It’s another sunny weekend in Gainesville, and we’ve done our weekly roundup to help you keep your friends and family entertained all weekend long.
1.74th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival
May 18 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Since 1946, families and visitors have come to Newberry to enjoy the annual Watermelon Festival. The festival schedule includes a parade, festival kickoff, auction, and crowning of the 2019 Watermelon Queen. Experience “A Fresh Slice of Tradition” at the 74th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival.
2. Expecto Bar Crawl
May 18 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wizards and Witches grab your robes and wands and transport yourself to Gainesville FL because Expecto Bar Crawl will commence on May 18th for our annual Expecto Bar Crawl!!! We are combining Wizardry and booze for an utterly magical mixture that you won’t want to miss!
(Tickets are required if you are dressing up to gain bar entry)
Tickets Include:
⚡️Magic Wizard Wand
⚡️Acceptance Letter
⚡️Lightning Bolt Tattoo
⚡️Train Ticket
⚡️Exclusive beer stein souvenir cup.
⚡️Themed drink specials during the crawl.
⚡️No cover at participating locations.
⚡️Wizard Sorting lanyard to ensure bar entry and drink specials. (Lanyards are required if you are dressing up to gain bar entry)
⚡️Hundreds of Wizards and Witches
A portion of proceeds will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expecto-bar-crawl-gainesville-fl-tickets-59084850378/amp
3.Florida Museum, First Magnitude beer launch May 17 supports Butterfly Conservation
May 17 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Florida Museum of Natural History and First Magnitude Brewing Co. will release a specialty beer called “Frosted Elfin New England-Style Pale Ale. May 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. to support butterfly conservation. The new beer highlights the rare Frosted Elfin butterfly. The admission price of $10 includes $1 off all beers; $15 includes a signature glass and $1 off all beers.
4.Junior Ranger Jamboree
May 18 @ 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Come to Dudley Farm Historic State Park for a morning of Junior Ranger activities and fun! Participants will have the opportunity to:
– Complete 3 different “passport” activities
– Get sworn in as a Florida State Parks Junior Ranger
– Talk with staff, volunteers and rangers from several Florida State Parks
– Get your face painted
Don’t forget water and sunscreen. Please arrive in time to register between 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM. Afterward, bring a picnic lunch or buy a hot dog and lemonade lunch and enjoy the farm. Enjoy it in the company of your new Junior Ranger friends!
5.Gainesville Roller Rebels: “Bruises & Brews” Fundraiser at First Magnitude
May 18 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join your local roller derby team, the Gainesville Roller Rebels, for an afternoon of family-friendly fun at First Magnitude Brewing Company!
At the Bruises & Brews Fundraiser, hang out with the Rebels, listen to live music, participate in a silent auction and (of course) enjoy delicious First Mag brews — all while supporting our 2019 season!
6.Tree Kangaroo Awareness Day
May 19 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is home to the Matschie’s tree kangaroo, an endangered species native to a small area of Papua New Guinea. Bring the whole family out to the Zoo on Sunday, May 19th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. to see these rare, majestic animals and learn how you can help them in the wild.
7.An Intimate Evening with Kristin Chenoweth
May 19 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on the main stage at the Phillips Center.
8.Time Warp: Blade Runner
May 17 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Arguably one of the best sci-fi films ever made, this 1982 classic follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) on his pursuit to find and retire four “replicants” that have come to the Earth illegally.
9.General Magic
May 17 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This documentary, rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, details the visionary work of General Magic, a barely known tech company from the 1990s. It uncovers a Silicon Valley company who designed a smartphone-type device, complete with emojis, that was years ahead of its time. The film features interviews and archival footage of past employees, now hugely successful names in their own right, and spotlights a timeline of technological innovation and analyzes how timing is paramount.