Visit Gainesville, Alachua County

01/16/2025

Celebrate a weekend of culture and inspiration with What’s Good®. Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with meaningful events. Click through for more of What’s Good®: visitgainesville.com/what-good

🎙 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations in Alachua, Gainesville, Micanopy and Newberry, Monday, January 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
🎻 The Gainesville Orchestra Presents Mahler’s 5th at Santa Fe College Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, Friday, January 17
🎸 Alt-Country with Kathleen Edwards at Heartwood Soundstage, Friday, January 17, 8 p.m.
🥇 Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Invitational at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center, Friday, January 17 – Sunday, January 19
🎵 Playground Music and Arts Festival at Heartwood Soundstage, Saturday, January 18, 2 p.m.
🎪 Cirque Kalabanté at University of Florida Performing Arts, Tuesday, January 21, 7:30 p.m.

✉ Stay up to date and join the email list at bit.ly/WhatsGoodAlachuaCounty

📸: Evans Haile courtesy of the Gainesville Orchestra
📸: Kathleen Edwards courtesy of Heartwood Soundstage

01/10/2025

🚗 Parking Tips for Alachua County's Discover 200 - A Bicentennial Celebration! 🎉

Planning to join us at Depot Park? Here’s everything you need to know about parking:

✅ Arrive Early for Closer Parking
Downtown Gainesville has plenty of parking options, and the earlier you arrive, the better your spot!

✅ City of Gainesville parking is free on Saturdays
Enjoy free on-street parking, surface lots, and metered spaces (except the City's SW Downtown Garage).

✅ There are many city, county and state government parking lots available on Saturdays in central downtown (in the vicinity of University Avenue and Main Street) that are a short walk to
Depot Park/Heartwood. (Click the following link to the Alachua County Courthouse parking area as an example) https://tinyurl.com/k29uefh8

✅ Find Parking Fast
Use this great City of Gainesville, FL - Government interactive map. Just type 874 SE 4th St., Gainesville, to explore your options! https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/b8697d71afb7476da4c1efd862aeecb6/

✅ Depot Park Area Notes

Check out this link for a colorful parking map for lots closest to Depot Park and Heartwood. https://tinyurl.com/3mb6d35p

A short section of Depot Avenue at Main Street will be closed, so use alternate routes from your map app.

🚗 Garage Options for Easy Parking

* City of Gainesville SW Downtown Garage: 105 SW 3rd St.
* Private SE Downtown Garage: 220 SE 2nd Ave.

🚕 Skip Parking Altogether

Take an Uber or Lyft! We recommend getting dropped off a few blocks away to avoid traffic near Depot Park.

For more parking details, visit: City of Gainesville parking info. https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Government-Pages/Government/Departments/Transportation/GNV-Parking

🎉 See you at 1 p.m. at for a day of celebration and fun!

01/10/2025

Experience the majesty of The Gala of the Royal Horses at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, Wednesday, January 15 at 7 p.m.

The Royal Horses of Europe are some of the most celebrated in history. This family-friendly performance celebrates the tradition, athleticism and grace of these revered creatures. Learn more and get tickets at www.galaoftheroyalhorses.com/schedule

📸: Gala of The Royal Horses

01/10/2025

🎉 Tomorrow’s the big day! Celebrate Alachua County’s 200th birthday at the Discover 200 Bicentennial Festival, happening January 11 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Depot Park and Heartwood Soundstage.

🎸 Enjoy live music featuring "Kingfish" Ingram, Chuck Ragan and The Camaraderie, Little Jake and the Soul Searchers, The Savants, Nancy Luca, Purple Kloud and more.

🍔 Savor delicious treats and eats, enjoy family-friendly fun with face painting, balloon animals, a roaming magician, and explore historical exhibits.

🎶 Admission is FREE!

Be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Alachua County’s 200 years. See the full schedule at alachua200.com.

A story told with Adobe Express

01/09/2025

This weekend Alachua County celebrates turning 200 with a whole lot of What’s Good®! Click through for more of What’s Good®: visitgainesville.com/what-good

✨ Discover 200 – Alachua County's Bicentennial Celebration at Depot Park and Heartwood Soundstage, Saturday, January 11, 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
🤸‍♂️ Florida Gators Gymnastics Quad Meet at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Friday, January 10, 6:45 p.m.
📖 The Other Book: Black History in Alachua County Lecture Series at the Harn Museum of Art, Saturday, January 11, 10 a.m.
🏀 Harlem Globetrotters World Tour at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Saturday, January 11, 2 p.m.
📽 Cocktails and Classics: The Royal Tenenbaums at the Hippodrome Theatre Cinema, Saturday, January 11, 8 p.m.
🐴 Gala of The Royal Horses at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, Wednesday, January 15, 7 p.m.
✉ Stay up to date and join the email list at bit.ly/WhatsGoodAlachuaCounty

01/09/2025

🎉Here are the set times for Discover 200 🎉

We can’t wait to see you all this Saturday! Due to cooler weather in the evening, we have adjusted the event's end time from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Be prepared to enjoy a full day of great music🎸, free kids activities🎨, food trucks🌮, vendors and exhibits.🖼

01/09/2025

🎉 Discover 200 - A Bicentennial Celebration: Fun for the Whole Family! 🎶

Get ready for an unforgettable free music festival that’s more than just great tunes — it’s a full-day celebration for all ages!

📍 Where: Depot Park & Heartwood Soundstage
📅 When: Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m.

