Area cities, businesses, churches and organizations alike are gearing up for a fall season full of celebrating fun times with family and friends as we head into the year-end holiday giving season.  

Here’s a roundup of festivals, markets, parades and Oktoberfest events for you to jump into the fall season like a pile of crisp leaves. 

September 

High Springs Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival 
When: Sept. 13 -14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where: High Springs farmers market pavilion (23517 NW 185th Rd.) 
Featuring vendors of crafts, fine art, soaps, antiques, plants, businesses and food, activities, a kids corral, prizes and more. 

Waldo Sweet Potato Festival and Car Display 
When: Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Where: Waldo City Square (14450 NE 148th Ave., Waldo) 
Experience the joy of sweet potatoes at this festival, where local vendors and family-friendly activities await. 

Amber Brook Farms Fall Festival 
When: Sept. 20 through Nov. 2 weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Where: Amber Brooks Farms (3250 NE 140th Ave., Williston) 
From nostalgic traditions to new seasonal favorites, enjoy family activities including bull riding and a candy cannon, great food and live entertainment each weekend. Ticket prices vary at $15.95 online and $17.95 at the gate for Sept. 20 through Oct. 5 and Nov. 1-2 weekends and Fridays, and $17.95 online and $19.95 at the gate for Oct. 11, 18 and 25 weekends. 

Swamp Head Brewery Oktoberfest 
When: Sept. 26, 4 to 11 p.m. 
Where: Swamp Head Brewery (3650 SW 42nd Ave., Gainesville) 
German beers, big steins and Lederhosen galore. Tasting room opens at noon on Fridays and a stein-holding competition will take place outside at 6:30 p.m. 

Butler Town Center Fall Festival 
When: Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Where: Butler Town Center (3217 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville) 
This year’s celebration is Peanuts-inspired, bringing the charm of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and friends to Butler. Explore Butler Town Center and the greenspace by P.F. Chang’s for a day full of free fall fun, including live music and entertainment, fall-themed festival games, treats from local vendors and photos with festive fall backdrops. 

Cypress & Grove Oktoberfest 
When: Sept. 27, 2-10 p.m. 
Where: Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. (1001 NW 4th St., Gainesville) 
Featuring traditional German beers, food trucks, a live brass quintet, and a stein-holding competition.  

Mayhem Ranch Fall Festival 
When: Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 27 through Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where: Mayhem Ranch (17830 Southeast 40th St., Morriston) 
Activities include a u-pick pumpkin patch and flowers, corn maze, petting zoo, country store, live music, pig races, swings and slides, Maggie’s milking station, farm train, safari hayride, pumpkin painting, kangaroo holding and more. Tickets are $15 online or $17 at the gate. Kids two and under are free. 

October 

Red House Ranch Fall Festival 
When: Oct. 3 through Nov. 9, Fridays 4 to 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays noon to 7 p.m. 
Where: Red House Ranch (22480 N Hwy 441, Micanopy) 
Formerly Coon Hollow Farm, Red House Ranch is putting on a festival for the whole posse. One $15 ticket includes a crop maze, hayride to feed cows, buckin’ barrels, archery, pony rides, mini golf, pig races, sack slide, water trough train, Karson’s Wild West Show, hay fort and corn crib, obstacle course, pipe swing playground and more. 

Crossroads Farm and Apiary Fall Festival and Corn Maze 
When: Oct. 4 through Nov. 2, Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where: Crossroads Farm and Apiary (3831 NW 156th Ave., Gainesville) 
Come to the farm for food, games and fun, including a pumpkin patch, crop maze, bounce pad, hay and train ride, flower field, pumkin’ chunkin’, paintball target practice, face painting, animals, hay bale jungle gym and beekeeping encounter. 

Braze Ranch Fall Festival 
When: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 4-26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where: Braze Ranch (19004 NE US Hwy 301, Waldo) 
Join for a fun-filled day at the crop maze, pumpkin patch, cows and calves, corn crib, touch-a-tractor and much more. Tickets are $8-12. 

GCM Fall Food Festival 
When: Oct. 9, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. 
When: Celebration Pointe, (4949 Celebration Pointe Ave., Gainesville) 
Bring your appetite and enjoy great food from 40 restaurants all in one location, including local favorites like Mi Apa and Gigi’s Cupcakes and nationwide staples like Texas Roadhouse and Krispy Kreme. Admission to the GCM Fall Food Festival is free, with $3 food tickets available for purchase on the GCM App or at the GCM Food Festival. A Kids Zone will feature three different bounce houses for a full night of jumping. 
 
Thornebrook Fall Arts Festival 
When: Oct. 11 and 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Where: Thornebrook Village (2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville) 
Art on display includes painting, sculpture, photography, glass works, fiber arts, wood carvings, pottery, jewelry and more. Dining options include food trucks, Bageland, Esperanza’s, Mini Momo and Thornebrook Chocolates. 

