With cooler weather comes an abundance of activities to get outside and enjoy fall fun! Mark your calendar and enjoy North Florida festivals.
Newberry Cornfield Maze
Maze and hayride. Laugh by day, scream by night.
WHEN: Friday, September 24 – Saturday, October 30 (Fridays and Saturdays), 5 – 11 p.m. Friday, 3 – 11 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: 20015 West Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669
COST: Adults and Children 10 and Older $20, Children Under 10 Years $15 (includes Corn Maze and Haunted House ticket) Hayride Tickets $5 Bull Ride $5 Hamster Balls $5 Additional Haunted House Tickets $5
Red White and Blues Farm Fall Festival
Spend a day at the farm and enjoy fresh air, farm feels and food trucks! Pumpkins, sunflowers and family games will be available. Festival runs September 25 through October 31 and continues on November 6th for Pumpkin Destruction Day to demolish the pumpkins of the season!
WHEN: Saturday, September 25 – Saturday, November 6 (Friday – Sunday)
WHERE: Red White and Blues Farm, 3250 NE 140th Avenue, Williston, FL 32696
COST: Ages 4 and up: $12.95 on Friday and $14.95 on Saturday and Sunday. Free for children 0-3 years of age.
Peanut Patch and Corn Maze
Check out this family fun time at the peanut patch and corn maze. Kids will enjoy hayrides, barrel trains, a bouncy house with an obstacle course, a kids play area, a campfire and the corn maze! There’s also a chance for spookiness after the sun goes down and the maze has a different flavor! You can also test your bravery in the haunted house.
WHEN: October 2 – October 30 (Fridays and Saturdays), 5 – 11 p.m. Friday, 3 – 11 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: 8656 SW 75th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
COST: Adults $15, Kids (4-10) $10, Kids (3 years & under) Free
Roger’s Farm Fall Festival
Get ready to tackle the corn maze, browse the pumpkin patch, jump on the bounce pad, devour lunch from the food trucks and participate in some punkin’ chunkin’! Great family event during the daytime. In the evening, the spooks come out!
WHEN: Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 31 (Friday – Sunday), Friday 6 – 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.
WHERE: 3831 NW 156th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609
COST: $10 admission (ages 3 and up) Pumpkin Chunkin’ $5 Hayride $5
Central Florida Peanut Festival
For more than 30 years, the Central Florida Peanut Festival celebrates the area’s largest commercial crop – the peanut. Vendors, crafters and civic groups will line Heritage Park for a fun-filled day.
WHEN: Saturday, October 2 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHERE: Williston Heritage Park, 100 Block North Main Street, Williston, FL 32696
COST: Free
37th Annual Windsor Zucchini Fall Festival
This year’s event benefits both the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department and the Melrose Volunteer Fire Department. With over 100 arts and craft vendors, barbecue and all your favorite zucchini foods (including ice cream!), this event is sure to be satisfying in more ways than one!
WHEN: Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 3
WHERE: Windsor Volunteer Fire Department 1401 SE County Road 234, Gainesville, FL 32641
COST: Free
Coon Hollo Fall Festival
The best fall has to offer in one place! Multiple activities for the whole family including a hayride to feed cows, pony rides, crop maze, pig races, 50 foot sack slide, country carousel, archery, pasture putt-putt golf, farm animals, corn crib, hay fort, old fashioned games, farm animal visits and much more!
WHEN: Friday, October 8 – Sunday, November 7 (Friday – Sunday), Fridays 4 – 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
WHERE: 22480 N Hwy 441, Micanopy, FL 32667
COST: $12.50 admission (ages 4 and up) Kids (3 years and under) Free
Drive-in Spooky Movie Night
Hosted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, this family-friendly event will be a chance to watch a holiday drive-in movie. Campus Credit Union will provide free prepackaged popcorn, candy and drinks.
WHEN: Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Rotary Park at Jonesville, 14100 NW 32nd Avenue, Jonesville, FL 32669
COST: Free
51st Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival
This festival celebrates the area’s fishing heritage with a Seafood Festival parade, delicious eats, live local music and arts and crafts vendors galore. Enjoy a fun family fall day!
WHEN: Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: City Park, 188 2nd St., Cedar Key, FL 32625
COST: Free
36th Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook
Our annual art festival is back! Fine artists and craftsmen will be exhibiting throughout the park-like setting of Thornebrook Village Center. Show is laid out to take advantage of the ambiance and convenience of Thornebrook Village Square and its stores, restaurants and other amenities.
WHEN: Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: Thornebrook Village Center, 2441 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606
COST: Free
17th Annual Florida Bat Festival
Enjoy the Kid Zone, shop from local artisans, eat from local food trucks, enjoy the World’s LARGEST bats and listen to live music while enjoying unlimited samples in the beer garden.
WHEN: Saturday, October 23 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Lubee Bat Conservancy, 1309 NW 192nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609
COST: Adults $8, Kids (5-12) $5, Kids (4 years and under) Free
First Responder Trunk or Treat Drive-Through
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a contactless trunk-or-treat event. Everyone will be wearing PPE gear incorporated in their costumes. Participants will drive through while being “protected” from the zombies. At the end, they will receive bags of candy from the “Decontamination team.”
WHEN: Saturday, October 23 from 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, 2621 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville, FL 32641
COST: Free
Swamp City Fitness Safe Halloween Trunk or Treat
Grab your costume and your kids and join Swamp City Fitness for their second annual Trunk or Treat event. Enjoy music, candy and fun!
WHEN: Friday, October 29 from 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Swamp City Fitness, 4315 SW 29th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608
COST: Free
46th Annual Micanopy Fall Festival
Take a step back in time to visit this quaint town as it bustles with vendors during this weekend-long event. Artisans from throughout the Southeast will be in attendance as well as local food vendors, live music and an auction!
WHEN: Saturday, October 30 – Sunday, October 31
WHERE: 202 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667
COST: Free
Halloween at Haile Equestrian
Celebrate Halloween at the Haile Equestrian Center with FREE pony rides, horses in costume, horse grooming and feeding stations, games, trick or treating and more! $1 concessions to benefit farm programs for the kids!
WHEN: Sunday, October 31 from 1 – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Haile Equestrian Center, 7680 SW 46th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608
COST: Free
47th Annual McIntosh 1890’s Art Festival
This annual festival draws in anywhere from 25,000 – 35,000 visitors to enjoy the beauty and activities in this small town. With over 280 arts and crafts and antique vendors, there is certainly something for everyone!
WHEN: Saturday, November 6 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: McIntosh Civic Center, 5835 Avenue G, McIntosh, FL 32664
COST: Free
40th Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show
The streets of historic downtown Gainesville will be transformed into a celebration of art and creativity complete with live music, performing arts and a spectacular array of food. Art lovers will fill the streets to enjoy and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork.
WHEN: Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: 111 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
COST: Free
Alachua Main Street Harvest Festival
Main Street will once again be lined with over 200 unique vendors and thousands of guests looking for that one special gift or piece of art for their home, or just a delicious treat that is not always available throughout the year. The intent of the festival is to showcase local businesses and talent, with proceeds going towards the two scholarships the Alachua Business League offers to local students.
WHEN: Sunday, November 14 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: 14436 NW 232nd St., High Springs, FL 32643
COST: Free
Newberry Main Street Fall Festival
Come enjoy a fall day full of family friendly activities! Get a jump start on holiday shopping by browsing the vendors. The kids will enjoy the activities and music as well as the food trucks.
WHEN: Saturday, November 20 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: 100 S. Seaboard Drive, Newberry, FL 32669
COST: Free
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