Monday, September 19, 2011

Finally Fall has Arrived!!!!!

Anyone who lives in High Springs or has visited High Springs in the Fall season will tell you how great it is. Fall around here means beautiful weather and fall festivals. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I've traveled the country quite a bit and High Springs in fall is unbeatable weather-wise. You will experience more perfect days that anywhere else. 70s with clear skies is mostly what you will discover during the day. Grab a light jacket for night since it will dip into the 40s, but is still beautiful. Light breezes and leaves turning amber, magenta, and yellow is more of what you'll find. High Springs is where you'll want to be in the Fall.

The Fall festivals around here are unmatched. It's family fun all the way around. From corn mazes to harvest festivals, to halloween themed fun. Listed here is a calendar of events for the High Springs Area:

Calendar of Events

United Downtown
Gainesville, FL SE 1st Street
Sept 16, 30; Nov 18, 25
5:30-10pm
Sponsored by United Way of NCF is a series of street festivals offering family fun, kiddie korner, and face painting, bounce house, arts and crafts, and other children's activities. Get more info at www.unitedwayncfl.org

Literacy Day
High Springs, FL O'Leno State Park
Sept 17
10a-12p
Celebrating Literacy Day with Magic and Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses, local authors, guest readers, nature arts and crafts and games for young readers.

Thornebrook Art Festival
Gainesville, FL Thornebrook Village, 2441 NW 43rd St
Sept 24-25
10a-5p
140 artists and craftsmen around Florida with concentration on the immediate area, musical groups, kids activities. More info, go to thornebrookart.org

Hart Springs Nature Festival
Bell, FL 4240 SW 86th Ave
Sept 24
9a-5p
Enjoy the natural beauty of Florida's springs. Bird watching tour, native plant and tree tour, exhibits, food, nursery, music, vendors, children entertainment. Entry fee is $2. More info at: www.hartsprings.com

Inagural Florida Monarch Festival
Earleton, FL Greathouse Butterfly Farm, 20329 NE SR 26
Sept 24
10a-3p
Monarch butterfly tagging and release, educational program from experts, arts and crafts, t-shirt contest, games, bungee jump, bounce house, children's program, face painting, live music, local food.

Harvest Hoedown
Gainesville, FL 7204 SE CR 234 (In Paynes Prarie)
Sept 25
5p
Knee-slapping hoedown to support Organic Growers, non-profit group promoting organic agriculture and healthy food. Music, food, silent auction. Price is $45. More info go to: www.foginfo.org

Quilt Show
Newberry, FL (@ Dudley Farms)
Oct 1
10a-3p
All types of quilts bring your quilt view some quilts. Enjoy traditional music and quilting discussion on Historic Dudley Farm. More info: www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org

City Wide Yard Sale
High Springs, FL James Paul Park (around the sink hole)
8a-12p
More info: www.highsprings.com

Alligator Fest
High Springs, FL O'Leno State Park
Oct 14, 15, 16
9a-5p
Native American gathering with dancers, artisans, traders, living history. Reenactment of 11 Sept 1836 (Seminole Battle of San Felasco hammock). Fun for entire family. Park admission: $4 per car

MY FAVORITE!!!!!
Coon Hollo Corn Maze
Micanopy, FL 22480 N. Hwy 441
Sept 30-Oct 30
Hay rides, farmyard playground, obstacle course, and "Fort Coon Hollo". There is so much that this farm has. The hay rides bring you up a hill where you can feed cows and spot a gator. There's derby cart races, barrel roller coaster. My kids personal favorite, the "corn jacuzzi", big feeding trows filled with dried corn. Cheap food and tons of fun. We went last year and didn't want to leave. A Blast!!!! More info: www.coonhollocornmaze.com

Newberry Fall Market Festival
Newberry, FL South Seaboard Rd
Oct 15, 16
Times TBA
BBQ Cook-off
More info: www.newberrymainstreet.org

Red, White, and Blue 4 You BBQ
Alachua, FL Women's Club 14656 S. Main St.
Oct 20
6:30p-10p
Dinner Silent Auction, door prizes. $50 admission benefiting the Military Support Group of Alachua County. Let me tell you about this group. I am personally involved and have volunteered with them over the past two years. They are exceptional people doing selfless acts to help others. Every month they send out over 100+ care packages to soldiers deployed overseas, my husband and my brother-in-law included. Come on out and help their efforts!

Butterfly Fest
Gainesville, FL Florida Museum of Natural History
Oct 22,23
10a-5p
Explore bees, bats, birds, and butterflies. In butterfly dome. The museum is also very cool too. Kids will love it. More info: www.flmnh.ufl.edu

Gainesville Pride Parade and Festival
Gainesville, FL Bo Diddley Community Plaza (Downtown)
Oct 22
1p-9p
Pride parade 1pm up University Ave. Local music, vendors, "Kid's space". Free event!

Shop, Dine, Stroll
Alachua, FL Main Street
Oct 28, Nov 18, Dec 9, Dec 16
6p-9p
Scare Crow Row (Really Cool!), Carriage rides, shopping, and music in Theater Park on historic Alachua's Main St.

Fall Festival and Car Show
High Springs, FL James Paul Park (around sink hole)
Oct 29
8a-5p
Vintage Cars, Family activities.

Trick-or-Treat on Main Street
Alachua, FL Main St.
Bring the kids to Main Street in beautiful downtown Alachua, shop owners hand out candy. Wear your costumes.

Boo at the Zoo
Gainesville, FL Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo.
Oct 31
3p-7p
Get there early and see the animals. Wear your costume and get candy for the kids.

Black & White Party
High Springs, FL Art Co-op 115 N. Main St
Food, Music, refreshments, black and white themed party. Each co-op member will have an exhibit of two pieces of black and white art. Drawings throughout the night. Art walk.

Harvest Festival
Alachua, FL Main St.
Nov 6
11a-5p
Food, live music, arts and crafts, kids activities, rides, games, and more.

Gator Mud Run
Newberry, FL
Nov 6
10a
5K Mud Run in Alachua County with obstacle course. Cash prizes, music, free t-shirts. Kid's course. need to register at gatormudrun@gmail.com

Downtown Festival and Art Show
Gainesville, FL Downtown
Nov 12, 13
10a-5p
This festival is huge! Over 250 of the nation's best artists. 3 stages of entertainment. Blues concert and free hands-on art activities for the kids.

Open House and Tree Lighting
High Springs, FL Downtown
Nov 18
5p-8p
Tree lighting at dark. Shops stay open late.

There are so many more happenings. I will update this list as they come up. Make sure you take part in at least one of these great events that the High Springs area has to offer. And remember, It's always sunny in High Springs.