Tioga Oktoberfest 
When: Oct. 11, 2 to 8 p.m. 
Where: Tioga Town Center stage (13085 SW 1 Ln.., Newberry) 
Join for a free afternoon of music, food, fun and of course, plenty of beer. 

City of Gainesville: The Great Pumpkin Bash 
When: Oct. 11, noon to 5 p.m. 
When: Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave., Gainesville) 
This inaugural and free Great Pumpkin Bash will celebrate the arrival of fall with a variety of festive activities, including a corn maze, games, pumpkin patch, delicious food, face painting, themed photo booth, pumpkin carving contest and more. 

Bryer Patch Pumpkin Festival 
When: Oct. 11-12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: The Bryer Patch (5700 SW 250th St., Newberry) 
Join for the “Fall on the Farm” season kickoff with all farm activities open. Admission includes access to a pumpkin patch, vegetable patch, u-pick flower fields, crop maze, hayride with ducks and cows, farm animals, play paddock, face painting, games, live music and vendors. Tickets are $12 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 3 to 12 and free for ages 2 and under. 

Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens Fall Festival 
When: Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Where: Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens (4990 NE 180th Ave., Williston) 
Bring the whole family to enjoy live music, a curated market of local vendors, delicious eats from local food trucks and a beautiful stroll through the gardens in full fall color. Adult tickets are $12, children ages 6 to 13 are $7 and children 5 and under are free. 

Archer First United Methodist Church: Autumn Art & Crafts Festival 
When: Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Where: Archer First United Methodist Church (17121 SW 137th Ln., Archer) 
The church’s first Autumn Art & Crafts Festival will feature local artists and a space for children to paint gourds all for free. 

University of Florida Homecoming Parade and Gator Growl 
When: Oct. 17, noon 
Where: Along 13th St. and University Ave. 
See the largest student-run homecoming parade and pep rally in the country, featuring floats, bands and more. Friday night’s “Gator Growl” is the place to gather for live music, entertainers and food trucks. 

Homestead Park Fall Festival 
When: Oct. 25, 6 to 10 p.m. 
Where: Homestead Park (1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston) 
Get a head start on your holiday shopping with unique craft and boutique vendors. Treat your taste buds to a variety of delicious food trucks and satisfy your sweet tooth with classic fall treats like popcorn and candy apples. Kids can enjoy a bounce house, play classic carnival games and take a scenic hayride all for free. 

Lubee Bat Conservancy Florida Bat Festival 
When: Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Where: Lubee Bat Conservancy (1309 NW 192nd Ave., Gainesville) 

For over 20 years, the Florida Bat Festival has been celebrating bats, the world’s most famous flying mammal. With activities, vendors, a beer garden, entertainment and over 5,000 Florida residents and visitors attending each year, the festival is a yearly family-friendly fall favorite. Tickets are free for kids 4 years old and under, $5 for ages 5 to 12, $10 for 13 and up. One $45 beer garden ticket for 21 and older includes general festival entry.  

November 

Micanopy Fall Festival 
When: Nov. 1-2, Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: Downtown Micanopy (706 NE Cholokka Blvd., Micanopy) 
Local vendors will showcase around 200 displays of arts and crafts as the main stage plays host to a variety of live music at the 50th running of this fall festival. The free event will also feature an old-time auction of items donated by participating vendors. 

Bryer Patch Sunflower Festival 
When: Nov. 8 and 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: The Bryer Patch (5700 SW 250th St., Newberry) 
All farm activities will be open along with live music, vendors and more. Admission includes access to u-pick flower fields, a vegetable patch, large sunflower field, crop maze, hayride with ducks and cows, farm animal petting, face painting, games and play paddock. Ages 13 and up are $12, 3 to 12 are $10 and 2 and under are free. 

Newberry Main Street Fall Festival 
When: Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: Downtown Newberry (25435 W Newberry Rd., Newberry) 
Live music, arts and crafts, family fun zone, food trucks and over 100 vendors. 

Alachua Main Street Harvest Festival 
When: Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Where: Downtown Alachua (14801 Main St., Alachua) 
Main Street will be lined with over 200 unique vendors and thousands of guests looking for that one special gift, or piece of art for their home, or just a delicious treat. Live music will be available at both the main stage and the south stage. Proceeds will support various scholarships provided by the Alachua Business League to local students planning to attend Santa Fe College. 

Cane Boil & Fiddle Fest 
When: Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Where: Morningside Nature Center (3540 E University Ave., Gainesville) 
Enjoy free traditional games and crafts, food, live old-time and Americana music and sugar cane syrup production as you transport back to 1870. Ask interpreters about their lives on an 1870s farm or take a guided hike through the sandhill ecosystem amongst the pines.