Events in Gainesville & Alachua County
Share the holidays with loved ones and ring in the new year with What’s Good®. Celebrate the season with timeless traditions like The Nutcracker Ballet, holiday performances at the Hippodrome Theatre, festive parades, and appearances by Santa. Welcome 2025 with New Year’s Eve fireworks and invigorating First Day Hikes.
With kids off from school and friends and family visiting, make time to explore with Visit Gainesville, Alachua County’s list of exceptional museums and galleries. In addition to all the holiday fun, be sure to save the date for Alachua County’s special 200th celebration featuring national acts and more.
Events & Festivals
Dec 21
Artwalk in Downtown High Springs
Downtown High Springs
Dec 28
Flying Pig Parade
Downtown Gainesville
Dec 31
Downtown Countdown
Bo Diddley Plaza
Dec 31
New Years Eve Ball at The Wooly
The Wooly
Jan 11
Experience Psychic Fair
Best Western Gateway Grand
Music & Performance
Dec 21
Blues with Terraplane at The Great Outdoors
Great Outdoors Restaurant
Dec 21
Classic Rock with Chasing Rabbits at SweetBerries
SweetBerries Eatery and Frozen Custard
Dec 21
Blues with John Ford at Lightnin’ Salvage
Lightnin Salvage
Dec 21
Jazz with Swing Theory at One Love Cafe
One Love Cafe
Dec 21
Veterans for Peace Winter Solstice Peace Concert
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville
Arts & Theater
Dec 21
“Class with Clara” at UF Phillips Center
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Dec 21
Ken Ludwig’s “The Game’s Afoot” at Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
Dec 22
Dec 22
“This Christmas” at the Hipp Cinema
Hippodrome Cinema
Dec 25
The Muppet Christmas Carol Now Playing at the Hipp Cinema
Hippodrome Cinema
Seasonal
Dec 21
Vintage Holidays Guided Tours of the Historic Haile Homestead
Historic Haile Homestead
Dec 21
Newberry Main Street Gingerbread Village and Christmas Parade
Downtown Newberry
Dec 21
Gainesville Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl at Kairos
Kairos Events and Catering
Dec 21
8th Annual Christmas on the Square
CountryWay Town Square
Dec 21
Dark Sparkle- Gothic Winter Fantasy Ball
The Midnight Underground
Craft Breweries
Dec 21
Jazz with Nick DeCarlis Trio at Daft Cow
Daft Cow Brewery
Dec 21
A Very Harry Christmas Trivia Night
Blackadder Brewing Company
Dec 22
Beer and Cookie Pairing at Swamp Head Brewery
Swamp Head Brewery
Dec 22
Brewery Yoga at First Magnitude
First Magnitude Brewing Company
Dec 22
Acoustic Music with The Robinson Duo at Blackadder Brewing
Blackadder Brewing Company
Pop-Up Markets
Dec 21
Dragonfly Graphics Presents a Very Merry Gainesville Nostalgia Event
Dragonfly Graphics
Jan 1
43rd Annual Florida Bamboo Sale
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Museum & Galleries
Dec 21
Weekend Tour at The Harn
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Dec 26
Art After Dark at the Harn
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Jan 11
The Other Book: Black History in Alachua County Lecture Series
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Outdoors
Dec 21
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Dec 21
Ranger-Led Rim Ramble Hike
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Dec 21
Stargazing at Paynes Prairie
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Dec 28
Free Timed 5K with parkrun
Depot Park
Dec 28
Ranger-Led Rim Ramble Hike
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Sports & Fans
Dec 21
Gators Men’s Basketball vs. North Florida
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Dec 21
Florida WBB vs. North Florida WBB
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Dec 27
Funtastic Fridays Archery
Easton Newberry Archer Center
Jan 3
Funtastic Fridays Archery
Easton Newberry Archer Center
Jan 5
Florida WBB vs. Georgia WBB
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Farmers Markets
Dec 21
Waldo Farmers and Flea Market
Waldo Farmers and Flea Market
Dec 21
Alachua County Farmers Market
Alachua County Farmers Market
Dec 21
Haile Farmers Market
Haile Village Center
Dec 23
Grove Street Farmers Market
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company
Dec 24
Archer Farmers Market
Archer Historical Society Railroad Museum
Workshops & Educational
Dec 21
(Sold Out) Metal Bowl Making at [Fe]ver Metal Art Center
[Fe]ver Metal Art Center
Dec 28
(Sold Out) Single Day Knife Workshop at Crooked Path Forge
Crooked Path Forge
Jan 6
GNV Silat: A Beginner’s Workshop for Indonesian Martial Arts
The Midnight Underground
Jan 29
Advanced Pruning and Winter Care
Alachua County Ag Auditorium
Feb 1
10th Annual Super Sealant Saturday by UF College of Dentistry
UF College of Dentistry
Bites & Brunch
Dec 21
Holiday Afternoon Tea at Camellia Rose Inn
Camellia Rose Inn
Dec 22
(Sold Out) All About Pies Cooking Class at the Fat Tuscan
The Fat Tuscan
Dec 31
New Year Party at Local Provisions
Local Provisions
Dec 31
Party Like a Champion at Spurrier’s
Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille
Feb 2
Souper Fun Sunday
Saint Francis Catholic Academy