🌟 What’s Happening:

🔹 Giveaways: The first 800 attendees who visit the Discover 200 event table will receive a free event T-shirt. There are many other giveaways also.
🔹 Delicious Food & Unique Vendors: Savor tasty treats from food trucks and explore a variety of vendors and exhibits.
🔹 Learn & Discover: Visit educational tables at Depot Park to learn about county history, services and discover job opportunities at the human resources booth.
🔹 Kid-Friendly Activities: Keep the little ones entertained with free balloon animals, magic shows, and face painting at Depot Park.
🔹 Art & Culture: Stroll through captivating art exhibits at Heartwood Soundstage.
🔹 Evening Magic: Watch Depot Park come alive with enchanting “light being” creatures as the sun sets.

🚗 Parking/Street Closures: A portion of Depot Avenue will be closed from the roundabout on Main Street to Second Street. View the City of Gainesville’s parking information here: tinyurl.com/GNVParking

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate in style. We can’t wait to see you there!

01/08/2025

Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Join the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida, Inc. for a week of inspiring events honoring Dr. King’s vision and contributions, January 11-20.

Event Highlights:
🎤 40th Annual Hall of Fame Gala – Saturday, January 11
🎷 Stephan P. Mickle Jazz Concert featuring the When Gospel Meets Jazz Band – Friday, January 17
🎺 MLK National Holiday Parade & Celebration – Monday, January 20
Parade from the MLK Memorial Garden to the MLK Center
Post-parade celebration with live music by D.R. Band and Soul Fire
📅 View the full schedule of events at martinlutherkingcommission.org

Let’s come together to celebrate unity, equality, and hope.

Theme: “A Resilient People, We’re Not Going Back!” January 11 – 20, 2025  

01/06/2025

Discover the Timeless Charm of Micanopy

Named one of Southern Living's "10 Dreamy Towns for Antique Shopping in Florida," Micanopy is a treasure trove of history, unique finds, and small-town magic.

Stroll beneath century-old oak trees, explore quaint shops brimming with antiques, and experience the slower pace of Florida’s oldest inland town.

📍 Add Micanopy to your next Florida road trip and see why it’s stealing the spotlight!

In addition to the thrill of antique malls, these historic towns are prime shopping haunts for antique and vintage enthusiasts. Here are 10 destinations that are must-stops on any antiquing adventure through Florida.

01/05/2025

🐦✨ Happy National Bird Day! ✨🐦
Alachua County is a bird lover’s paradise and a record-setter! In 2018, the Gainesville Christmas Bird Count (CBC) documented 175 species—the most ever for an inland North American CBC at the time. The county's breathtaking prairies and serene wetlands are home to hundreds of bird species, featuring nine must-see stops along The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Meet “birds-of-a-feather” when you participate in one (or all) of the region's FREE guided birding walks and local events:

✨Sweetwater Wetlands Park Guided Birding- Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., September through May.
✨Birds and Brews at First Magnitude Brewing - 1st Sunday afternoon, year-round.
✨Alachua Audubon Society’s Annual Backyard Birding Tour 2025 – Saturday, February 1, 2025
✨Pints and Predators at First Magnitude Brewing – annual event, February 15, 2025

Accessible Tram Tours for Sweetwater Wetlands Park are availalbe with a reservation at: bit.ly/SweetwaterTours

Take life one feather at a time and discover the beauty of birding at these serene locales: bit.ly/ACBirding

01/04/2025

Sunday, January 5, 4:15 p.m. at First Magnitude Brewing Company, join the Alachua Audubon Society for a guided walk from the brewery to Depot Park. The hour-long walk returns to the brewery for refreshments and conversation. This is an informal bird walk and all experience levels are welcome. Bring your binoculars or borrow a loaner pair. Admission is free.

01/04/2025

🎉 Celebrate National Trivia Day with Alachua County Fun Facts! 🧠

Did you know Alachua County celebrates turning 200 years old on January 11? As we gear up for the big Bicentennial Celebration, here are some fun trivia tidbits about our amazing community:
• 🍹Gatorade was invented in Gainesville in 1965!
• 🦇The UF Bat Houses are the largest in the world—watch 300,000 bats take flight at sunset.
• 🎸Gainesville is Tom Petty’s hometown—rock history lives here!
• 🦋 The Florida Museum of Natural History houses one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies and moths and features a 6,400-square-foot Butterfly Rainforest exhibit.
• 🌳 Visit the Cellon Oak, one of Florida’s largest live oak trees.
• 💧Fun Springs Fact: The nearby Santa Fe River flows underground for three miles before re-emerging at O’Leno State Park—perfect for kayaking and exploration!

And don’t miss the Discover 200 Bicentennial Festival on January 11 at Depot Park and Heartwood Soundstage! Enjoy live music from Kingfish Ingram, Chuck Ragan and the Camaraderie, and beloved local favorites, plus food trucks, exhibits, and family-friendly fun.

Let’s celebrate Alachua County’s rich history and amazing community together! 🎶🌟



https://alachua200.com/

01/03/2025

🎉🎉 We are just 8 days away from the Discover 200 - A Bicentennial Celebration at Depot Park & Heartwood Soundstage. 🎉🎉

🎸🎤 The event includes performances from Grammy winner Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram, Gainesville Key to the City honoree Chuck Ragan (Official), Little Jake & The Soul Searchers, Cliff Dorsey, Dikembe and many more on two stages!

🌮🍔 A host of food trucks will also be on-site throughout the day, some of which include
Germain's Chicken Sandwiches Tinker Latin Restaurant & Food Truck Vegan Gator Monsta Lobsta Swamp Religion B'z Gelati So Yummy BBQ & Grill Food Truck and Kettle Creations.

Families can also enjoy free face paintings🎨, balloon twisting🎈, caricature drawings✍️, a strolling magician🪄 and a special appearance from University of Florida mascots Albert & Alberta!🐊