The Ultimate Guide to Summer in Gainesville

Each fall approximately, 50,000 students are enrolled in the University of Florida. These students cause Gainesville’s population of 125,000 to increase to about 175,000 people in less than a month! That is a lot of people. What about the summer session? Well, enrollment drops down to ½ of the fall session which means that approximately, 25, 000 students attend UF. Therefore, the population decreases to about 100,000. With these numbers in mind, what can 100,000 people who remain in Gainesville during the summer do for entertainment? Well, the city of Gainesville has lots of great things going on. Read onto find out more information.
Downtown Arts Festival
This is a biannual event that takes place every spring and fall. It usually draws about 100,000 people. 2010 is the 29th year of the festival which displays work of over 250 artists. It’s a great place to spend the day and possibly purchase a unique piece of artwork or jewelry. Be sure to check out the next one in November. They will be selling holiday gifts so you can get a head start on that Christmas shopping!
Let’s Go Downtown Free Fridays Concert Series
For the music lovers out there, this series provides an excellent opportunity for people to see a free concert every Friday night. The series started on May 7 and will run through October. Bring a blanket and be prepared to enjoy the music of local and regional bands!
Yulee Railroad Tradition
For those history buffs out there, you can join a 6 year tradition. During the first week in June, there is an annual parade in Archer to celebrate the David Levy Yulee’s Florida railroad. There will be live entertainment, a patriotic parade and even some gospel music.
Well, this listing is just the tip of the iceberg. You might want to contact the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts for more information about summer workshops. Memorial Day weekend was the unofficial start of summer and this means that city pools are now open. If you are a good swimmer and want some extra cash, working as a life guard might a great summer job for you!
Check out http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/ for more information on events in Gainesville not only during the summer but all year long.