PRCA News

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) is pleased to offer a free basketball clinic with the coaching staff from the Eastside High School basketball team at the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Multipurpose Center. The clinics are open to everyone, and are a great opportunity for those wishing to participate in PRCA’s Youth Coed Basketball league and hone in their skills.

Downtown Gainesville is in the midst of a colorful transformation and entering a new phase of its cultural renaissance. 352walls/The Gainesville Urban Art Initiative features the work of 13 renowned international muralists and 13 of the region’s best artists as well. The 352walls experience began Friday, Oct. 30 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 25, and resumes again in January 2016.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at the Historic Thomas Center. Gainesville Mayor Ed Braddy will be on hand to welcome citizens and call for the giant tree to be lit.

Santa knows good character is the best gift and he wants to hear what that means to our community’s children! The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) is collecting letters through Operation Letters to Santa this year for all children in kindergarten through third grade (or any child that still “believes”). This is a free program and is open to all Gainesville residents. Letters must be postmarked or received by Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. The PRCA “elves” will help Santa read and respond to each letter.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department and the Friends of Nature Parks present the Annual Cane Boil & FiddleFest at Morningside Nature Center Saturday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Department wishes to honor our veterans and the Veterans Day holiday by offering free admission to all visitors at Sweetwater Wetlands Park Wednesday, Nov. 11

Come be swept away with medieval magic by volunteering at the 30th Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Step back in time at the Alachua County Fairgrounds Saturday, Jan. 30- Sunday, Jan. 31 and Friday, Feb. 5 through Sunday, Feb. 7. Become a part of Gainesville’s rich tradition of community service while enjoying one of the area’s most highly anticipated events.

The 3rd Annual Survivors of Suicide Candlelight Vigil will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Survivors of Suicide Memory Garden in Cofrin Nature Park, located at 4810 NW Eighth Ave. Activities will start at 4 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 5:45 p.m. This event is free and open to the community, and refreshments will be provided. Those wishing to attend are asked to park at the University City Church of Christ parking lot, due east of Cofrin Nature Park at 4626 NW Eighth Ave. Disabled parking is available at the park for those with a placard.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Urban Forestry Division invites the community to stop by their booth, number C50, at the Downtown Festival & Art Show Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the event, the Urban Forestry Division is giving away trees to all persons residing within Gainesville’s city limits of. Citizens can register to have a free 15-gallon tree delivered to their home, choosing from the following species: bald cypress, live oak or southern magnolia. All festival attendees may receive a free bare root seedling, while supplies last (species has not yet been determined). The goal of this effort is to promote the renewal of Gainesville’s tree canopy, and inform the public of the benefits of trees.

Art, music, food and the opportunity to enjoy a fall day outdoors is coming to the streets of historic downtown Gainesville this November. Art lovers and artists will mingle once again as the heart of Gainesville sets the stage for the 34th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show Nov. 14 and 15. More than 100,000 people are expected to join in the festivities, a juried fine arts festival, produced by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. Exquisite art work by 240 of the finest artists and craftspeople in the country will decorate the streets from City Hall to the Hippodrome Theatre as the event runs daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can meet the exhibiting artists, enjoy live music and dance performances on four stages and sample international cuisine.