Fall is right around the corner, and we can’t wait to see Facebook full with pictures of your little ones taking part in all the fall festivities! Here are local Gainesville pumpkin patches, mazes and fall festivals opening soon so you can get a head start on your fall bucket-list.
43rd Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 9 – Sunday, Nov. 10
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: Bo Diddley Plaza
Website: gainesvilledowntownartfest.net
Come out to Bo Diddly Plaza for the largest free celebration of art and culture in north Florida! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the streets of historic downtown Gainesville will be lined with over 200 artists, live music, performing arts and food!
Abiding Savior Lutheran Preschool Pumpkin Patch
Dates: Monday, Sept. 23 – Thursday, Oct. 31
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, Noon – 8 p.m.; Friday, Noon – 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Address: 9700 W Newberry Rd Gainesville, FL 32606
Website: facebook.com/aslcpumpkinpatch
Beginning Monday, Sept. 23 and running through Thursday, Oct. 31, this pumpkin patch will be open daily! Additionally, Saturday, Oct. 28 is Dog Day with the Haile Plantation Animal Clinic! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be pet-themed giveaways, train rides, raffle baskets, photo ops and more at the pumpkin patch.
Annual Almost Fall Craft & Vendor Festival
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 28
Hours: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Address: 6747 Womans Club Dr, Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Website: facebook.com/events
Get an early start to the fall season at the annual Almost Fall Craft & Vendor Festival! There will be over 60 vendors.
Annual Florida Bat Festival at Lubee Bat Conservancy
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: 1309 NW 192nd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609, Lubee Bat Conservancy
Website: lubee.org
At the 20th Annual Florida Bat Festival, celebrate these winged nocturnal animals with activities and exhibits! You can also see the world’s largest bats and explore the beer garden.
Annual Kanapaha Fall Plant Sale and Orchid Show
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 19 – Sunday, Oct. 20
Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Address: 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Website: kanapaha.org/fall-plant-sale
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and the Gainesville Orchid Society welcome you to browse 50 booths selling all kinds of plants. There will also be an orchid show.
Annual Micanopy Fall Festival
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 26 – Sunday, Oct. 27
Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: Downtown Micanopy
Website: micanopyfallfestival.org
Explore over 200 booths set up by artists and crafters, enjoy live music and celebrate autumn at the 49th Annual Micanopy Fall Festival!
Annual Newberry Fall Festival
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 16
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: Historic Downtown Newberry
Website: facebook.com/events
At this fall festival, bring your whole family and enjoy a fun zone, vendors, a petting zoo, food trucks, live music and more all day long!
Amazing Grace Family Farms Pumpkin Patch
Dates: Friday, Oct. 4 – Saturday, Nov. 2
Hours: Fridays, 4 – 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 14: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: 4251 SR 21, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Website: agcropmaze.com
Opens Friday, October 6 and will run until Saturday, November 4. Enjoy a pumpkin patch, corn maze, family attractions and more!
The Bryer Patch
Dates: Weekends, Saturday, Oct. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 17
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: 5700 SW 250th Street Newberry, FL 32669
Website: thebryerpatchfarm.com
The Bryer Patch will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning with its 2nd annual Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13! Enjoy the pumpkin patch, crop maze, live music, u-pick flowers, vendors and more! In addition to their weekly pumpkin patch, they are hosting a Dog Days event Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 everyone’s furry friends and a Fall Homeschool Day Thursday, Oct. 17.
Buy A Pumpkin Feed a Child
Dates: Monday, Sept. 30 – Thursday, Oct. 31
Hours: Monday – Friday, 1 – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, Noon – 8 p.m.
Address: 7003 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606
Website: buyapumpkinfeedachild.com
This patch opens Monday, Sept. 30 and runs until Halloween. There will be train rides, inflatables and more for you and your family to enjoy! “Every pumpkin you buy and every dollar you donate feeds hungry children. Buy A Pumpkin Feed A Child gives 100% of the proceeds directly to children and families in our local community of Gainesville and in Guatemala,” according to the event website.
Coon Hollo Fall Festival
Dates: Weekends, Friday, Oct. 4 – Sunday, Nov. 3
Hours: Friday, 4 – 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, Noon – 7 p.m.
Address: 22480 N US Hwy 441, Micanopy, FL 32667
Website: facebook.com/events
Celebrate fall at the Coon Hollo Fall Festival! There will be pumpkins, a crop maze, pony rides, pig races, concessions, shopping and more!
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 26 – Wednesday, Oct. 30
Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday – Wednesday, Noon – 6 p.m.
Address: 430-B N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601, Friends of the Library Alachua County
Website: visitgainesville.com/event
This is the largest Friends of the Library sale in Florida! Shop for books, art, comics, manga, CDs, DVDs, records and more. All proceeds support the Alachua County Library District and area literacy projects.
Halloween Cookie Decorating with Pinspiration Gainesville and Eat the Darn Cookie!
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: 11 a.m.
Address: 1132 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL
Website: facebook.com/events
This beginner-level class provides everything you will need for the ultimate Halloween cookie decorating party! You will get professional instruction, materials for cookie decorating, a windowed box for transporting your cookie, a swag bag including recipes and a personalized cookie with your name on it! This event is for people ages 10 and older. You must purchase tickets before Oct. 22.
