting Class Series – Terroir & Taste: Exploring the World’s Wine Soils at Beaker and Flask Wine Co.
Saturday, September 14, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Macaron and Wine Pairing at Le Macaron Gainesville
Saturday, September 14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Jazz Brunch at Covey Kitchen and Cocktails
Sunday, September 15, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Grand Opening Week of May Day Ice Cream in Downtown Gainesville
Monday, September 16 – Friday, September 20
All beer and wine tasting events are for ages 21+.
Sports & Fans
Registration is Open for the Florida AVP Grass Nationals Volleyball Tournament at Easton Newberry Sports Complex
Friday, September 27 – Sunday, September 29
Gator Talk Live Broadcast with Gators Football Head Coach Billy Napier at Miller’s Ale House
Thursday, September 12, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Gators Soccer vs. Kennesaw State at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Thursday, September 12, 7 p.m.
#13 Gators Volleyball vs. FSU at Exactech Arena
Tuesday, September 17, 7 p.m.
Funtastic Fridays Archery at Easton Newberry Archery Center
Friday, September 13, 5:30 p.m.
Friday Street Legal Madness Drag Racing at Gainesville Raceway
Friday, September 13, 6 p.m.
Summer Race Series at High Springs BMX
Saturday, September 14, 6:30 p.m.
Gainesville Roller Derby vs. SoFlo Ridas at MLK Jr. Multipurpose Center
Saturday, September 14, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Parks & Trails
Free Timed 5K with parkrun at Depot Park
Saturday, September 14, 7:30 a.m.
Birding Field Trip with Alachua Audubon Society at Chapman’s Pond
Saturday, September 14, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Ranger-Led Walk at Devils Millhopper Geological State Park
Saturday, September 14, 10 a.m.
Ranger-Led Hike at Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Saturday, September 14, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Birding Field Trip with Alachua Audubon Society at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Hiking Trails
Sunday, September 15, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Fall Wildflower Preview at Barr Hammock Preserve South Trailhead
Sunday, September 15, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Bird Walks with Alachua Audubon Society at Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Wednesday, September 18, 8:30 a.m.
River & Springs
Explore Natural Wonders with Anderson’s Outdoor Adventure and Visit 8 Springs in 8 Miles
Fed by the underground Floridan Aquifer, North Florida has one of the highest concentrations of springs in the world. Anderson’s Outdoor Adventure offers an easy way to experience 8 springs in 8 miles. Paddle along the Santa Fe River in a canoe or kayak and experience crystal clear water, see native wildlife and relax in a tranquil nature setting.
Float or Splash Into Freshwater Springs
North Florida is home to the largest collection of first-magnitude springs in the United States. The springs make a perfect destination for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and relaxing in nature. If you’re looking for outdoor fun, we’ve got you covered with our list of nearby springs, great places to stay and fun things to do.
Museums & Galleries
Book Signing of The Traveling Canary in Alachua County with Author and Illustrator Terrence Ho at Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies
Saturday, September 14, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Latino Art Exhibition at Santa Fe College Blount Hall
Saturday, September 14, 6 p.m.
24-Hour Music Challenge Listening Party with Jordan Burchel at GFAA Gallery
Saturday, September 14, 6 p.m.
Detours and Memories Installations at University Galleries
Now through Friday, November 1
Fluxus in the Swamp at Santa Fe College Gallery
Now through Sunday, October 20
Tot Trot: Micro Hike at Florida Museum of Natural History
Tuesday, September 17, 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
“HEAT” Exhibition at Gainesville Fine Arts Association
Now through October 19
Now on View: In Our Time at the Harn Museum of Art
Now through January 5
Save The Date
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, September 20 – October 6
UpStage at the Phillips Center with Sean Mason Quartet, September 20
Fabulous ’50s Festival in Newberry, September 21
Florida AVP Grass Nationals Volleyball Tournament, September 27-29
Gainesville Pride Festival, September 28
Fall Arts Festival at the Shoppes at Thornebrook, September 28-29
Tom Petty Weekend, October 10-13
Gainesville Cycling Festival, October 12-13
UF Homecoming and Gator Growl, October 18
For a complete list of events please visit www.visitgainesville.com/events/
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