Things to do Gainesville

There are numerous activities and events to enjoy while you are living in Gainesville.

Have a family?

Visit fun4gatorkids for plenty of family friendly activities.

The Hippodrome Theatre

Theater and Performing Arts

Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is Gainesville’s cultural centerpiece offering live theatre, films, gallery exhibits, classes, and special events over 340 days a year. The Hipp. It’s close to home, but far from ordinary!

UF Performing Arts

We believe performing arts are for everyone and we are dedicated to bringing world-class performers that reflect the diversity of Gainesville and its surrounding areas. While some of the artists coming this season will perform on the stage, many will also take their talents directly onto our campus and into local schools as part of our growing education outreach program.

The Gainesville Community Playhouse

The Gainesville Community Playhouse is one of the oldest community theaters in the state of Florida. Our first play, The Pied Piper of Hamlin, was produced in 1927 and we have been producing quality plays and musicals ever since. In 2006, we moved into our present facility, the magnificent Vam York Theater, a 210-seat house with facilities to stage the most demanding musicals and plays.

Harn Museum of Arts

Museums

Samuel P. Harn Museum

One of the largest university-affiliated art museums in the United States, the Harn Museum has an 86,800-square-foot facility, which includes 32,800 square feet of exhibition space, a 250-seat auditorium, study center, museum store, café, spacious areas for art storage and staff offices for work and research. In 2012, the museum opened the David A. Cofrin Asian Art Wing, a new 26,000-square-foot addition, which is dedicated to the exhibition, storage and conservation of the museum’s extensive collection of Asian art.

Florida Museum of Natural History

Florida’s official state natural history museum and one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing natural history museums.

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention is named for Dr. James Robert Cade, a professor of renal (kidney) medicine at the University of Florida and the lead inventor of the sports drink Gatorade. The Museum’s exhibits, educational programs, and Creativity Labs encourage learners of all ages to think like an inventor, meet an inventor, and be an inventor. Their mission is to transform communities by inspiring and equipping future inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries.