Fall 2026 near Gainesville: haunted hayrides at Haile Quarry, a corn maze on SW 75th Street, a church pumpkin patch and the Alachua Harvest Festival Nov. 15.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year. Events come from organizers’ listings on the Visit Gainesville events calendar and from each organizer’s own page, linked below. Times and dates can change, so check the organizer before you go.
Fall around Gainesville runs from late September into November: haunted hayrides and a haunted corn maze on weekend nights, a church pumpkin patch, and small-town festivals in Alachua, Newberry and La Crosse. Most of the big ones are on Saturdays in mid- to late October.
Before you go
- Event listings: Visit Gainesville calendar
- Emergencies: 911
- Gainesville city services: 352-334-5000
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides
| Where | What | When |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest United Methodist Church, 2400 SW Williston Road | Pumpkin patch and fall festival; pumpkin sales support the church | Opens in October; dates not yet posted |
| Peanut Patch and Corn Maze, 8656 SW 75th St. | Season of Screams: haunted house, haunted hayride and haunted corn maze | 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31 |
| Zip! at Haile Quarry, 3975 NW County Road 235, Newberry | Haunted hayride | 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 9 to Nov. 28 |
Both haunted attractions are ticketed, and the Peanut Patch event is built around horror characters, its organizers say. Southwest United Methodist also plans an annual pet blessing during the pumpkin patch, the church says.
Fall festivals
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 | GCM Fall Food Festival | Celebration Pointe, 3528 SW 45th St. | Ticketed |
| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 | Howl-O-Ween 5K and Fall Festival | Humane Society of North Central Florida, 4205 NW Sixth St. | See event page |
| 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 | Fall Horticultural Expo and Plant Market | Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, 23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry | Free |
| 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 | Town of La Crosse Fall Festival | Downtown La Crosse, 20421 N. State Road 121 | Free |
| 1 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 | 5th Annual Roselle Festival | Frog Song Organics, 4317 U.S. 301, Hawthorne | Ticketed |
| 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 | 10th Annual Blocktoberfest | Blackadder Brewing Co., 618 NW 60th St., Suite A | See listing |
| Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 | Fall Festival with Family Activities and Games | Westside Church of God of Prophecy, 909 NW 44th Ave. | Free |
| 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 | Gainesville Opportunity Center Fall Festival Open House | 1210 NW 14th Ave. | Free |
| 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 | 23rd Annual Alachua Harvest Festival | Main Street, Alachua | Free |
Saturday, Oct. 17, is the busiest day, with four of these events. The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens fall plant sale is the same day; see things to do this month.
Earlier this season
The High Springs Fall Festival ran Sept. 26-27 at the High Springs Farmers Market Pavilion, and the 41st annual Fall Arts Festival was Oct. 3-4 at the Shoppes at Thornebrook, 2441 NW 43rd St. We will list next year’s dates when they are posted.
Fall produce at the markets
Farmers markets keep running through the fall. Haile Farmers Market and the Alachua County Farmers Market both open 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays, and Grove Street Farmers Market runs Monday evenings. See our farmers markets guide.
What this means for you
- For a family pumpkin patch, start with Southwest United Methodist on Williston Road and check the church’s page for hours.
- The haunted corn maze and hayrides run in the evening; check each attraction’s own guidance before taking young children.
- Save Sunday, Nov. 15, for the free Alachua Harvest Festival.
- Running a fall event? Send the details through our contact page.
Related: trick-or-treat hours in Gainesville and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pumpkin patch in Gainesville in 2026?
Southwest United Methodist Church, 2400 SW Williston Road, says its annual pumpkin patch opens in October and sales support the church’s ministries. Check the church for dates and hours.
Is there a corn maze near Gainesville?
The Peanut Patch and Corn Maze, 8656 SW 75th St., runs its Season of Screams haunted house, hayride and corn maze from 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31.
Where can I go on a hayride near Gainesville?
Zip! at Haile Quarry, 3975 NW County Road 235, Newberry, runs a haunted hayride from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 9 to Nov. 28.
When is the Alachua Harvest Festival in 2026?
The 23rd annual Alachua Harvest Festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, on Main Street in the city of Alachua. It is free.
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