Fall is here! 30 Day Calendar (of fun) for Gainesville, FL

The next month in Gainesville, High Springs, and Newberry is packed with festivals, concerts, sports, and family-friendly activities. From cultural celebrations to spooky fall fun, there’s something for everyone – and all in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. If you’re visiting from out of town, StayGainesville offers the ideal home base with fully furnished rentals around town, so you can relax in comfort between outings. Now, let’s dive into the upcoming events, organized by weekend, so you can easily plan your adventures!

High Springs Fall Festival – Sept 13–14, High Springs Farmers Market Pavilion – Welcome the season at this free, family-friendly festival featuring two days of local vendors, kids’ activities, crafts, antiques, plants, and delicious food. Enjoy live music and a charming small-town atmosphere as the community comes together to celebrate fall. 

Opening Weekend: “The 39 Steps” – Sept 12–14 (runs through Sept 28), Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville – A fast-paced comedic thriller hits the stage as four actors play 150 characters in this Tony Award-winning show. The 39 Steps spoofs Hitchcock with an outrageous blend of mystery and slapstick. Catch the excitement on opening weekend and see what happens when a man on the run meets a mysterious organization in this laugh-out-loud production. 

Free Fridays Concert – Bo Diddley Plaza – Friday, Sept 12, 7–9pm, Downtown Gainesville – Kick off the weekend with Gainesville’s longest-running free outdoor concert series. Each Friday night, Bo Diddley Plaza comes alive with live music under the stars, showcasing genres from rock and reggae to soul, blues and more. Free Fridays concerts continue weekly through the end of September, so bring a lawn chair and enjoy the local bands (it’s where the locals go on Friday nights!). No tickets needed – just show up and groove.

North Central Florida Blues Society Showcase – Sunday, Sept 14, 6pm, Heartwood Soundstage (Gainesville) – Four of North Florida’s finest blues acts team up for an evening of soulful, foot-tapping music. The 2025 Gainesville Blues Showcase features performers like Little Mike & the Tornadoes, Dr. Jules’ Cool Blues, JC & the Backscratchers, and Sheba the Mississippi Queen & the Bluesmen. It’s a seated “listening room” show presented by the local Blues Society – expect classic Chicago-style blues and talented musicians who live and breathe the blues. Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 day-of, with discounts for Blues Society members). Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in authentic blues! 

Opening Weekend: RENT (Musical) – Sept 19–21 (runs through Oct 12), Gainesville Community Playhouse – The iconic rock musical “RENT” opens this weekend at the community playhouse, transporting audiences to New York’s bohemian East Village in the 1990s. Follow a group of young artists and friends as they navigate love, loss, and survival amid the HIV/AIDS epidemic – RENT “celebrates life, love, and the resilience of the human spirit” with unforgettable music. Performances are 7:30pm Fri/Sat and 2pm Sun. This Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning show is a poignant, energizing experience for theater lovers.

Gainesville Latino Film Festival – Sept 11–29, multiple venues in Gainesville – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through free film screenings and cultural events during the 21st annual Latino Film Festival. Hosted by the Latina Women’s League, the festival presents a variety of Latin American films (animated family films, documentaries, dramas) along with panel discussions and events open to the community. For example, this weekend you can catch screenings like Home is Somewhere Else or Coco with the family, or thought-provoking documentaries. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Latin American art and culture right here in Gainesville. All events are free to attend.

Newberry Cornfield Maze (“Laugh by Day, Scream by Night”) – Opening Friday, Sept 19 (open Fridays & Saturdays through Oct 25), Newberry, FL – Ready for some fall thrills? The Newberry Cornfield Maze opens this weekend, offering daytime fun and nighttime frights on a sprawling farm just west of Gainesville. By day, enjoy an old-fashioned corn maze adventure; by night (5–11pm), brace yourself for a haunted maze and hayride that will test your courage. There’s also a haunted house, mechanical “zombie” bull ride, human hamster balls, and more spooky entertainment for all ages. General admission is around $20 (cash at gate or online) and covers most attractions. This is a fall favorite for families, UF students, and anyone looking for Halloween season fun. Opening weekend is Sept 19–20, and the maze runs every Fri/Sat through Oct 25 (with increasing spookiness as Halloween nears). Enter if you dare! 

Crab, Conch & Hot Fish Festival – Saturday, Sept 20, 1–8pm, The Oaks Mall (Gainesville) – Bring your appetite to this flavor-packed seafood festival and vendor market in the Oaks Mall parking lot. The Crab, Conch & Hot Fish Festival celebrates the best of Florida’s coastal cuisine and local small businesses. Admission is free. Indulge in freshly prepared steamed crab trays, island-style conch fritters, and Southern fried “hot fish” platters – each made by talented local vendors. Beyond the mouthwatering seafood, you can shop arts & crafts booths and enjoy live music creating a fun, “shop-and-sway” vibe. It’s a sea-to-table feast that brings Florida’s flavors right to Gainesville’s backyard. Come hungry and ready to support local entrepreneurs at this one-day festival. (Location: Oaks Mall, 6419 W Newberry Rd.)

