Halloween is nearly here. You’ve already watched Hocus Pocus at least five times, and you’ve gotten your daily dose of Pumpkin Spice Lattes every single day. All of that is great, but there are so many other ways to get in the spirit. There are a ton of nearby attractions in Gainesville and Alachua County that will satisfy your fall cravings.
Micanopy Fall Festival
The Micanopy Fall Festival is an annual event, one that has been going on for 42 years. Micanopy is a quaint, historic town. It features food, crafts and entertainment. It might not feature any scary exhibits or haunted houses, but it’ll definitely put you in the mood for fall. There’s also an auction with donated items. For more information, you can visit their website.
Hours:
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, October 30, 2016, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address:
Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy, FL
Newberry Cornfield Maze
If you’ve never been to the Newberry Cornfield Maze, you’re missing out. Enter the corn maze, and get prepared to be seriously scared; people with chainsaws will jump out at you. There’s also a haunted house to feed your inner Halloweenie, as well as a haunted hayride, and a mechanical bull, too. If you don’t like getting scared, you can go during the day. Ghoulish creatures only come out at night. It’s a little bit of a hike from campus, but it’s so worth it.
Hours:
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 3 – 11 p.m.
Address:
20015 W Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL
Trinity’s Pumpkin Patch
Trinity United Methodist Church’s pumpkin patch is one of the best around. They have thousands of pumpkins, treats and free hayrides. Their photo setup is also really cute. I mean, was it even fall if you didn’t get an Instagram in a pumpkin patch? Maybe, you can actually buy a pumpkin, too.
Hours:
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 30, 2016, 12 – 6 p.m.
Address:
4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL
Wicked Plants: The Exhibit
This year, the Florida Museum of Natural History is hosting a pretty scary exhibit. Wicked Plants: The Exhibit is showing museum goers a spookier side of wildlife. The exhibit features a variety of plants, including poisonous and carnivorous ones. Some of the highlights includes interactive computers that demonstrate the effects of psychoactive plants, such as diviner’s sage, yoho and tobacco. There are even sniffing stations, where visitors can smell some of the gross odors plants produce. But, the best part about the exhibit? It’s free for University of Florida students.
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 – 5 p.m.
*The exhibit runs until January 15, 2017.
Address:
3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL
So, get off the couch, put the latte down and actually enjoy the season outside. You’ll be glad you did.
Photo Credits & Courtesy: Providence Doucet via unsplash.com http://micanopyfallfestival.org, http://newberrycornfieldmaze.com, Julia McGuiness and https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/