Halloween Squishmallow Party with Pinspiration Gainesville
Dates: Friday, Oct. 25
Hours: 6 – 8 p.m.
Address: 1132 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL
Website: facebook.com/events
At this Halloween Squishmallow Party, your child will get a mini mystery squishmallow, and they will get to paint a portrait of their new friend! They will also get a Squishmallow adoption certificate, friendship bracelets, coloring pages and light snacks and drinks while they watch the movie “Z-O-M-B-I-E-S” (2018). Halloween costumes are encouraged! This event is for children ages 5 and up. You must purchase tickets in advance.
High Springs Fall Festival
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 19
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: Downtown High Springs
Website: highsprings.com
At the High Springs Fall Festival, enjoy a craft fair, food trucks, a kids corral, prizes, fall activities and more!
Historic Micanopy Ghost Tour
Dates: Friday, Oct. 18
Hours: 4 – 7 p.m.
Address: Town of Micanopy
Website: facebook.com/events
Explore Historic Micanopy and its haunted past on this ghost tour! Hear chilling tales of paranormal activities, learn historical tidbits and encounter supernatural occurrences.
Hollow Oaks Corn Maze
Dates: Opens Friday, Sept. 28
Hours: Friday, 6 – 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday, 2 – 6 p.m.
Address: Off 441 between Alachua and High Springs
Website: hollowoakscornmaze.com
Enjoy a spooky corn maze and hay ride at Hollow Oaks! The children’s area will include a mini maze, pumpkin bowling, a slide, a jumping pad and more.
Newberry Cornfield Maze
Dates: Friday, Sept. 20 – Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 5 – 11 p.m.
Address: 20015 West Newberry Road Newberry, FL 32669
Website: newberrycornfieldmaze.com
Starting Friday, Sept. 20, the Newberry Cornfield Maze will be open Fridays and Saturdays! It will have attraction ranging from family-friendly to not-for-the-faint-of-heart. Family-friendly attractions include human hamster balls, the haunted hayride and mechanical bull while the haunted maze and haunted house are for older guests.
McIntosh 1890s Festival
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 12
Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: McIntosh Historic District east side of US 441
Website: mcintosh1890sfestival.com
Enjoy a day on the tree-lined streets of Victorian McIntosh and browse arts, crafts, jewelry, plants, decor, treats and more! There will also be children’s activities.
Peanut Patch & Corn Maze
Dates: Friday, Sept. 27 – Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: Fridays, 5 – 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 – 11 p.m.
Address: 8656 SW 75th St, Gainesville, FL 32608
Website: peanutpatchandcornmaze.com
This event is family friendly until dusk with a kids play area, photo booth and campfire. At night, it becomes haunted! There is a haunted house, haunted hayride, and haunted corn maze. Bring your running shoes and be prepared to be scared!
Slightly Frightly at The Bryer Patch
Dates: Friday, Oct. 25 – Saturday, Oct. 26
Hours: 2 – 10 p.m.
Address: 5700 SW 250th Street Newberry, FL 32669
Website: facebook.com/events
At Slightly Frightly at The Bryer Patch, there will be a crop maze, a movie showing, farm activities, photo ops, fire pits, a costume contest, a pumpkin patch, u-pick flowers, concessions including s’mores and popcorn and more!
Sunflower Festival at The Bryer Patch
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 16 – Sunday, Nov. 17
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: 5700 SW 250th Street Newberry, FL 32669
Website: thebryerpatchfarm.com
Fall on the Farm with The Bryer Patch will conclude with its annual fall Sunflower Festival! Enjoy live music, u-pick sunflowers, vendors, hayrides, a crop maze and more.
Thornebrook Fall Arts Festival
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 28 – Sunday, Sept. 29
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: Shoppes At Thornebrook
Website: facebook.com/events
Celebrate the arts and the talent of local artists at the 39th annual Thornebrook Fall Arts Festival! There will be diverse artistic creations, including sculptures, paintings woodwork, jewelry and more. You can also stroll through the shops and enjoy bites from food trucks and restaurants.
Tioga Movie Night: Casper
Dates: Friday, Oct. 25
Hours: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Address: Tioga Town Center
Website: facebook.com/events
Get outside with your friends and family by enjoying “Casper,” a spooky outdoor Halloween movie. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs!
Tioga Town Center Oktoberfest
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 12
Hours: 2 – 8 p.m.
Address: Tioga Town Center
Website: facebook.com/events
WOB Tioga is the only bar in Florida offering brews from Munich and other beers from the official German Oktoberfest breweries in 2023! Come out to the Tioga Town Center Oktoberfest for drinks and fun!
Williston’s Festive Fall Outdoor Market
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 14
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: 1610 SW 8th Terrace, Williston, FL 32696, Williston Horseman’s Park
Website: facebook.com/events
Get into the fall spirit and enjoy the fresh air at Williston’s Festive Fall Outdoor Market! There will be over 85 vendors, food trucks and more.
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