Many people travel to Gainesville to experience its “college town” attractions but they leave with a far richer, more exciting and satisfying experience than they expected.
Come visit the city and experience top-notch Gainesville attractions.
Family Fun
If you’re planning to visit Gainesville with your family, make sure to come during the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Be transported back in time and enjoy the colorful medieval garb of the performers, be thrilled by the knights’ jousting tournament, be entertained by the many performances of jugglers, magicians, musicians and more. Eat foods and delicacies fit for a king or shop for unique wares made by over 150 skilled artisans peddling and demonstrating their time-honored arts and crafts of the Middle Ages.
Visit the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and enjoy over 62 acres of lakeside forests and gardens or see the largest display of bamboo in the state and the largest herb garden in the Southeast. Visit the gardens between June and September and enjoy the riot of color there, or see the giant Victoria waterlilies and Asian snake arums in bloom.
Gainesville Arts and Culture
The Thomas Center Galleries feature some of the best and most important artwork exhibits the year round. See the works from such artists as Salvador Dali among others.
The Harn Gallery’s permanent collection includes some of the best African, Ancient American, Asian, Contemporary, Modern and Oceanic art, not to mention an extensive collection of photographs from the 19th century to the present.
Gainesville hosts the annual Downtown Festival and Art Show, a nationally-recognized street festival which draws over 100,000 people every year and which puts together over 250 artists in one place. Tourists and Locals alike can enjoy and purchase beautiful and unique works of art and are treated to entertaining performances by over 20 local groups including folk, jazz, country, pop, and soul, as well as ballet, jazz, modern and international dance performances.
Gainesville Sports and Recreation
Catch the Florida Gators compete with other NFL teams for a chance to be at the Super Bowl, or visit Gainesville Raceway and watch racers compete during the annual Gator Nationals NHRA.