HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital set to open in May 2026
As areas west of Gainesville continue to grow, HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital is set to open May 5, bringing a new 90-bed medical facility to town.
THIS WEEK
Santa Fe College Student Juried Art Exhibition
The Santa Fe College Student Juried Art Exhibition is on display at the Santa Fe College Art Gallery in Building M-147, 3000 NW 83rd St., showcasing a curated selection of student works in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and ceramics chosen from more than 300 submissions. The exhibition is on view through May 1, with awards selected by guest juror Carly Shooster and additional honors, including a Gallery Choice award. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit sfcollege.edu.
Levitt AMP Alachua Music Series
The Levitt AMP Alachua Music Series will present free, family-friendly outdoor concerts Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. through May 8 at Skinner Baseball Park on Main Street in Alachua, with additional performances scheduled for September. The series will feature a diverse lineup of artists performing R&B, soul, bluegrass, indie rock, country, Irish, blues, reggae, funk, Latin and a cappella. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics to enjoy the open-lawn concert setting. Admission is free. For more information and the full concert schedule, visit levittampalachua.com.
Santa Fe Springs Plein Air Paintout
The ninth annual Santa Fe Springs Plein Air Paintout art exhibit is on display at Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies, 23645 W. U.S. 27 in High Springs, featuring original works available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Our Santa Fe River Inc. The exhibit will remain on display through May 17. For more information, visit lanzagallery.com.
‘NEXT: High School and College Juried Exhibition’
The Gainesville Fine Arts Association presents “NEXT: High School and College Juried Exhibition,” on display through May 22 at 1314 S. Main St., featuring visual art in a variety of mediums by local high school and college students. The exhibition is free, with artwork available for purchase. Additional parking is available at the grocery store lot next door and street parking on Main Street.
‘Million Dollar Quartet’
The newest production from the Hippodrome Theatre, “Million Dollar Quartet,” will run through May 24, bringing four musical icons — Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis — together in one recording studio for a show featuring more than 20 rock ’n’ roll hits. Audiences can expect classics including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line” and “Great Balls of Fire,” in a production inspired by the real-life moment when these legends came together. Catch a show at 7 p.m.: April 24, April 29-May 1, May 6-8, May 13-15 and May 20-22; at 2 p.m. April 25-26, May 2-3, May 9-10, May 16-17 and May 23-24; and 8 p.m. April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16 and May 23. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org. The Hippodrome Theatre is located at 25 SE Second Place.
‘Florida in the Frame’
The Harn Museum of Art’s exhibition “Florida in the Frame: A Century of Artists’ Reflections on the Sunshine State” continues at 3259 Hull Road, showcasing works from The Florida Art Collection that explore the state’s landscapes, history and culture through paintings, works on paper and select sculptures. Featuring more than 65 artists, including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Florida Highwaymen painters Johnny Daniels and Harold Newton, the exhibition is organized into themes highlighting natural environments, growing cities and the rise of tourism, and will remain on view through July 26. Admission is free. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit harn.ufl.edu/floridaintheframe.
‘The Grand Finale’
Heartwood Soundstage will host “The Grand Finale” on May 1-2 at 619 S. Main St. The two-day reunion event brings together Gainesville musicians and audiences from the 1960s, 1970s and beyond for a weekend of live music and community celebration. Friday begins at 7 p.m. with Mike Boulware opening from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin performing from 7:45 to 9 p.m. in the indoor listening room. Saturday’s free outdoor event starts at 1 p.m. and features Patchwork & Friends, The Nancy Luca Band, The Couch Messiahs, Uncle John’s Band and Chasing Rabbits. All-access tickets are $50 and include Friday night seating and all Saturday performances, while Saturday-only admission is free. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.
Wildflower Festival and Plant Sale
The Suwannee Festivals Committee will host the Wildflower Festival and Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 at Heritage Park and Gardens, 1004 Helvenston St. SE in Live Oak. The free, family-friendly event will feature live music from local performers, vendors offering handcrafted goods and plants, educational presentations on native plants and gardening, food trucks, and activities for all ages. The celebration continues with Movie Night at Heritage Park at 8 p.m., featuring a family-friendly animated nature film and free popcorn; attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Festivities begin the evening before with Chalk Art on the Trail on May 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the south entrance to Heritage Trail (Helvenston Street and Cross Avenue), where young artists can create nature-themed sidewalk art with provided chalk.
