Gainesville Area Festivals and Charity Fundraisers

Alachua County is known for its' diverse culture and rich heritage. We are lucky to have a long season of activities including area festivals and fundraisers to help support local charities and organizations. This is a short list of festivals and happenings throughout the Gainesville and Alachua County area.

Spring

Kanapaha Spring Garden Festival- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4800 SW 58th Drive off of Archer Road. This annual event combines local nurseries, crafts and the beauty of the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Walk through the reclaimed water ponds, bamboo forest or butterfly gardens and take home your own locally grown flowers and shrubs. Call for more information at (352) 372-4981

The Santa Fe College Springs Arts Festival- Downtown Gainesville along NE 1st Street. The Annual Show promises two days of fun, community and beauty, and the price is irresistible 100 percent free! The festival draws 250 top-quality artists from more than 25 states in a juried show that includes sculpture, printmaking, painting, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, jewelry, photography, drawing, watercolor, wood, fiber, and glass.

Windsor Zucchini Festival- Started in 1981, this annual celebration raises money to help fund the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department. The event includes crafts, live entertainment, food, and a lot of small town charm. Fee to the public, this one day event is worth the short drive to the east side of the county. Head east on 39th Avenue. Drive past the airport and turn left at the stop sign toward Melrose. Follow the signs to Windsor. This quaint town borders Newnan's Lake and may have the biggest live oaks in the whole state.

A Celebration of Wine at University of Florida Reitz Union Grand Ballroom on Museum Road. The annual wine tasting and auction to benefit University of Florida public radio stations WUFT-FM, Classic 89 and WJUF-FM, Nature Coast 90 is co-sponsored by The Wine & Cheese Gallery in Gainesville. Enjoy more than 300 wines for tasting, culinary treats, desserts and coffee and a silent and live auction conducted by Michael Roberts of Vintage Wine Cellars in Tampa. All proceeds benefit public radio.

Greater Gator Beer Festival- now in it's 14th year, the Greater Gator Beer Festival will be held at Magnolia Park at 4700 NW 39th Avenue. The festival is $25 in advance or $30 at the door and includes free samples of 100's of area microbrews, samples from local restaurants, soft drinks and water. No pets and you must be 21 years old to enter. 

Puttin' on the Ritz- Sunday, March 29, 2009, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at their new location: The Florida Museum of Natural History! Step into elegance with the 22nd annual Puttin’ on the Ritz, This event offers a first-class formal affair featuring diamonds, dinner and dancing. Last year, the Children's Home Society raised more than $95,000 for children in their care, and expect yet another terrific event with A-list VIPs, samples from 20 of the area’s finest restaurants and caterers, open bars, live entertainment, and an amazing silent auction. Purchase your tickets online or call 866.427.5451

STOP! Children's Cancer Fantasy Event- at the O'Connell Center at the University of Florida. Partygoers have the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items, to have a well-known local artist sketch a personal portrait and to have a professional photograph taken. One lucky person will win the evening’s grand prize—historically a piece of jewelry valued at over $10,000! Every year there is a performance by a local dance group and appearances by special celebrity guests. Make plans now to attend this amazing charity event. Tickets are now available online or through the STOP! office at (352) 377-2622.

Newberry Watermelon Festival- Head west on Newberry Road and turn right into Canterbury Equestrian Center. This is the festivals 64th year, the American Legion held its first Newberry Watermelon Festival in 1946. The festival began with many of the same activities still being held today. Free watermelon slices, eating and seed spitting contests were all early favorites of the community. The main events of the festival were, and continue to be, the crowning of the Newberry Watermelon Festival Queen and the winner of the “Big Melon” contest.