Gainesville
Around Gainesville
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Metro area · Florida · 359k people
Gainesville
“Gator Town”, “Tree City”
Gator country, cool springs, warm hearts
Gator OrangeGator Blue
Welcome to Gainesville, where the springs are clear, the gators are loud, and the live oaks are dripping with moss. Whether you're here for the university, the nature, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly town with a whole lot of local flavor.
Clubs for Gainesville
No clubs for Gainesville yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Gainesville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Gainesville. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp) Home of Florida Gators football
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 21,000 acres of wetlands with bison and wild horses
- Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park 120-foot-deep sinkhole with lush vegetation
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens 62 acres with bamboo grove and butterfly garden
- Florida Museum of Natural History On UF campus, famous for butterfly rainforest exhibit
- Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art On UF campus, modern and contemporary art
- Outdoors Swim at Ginnie Springs
- Outdoors Hike the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie
- With kids Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
- With kids Florida Museum of Natural History
- Evenings Live music at High Dive
- Evenings Independent films at the Hippodrome Theatre
- Locals love Springs and swimming holes
- Locals love Nature trails and boardwalks
Through the year
- Gatornationals March NHRA drag racing at Gainesville Raceway
- Hoggetowne Medieval Faire February Renaissance-style festival with jousting and crafts
- Downtown Festival & Art Show November Fine arts and crafts in downtown Gainesville
- Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival April Juried art show and live music on campus
- Alachua County Fair October County fair with rides, exhibits, and livestock
Humid subtropical climate with hot, stormy summers and mild winters. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “G-ville”
- Short for Gainesville
- “The Swamp”
- Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Gators
- “Gator”
- A University of Florida student or fan
- “Gatorade”
- The sports drink invented here
Getaways
- Ocala Horse farms and Silver Springs State Park
- Homosassa Springs See manatees at the wildlife state park
- Palatka St. Johns River and historic downtown
- Lake City Gateway to Ichetucknee Springs and tubing
Local flavour
Teams
- Florida Gators NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Gator tail Fried alligator meat, a local novelty and game dish
- Gatorade Invented at the University of Florida, a signature drink
- Southern comfort food Fried chicken, collard greens, grits, and sweet tea
Where people go
- Natural springs Freshwater springs like Ginnie Springs and Ichetucknee Springs, popular for swimming and tubing
- State parks and preserves Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
- College town landmarks Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ('The Swamp') and the University of Florida campus
Heritage and traditions
Gainesville is proud of its vibrant college-town culture, the Gator Nation spirit, and its deep roots in Florida's natural beauty, from springs to prairies.
This time of year in Gainesville
- Gator football Saturdays fall Tailgating and game day traditions.
- Downtown Festival & Art Show fall November art show.
- Gainesville Pride October LGBTQ+ celebration with parade and festival.
- Tom Petty Birthday Bash October Annual tribute concert honoring Gainesville's rock legend.
Say it like a local: “The Swamp” — Nickname for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Festivals
- Gainesville Celtic Festival spring Celebrates Celtic music, dance, and heritage at the Thomas Center.
- Gainesville Pride October LGBTQ+ celebration with parade and festival.
- Tom Petty Birthday Bash October Annual tribute concert honoring Gainesville's rock legend.
Landmarks with a story
- Matheson History Museum Historic house museum preserving Gainesville's past.
- Thomas Center Former hotel, now a cultural center and art gallery.
- Historic Haile Homestead Antebellum home with 'talking walls' (writings on walls).
- Old Gainesville Depot Restored 1905 railway depot, now a museum.
- First Presbyterian Church Historic church with beautiful stained glass.
- Century Tower Iconic bell tower on the UF campus.
Food traditions
- Gator tail and boiled peanuts on game days Tailgating staple before Gator football games.
- Gatorade Invented at UF in 1965, the original sports drink.
- Saturday morning at the Union Street Farmers Market Local produce and food vendors.
- Southern sweet tea and fried chicken at Sunday dinners Southern comfort food tradition.
- Dining at local food trucks Gainesville has a thriving food truck scene.
Music and arts
- Indie rock and punk scene Bands like Tom Petty, Less Than Jake, Against Me! originated here.
- The Hippodrome Theatre Performing arts hub.
- The Thomas Center galleries Visual arts exhibitions.
- Gainesville Fine Arts Association Supports local artists.
A little history
- 1854 City founded
- 1906 University of Florida opens
- 1965 Gatorade invented
- 1860s Railroad arrives
- 1960s Civil rights protests
Rivalries
- Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles In-state football rivalry
- Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs Annual cocktail party in Jacksonville
- Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers SEC East rivalry
- Florida Gators vs. Miami Hurricanes Historic in-state rivalry
- Game day Tailgating at The Swamp
- Game day Gator Growl
- Outdoors Floating down the Ichetucknee River
- Outdoors Paddling the Santa Fe River
- With kids Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
- With kids Matheson History Museum
A Southern accent with a college-town twist. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' but also Gator slang and Florida-specific terms. Locals often drop the 'g' in -ing words and speak at a relaxed pace.
Only here
- Gatorade was invented here.
- The UF bat houses are the largest occupied bat houses in North America.
- The Swamp is one of the loudest stadiums in college football.
- Tom Petty's boyhood home is a landmark.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the heat and humidity; stay hydrated.
- Learn to love the afternoon thunderstorms in summer.
- Get a bike; Gainesville is very bicycle-friendly.
- Say 'Go Gators' to make friends.
- Try the local springs; they're a way of life.
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Part of Gainesville area
Nearby
Every areaStarkeFloridaPine‑scented roads and watermelon summers.OcalaFloridaWhere horses and springs set the pace.PalatkaFloridaWhere the river blooms with azaleas.Lake CityFloridaWhere the springs meet the river, and time slows down.The VillagesFloridaWhere neighbors wave and strangers smileLive OakFloridaThe heart of Florida's spring countryHomosassa SpringsFloridaWhere the springs meet the GulfJacksonvilleFloridaWhere the river meets the sea and the sun never quits.
Gainesville, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.