Gainesville's Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Morningside Nature Center: free, with cane syrup making and old-time music.

The City of Gainesville’s Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. It is free, with sugar cane syrup making, live old-time and Americana music, games and crafts on the center’s 1870s farm.

Last checked 2026-11-14.

Upcoming dates

  • Sat. Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The city lists Nov. 21 as the next date and has not posted a later one.

Where it is and parking

The festival takes place on the Living History Farm at Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave., on the east side of Gainesville. Enter at the farm’s entry gate, where the city’s program places the information table and the first aid station.

The city’s program shows a parking lot by the center’s pavilion, with modern restrooms near the pavilion; the farm itself has an outhouse. The city does not publish any other parking arrangements for the day, and the event does not close streets.

Tickets and cost

The event is free, and no tickets are needed. The program marks a spot on the farm to buy cane syrup, and food vendors are on site; the city does not publish their prices.

What to know

The city describes the day as a trip back to 1870, with interpreters who talk about life on the farm and guided hikes through the center’s sandhill pines. Its program for the day lists:

  • Live music all day on the main stage near Shiloh Forge: The Okedokies from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., then The Purple Hayseeds from 12:30 to 3 p.m. There is also a jam stage.
  • Cane grinding demonstrations at the cane press at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
  • Animal encounters and “A Walk in the Woods” guided hikes at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
  • Forge work at Shiloh Forge at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m., then at 1, 1:30 and 2 p.m.
  • Kids activities, a woodshop, the cabin and the schoolhouse, and water refill stations around the farm.

The city says activity times and places can change; ask a costumed staff member on the day.

Rules from the city’s page and program:

  • No pets. Morningside Nature Center has a no-pet policy.
  • No smoking on the farm.
  • Stay on marked trails. All of the center’s trails are open for hiking during the event.

Questions go to the city’s environmental education programs at 352-393-8240 or EEPrograms@gainesvillefl.gov.

The festival is one of the free picks in our things to do this month list. For more of the season’s outings, see fall festivals and pumpkin patches, and for other walks in town, our parks and trails guide.

Dates and venues as listed on the Visit Gainesville calendar and confirmed on the organizer’s site.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest in Gainesville?

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Morningside Nature Center, according to the City of Gainesville.

Is the Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest free?

Yes. The city lists the event as free. Cane syrup is sold on the farm; the city does not publish its price.

Can I bring my dog to the Cane Boil at Morningside?

No. Morningside Nature Center has a no-pet policy, and the city asks visitors to leave pets at home.

Who is playing at the 2026 Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest?

The city’s program lists The Okedokies from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and The Purple Hayseeds from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on the main stage near Shiloh Forge. Times can change on the day.

Where is Morningside Nature Center?

At 3540 E. University Ave. in east Gainesville.