Florida17 vs. Oklahoma kicks off at 7:45 PM on Saturday, Nov. 7. That leaves a whole day to fill before you head to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Here’s how to spend it, whether you’re a parent in town for the weekend, a student with friends visiting, or a fan who wants more than a parking lot. Every spot below has hours that work on a Saturday.
Game logistics like parking, shuttles, road closures and bag rules are in our Florida17 vs. Oklahoma game guide.
Morning: markets and brunch
Alachua County Farmers’ Market (the 441 Market)
13900 Tech City Circle, Alachua. Saturdays from 8:30 AM to noon, rain or shine, all year. It’s a growers-only market, which means vendors grew, raised or made what they sell. Come early for the best picks, and bring bags and small bills. The market is now at San Felasco Tech City in Alachua, so put the address in your map app instead of heading to US 441.
Brunch in town
- OAK, 15 SE 1st Ave., downtown. Weekend brunch from 10 AM.
- Bagels & Co, 1111 W University Ave. Bagels right by campus.
- Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, Celebration Pointe. Weekend brunch 11 AM to 3 PM, and you’re close to the game-day shuttle afterward.
More ideas on our Eats page. Book ahead if you can. Home game weekends are busy.
Late morning: get outside
November is a good month to be outside in Gainesville. Pick one of these and you’ll still have time for everything else.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Open 8 AM to sundown every day. The La Chua Trail is the one to do if you want to see gators, plus wading birds and sandhill cranes in season. It’s about a mile round trip, and pets aren’t allowed. Admission at the La Chua Trail is $4 per vehicle. The main park entrance is $6 per vehicle for two to eight people. Stay on the trail and give gators plenty of room.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
4732 Millhopper Road. Open 8 AM to sundown, every day. This sinkhole is 120 feet deep and 500 feet across, and it’s a National Natural Landmark. Stairs take you down into a shady, mini rainforest. The climb back up is steep, so wear real shoes. Admission is $4 per vehicle (up to eight people), or $2 if you walk or bike in.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
4700 SW 58th Drive, off Archer Road about a mile west of I-75. Open 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays, with last entry at 4:15 PM (closed Thursdays). Admission is $12 plus tax for adults and $7 plus tax for kids ages 5 to 13. Kids under 5 get in free with a parent. It covers 68 acres. Look for the big bamboo grove, and there’s a paved path that makes for an easy walk.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park
325 SW Williston Road. Open 7 AM to sunset every day. More than 3.5 miles of gravel trails and boardwalks wind through 125 acres of wetlands, and over 260 kinds of birds have been seen here. Look for alligators and great blue herons. Entry is $5 per car or $2 per person on foot or bike. Bring exact change or use the Passport Parking app. No pets, and bikes have to stay at the rack by the restrooms.
Afternoon: museums and downtown
Harn Museum of Art
On the UF campus. Saturday hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, and admission is always free. Parking is free in the surface lot and the garage on weekends. It’s an easy, quiet stop for parents and grandparents before the stadium gets loud.
Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
811 S Main St. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Hands-on exhibits about invention, named for Dr. Robert Cade, who led the UF team that created Gatorade in 1965. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for ages 5 to 17 and $12.50 for college students with ID and seniors. Parking is free.
A note on the Florida Museum
The Florida Museum of Natural History and its Butterfly Rainforest are closed for an expansion until Monday, Nov. 23. Save them for your next visit.
Depot Park and First Magnitude
Depot Park is a city park built around Gainesville’s old train depot, near downtown. Right next door, First Magnitude Brewing Co. (1220 SE Veitch St.) opens at noon on Saturdays and has food trucks on site every day it’s open. Kids are welcome with an adult, and there are non-beer drinks too. It’s a good spot to sit for an hour before you head to campus.
Sunset: the UF bat houses
This is one of Gainesville’s strangest and best free shows. The bat houses are on the north side of Museum Road, across from Lake Alice, at 2664 Museum Road. On calm, warm evenings when it’s above 65 degrees, the bats come out 15 to 20 minutes after sunset. Sunset on Nov. 7 is around 5:40 PM, the first Saturday after the time change. Watch the western sky over the pines. High wind, rain or cold keeps them inside, so it’s a gamble in November.
Campus roads and lots work differently on game day, and parts of campus close to cars by late afternoon. Don’t plan to drive to the bat houses that evening. Only try it if you’re already parked for the game and can walk.
Evening: head to the game
- The game-day shuttle runs from 3 hours before kickoff, so from about 4:45 PM. It picks up at Celebration Pointe, UF Park and Ride Lot #2 and Garage 109. It costs $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 12.
- Road closures around the stadium start at about 4:45 PM.
- Clear bags only at the stadium. Full rules are in the game guide.
- Kickoff is at 7:45 PM on SEC Network.
Three ready-made plans
The parents’ plan
Brunch at OAK, the Harn Museum, a walk through Kanapaha, then the shuttle from Celebration Pointe. Easy on the feet, and you’ll have a seat on the way in.
The outdoor plan
The 441 Market when it opens at 8:30 AM, the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie, the Devil’s Millhopper stairs, then an afternoon at First Magnitude next to Depot Park.
The student budget plan
Bagels & Co, the free Harn Museum, Sweetwater Wetlands for $2 a person on foot, then the bat houses at sunset if you’re already on campus for the tailgate.
Staying the whole weekend? See Things To Do and City Guide for hotels, getting around and more.
Featured Gator Gear
Logo Brands Florida Gators Gameday Clear Crossbody Bag by Logo Brands
A clear crossbody holds your phone, wallet and keys for the market, the trail and the stadium. Check the stadium’s clear-bag rules before you go.
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