Free Porch Sessions: Friends on a Porch
Heartwood Soundstage will host Free Porch Sessions: Friends on a Porch, featuring Sarah Hinds, Jenny Lee and Amanda Husband on May 6 at 619 S. Main St. The outdoor, all-ages event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature acoustic porch performances in a relaxed setting with seating provided, along with happy hour and summer drink specials. Admission is free. For more information or to RSVP, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.Douglas StuartAuthor Douglas Stuart will make an appearance May 7 for a 7 p.m. event at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Stuart, the Booker Prize-winning novelist of “Shuggie Bain,” will discuss his work as part of the venue’s speaker series. General admission tickets are $15. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
ONGOING
Horse Feeding
The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service, such as police patrol or state and federal parks. They allow visitors to tour the property and feed treats — carrots, apple slices and bananas provided by the visitors — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses is located at 20307 NW CR 235A in Alachua. For more information or to support the nonprofit, visit millcreekfarm.org.
Community Nights
Community Nights are free weekly events hosted by South Main Station and Heartwood Soundstage that include a rotating calendar of jams, skillshares, concerts, arts markets, food and drink specials, and other activities each Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. The event has grown in popularity with families, locals, musicians, and college students since its launch in 2024. The event takes place at South Main Station, an arts, food, and entertainment campus adjacent to Depot Park that spans the Southeast corner of Main Street and Depot Road. Community Nights always feature free live music and drink specials at Heartwood Soundstage’s lawn bar, but any given week can also include skillshares on music and videography, kids’ activities, film screenings, and opportunities to sample local food and drink at South Main’s businesses, which include Humble Pie Pizzeria, Grand Scheme Brewery, Bingo Deli, and Afternoon Coffee. The first Wednesday of every month always features an open-air arts market of local makers and an old-time music jam. More information is available at heartwoodsoundstage.com.
COMING SOON
Dance Sun Country: ‘Another Day in Paradise’
Dance Sun Country will present its 19th annual recital, “Another Day in Paradise,” at 1 p.m. May 9 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, featuring approximately 40 dances performed by students of all ages — from Dance Tots to advanced-level dancers — across styles including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary and clogging. The program includes a wide range of themed pieces such as “Home Sweet Home,” “Over the Rainbow,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Best Day of My Life,” “Trouble in Paradise,” “I Hope You Dance” and more. Tickets are available exclusively through the Phillips Center Box Office by phone at 392-ARTS or 800-905-ARTS, or online. For more information, visit performingarts.ufl.edu or contact Sun Country Sports Center at 331-8773.
Mean Mary
International touring musician Mean Mary will perform May 22 at the Florida Folk Festival at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive/U.S. 41 in White Springs. Appearing as part of her “Woman Creature” tour, Mary’s set will feature a mix of songs from across her catalog along with new original material. Known for her lightning-fast banjo playing and distinctive vocal style, she blends folk, bluegrass, blues and Americana into high-energy performances that range from story-driven ballads to rapid-fire instrumentals. A multi-instrumentalist who plays more than 10 instruments, she has built an international following through touring, award-winning songwriting and widely viewed music videos. For more information, visit meanmary.com.
With Everything Going On Festival
Heartwood Soundstage will host the inaugural With Everything Going On Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. May 30, a one-day event curated by Gainesville songwriter Jordan Burchel that also serves as the official release show for his new record of the same name. The lineup features Nick Lutsko String Band, The Nancys, Lauris Vidal, Spencer Thomas, Morningbell, Lauren Woodall and more, bringing together a mix of local and regional artists whose work reflects both place and moment. Blending a music festival, album release and reflection on creativity in uncertain times, the event centers on the idea of continuing to make and share art in the midst of it all, with a focus on community, collaboration and catharsis. Heartwood Soundstage is located at 619 S. Main St. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gainesville.com ’