Swamp Head Brewery Oktoberfest – Friday, Sept 26, 4–11pm, Swamp Head Brewery (Gainesville) – Prost! Gainesville’s beloved craft brewery is hosting an Oktoberfest party with all the fixings. Enjoy German-style lagers in commemorative steins, hearty sausages and pretzels from local food vendors, and live oompah tunes (courtesy of the Varsity Tuba Quartet) to set the mood. Starting at 4pm, there will be classic Oktoberfest games like the stein-holding contest and even a sausage toss – so warm up those arms! This event is open to all ages (with root beer for the kids) and free to attend; just pay for beer/food as you go. Dust off your lederhosen or dirndl, and come enjoy a festive evening at Swamp Head Brewery’s Oktoberfest. 🍻 

Artwalk Gainesville – Friday, Sept 26, 7–10pm, Downtown Gainesville – On the last Friday of each month, downtown Gainesville transforms into a sprawling art gallery during Artwalk Gainesville, a free self-guided art tour. More than a dozen galleries, studios, boutiques, and cafes will open their doors late, featuring local art exhibits, live music, and meet-the-artist opportunities. Stroll between venues (many offer refreshments) and experience the amazing wealth of creativity in Gainesville’s art scene. Maps are available to guide you, but you can simply follow the crowd of art lovers through areas like the Hippodrome Gallery, SAW Gallery, and more. It’s an exciting, casual way to spend Friday night immersed in visual arts, and perhaps even pick up a unique piece for yourself. (Cost: Free.) Check Artwalk’s website for a venue map and featured exhibits. 

Gold Star Family Festival – Fri–Sun, Sept 26–28, Santa Fe Festival Field (High Springs) – This 3-day music festival is a special event honoring Gold Star families (families of fallen service members) with live music, camping, and community activities. Open to the public (with tickets), the festival features a full lineup of bands each day – from rock and country to heartfelt acoustic sets – plus memorial ceremonies and family-friendly fun. All proceeds support the construction of a new memorial monument in Florida to honor fallen service members. Highlights include: live concerts Friday and Saturday nights (with headliners TBA, but organizers promise “the biggest names we’ve ever had on our stage”), a community breakfast and yoga session Saturday morning, and on-site camping for those who want the full festival experience. It’s a meaningful way to enjoy great music while supporting Gold Star families and veterans. Day tickets (starting around $23) and camping passes are available.

University of Florida Football Locker Room Tours – Week of Sept 15–19 & before home games, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (UF Campus) – Gator fans and curious visitors can go behind the scenes at “The Swamp” with guided locker room tours on select days. Throughout the week leading up to home games, UF offers 30-minute tours of the Gators’ locker room and the state-of-the-art football facilities, including a walk through the tunnel onto the field. It’s a must for sports enthusiasts or anyone who wants a peek at where the action happens on game day. Tours run hourly from noon to 5pm and cost around $20 per person (proceeds often benefit scholarships). If you’re in town early for the big game, this is a fun way to ramp up the excitement. 

Florida Gators vs. Texas Longhorns (College Football) – Saturday, Oct 4, Time TBA (afternoon/evening), Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Gainesville) – Get ready for SEC football at its finest! The Florida Gators host the Texas Longhorns in a much-anticipated matchup at the Swamp. With Texas joining the SEC, this game is expected to be electric – a top-10 showdown under the lights of one of college football’s loudest stadiums. Join over 90,000 roaring fans for UF’s family weekend game, and experience traditions like Gator Walk, the Pride of the Sunshine marching band, and the Tom Petty singalong in the 3rd quarter. Whether you bleed orange and blue or are just looking for an unforgettable sports experience, a Gators game is a must-see. Tickets are in high demand, so secure yours early. (Everyone needs a ticket, regardless of age.) Grab your sunscreen and your voice – you’ll be shouting “Go Gators!” all day. 🏈

Newberry Cornfield Maze & Haunted Attractions – Every Fri & Sat through Oct 25, 5–11pm, Newberry – If you haven’t checked out the corn maze yet, this weekend is another great chance. Friday Oct 3 and Saturday Oct 4 nights the Newberry Cornfield Maze will be open with all the spooky fun in full swing. (See the Sept 19 entry above for details.) By early October, the haunted maze, hayride and house are in peak scare mode, and the weather is perfect for an evening around the bonfire with kettle corn after you escape the maze (if you escape!). It’s an ideal add-on activity while you’re in town for the game or other events. General admission $20 (haunted house +$5). 

More Fall Festivals on the Horizon – As we move further into October, keep an eye out for even more festivals around Alachua County. For instance, Oktoberfest at Tioga Town Center (just west of Gainesville) is coming up on October 11 with music, food and family fun. Later in the month, look forward to the Florida Bat Festival (meet live bats on Oct 25) and The FEST (a massive multi-venue punk rock festival in downtown Gainesville on Oct 24–26). We’ll cover those in our next guide – but it’s never too early to start planning!

Where to Stay: After full days of fun, you’ll want a comfortable place to recharge. StayGainesville is the preferred lodging for visitors exploring our area – they offer a curated collection of 40+ vacation rentals throughout Gainesville, Alachua and High Springs. That means you can find a fully furnished home or condo close to whatever events you’re attending. Planning to catch a show downtown? StayGainesville has modern apartments just minutes away. Heading to the springs or a festival in High Springs? They have cozy cottages there too. Enjoy amenities like full kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and plush beds that beat any hotel room. Plus, you’ll have the convenience of staying in a home-like setting – perfect for families or groups traveling together. With StayGainesville, you get comfort, space, and local convenience all in one, so you can focus on enjoying the events (and maybe even invite new friends over after the festival!).

The Gainesville area truly comes alive this time of year. Whether you’re cheering on the Gators, dancing to live music, browsing art, or navigating a haunted corn maze, you’re sure to make some fantastic memories. We hope this guide helps you fill your calendar with 30 days of excitement. So pack your bags, book your stay, and come join us – your fall adventure in Gainesville, High Springs, and Newberry awaits! 🎉