Weekend Events :: May 18

Staples events in our area are happening this weekend - and ALL of them on Saturday May 18. To help you decide we listed the cliff notes of each event. Tell us in the comments which one looks most promising.

1. Children of all ages are invited to the 4th Annual Sweet Dreams’ Touch-A-Truck event. Touch-A-Truck takes places on Saturday at Citizens Field from 9a.m to 2p.m. Smaller children are invited to Quiet Hour from 9a.m. to 10a.m. so they can enjoy the vehicles without the noise of horns sirens or bullhorns.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Amigo: Children’s Burn Camp of North Florida.
Admission is free. There will be a minimal charge for some activities like: the dunk booth bounce houses face painting and food. Canned or non-perishable food items are encouraged to donate to the Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida. This program provides food to children who are at risk of hunger on the weekends.
Get more details on this event and their charity recipients here.

2. The 68th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival kicks off their day at 9a.m. with a parade. Enjoy the pageant watermelon eating contest pie & cake baking contest and of course lots of tasty watermelon! This event takes place at the future site of Destiny Community Church. Get more information here.

Image courtesy of Tim Malles and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

3. End the day at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens for their annual Moonlight Walk.
The grounds are covered in twinkle lights lanterns and almost 2000 luminaries along a 1.25 mile walkway. There will be live entertainment from Strings for Things refreshments and The Alachua Astronomy Club will be out with telescopes to view the cosmos.
Get there when the gardens open at 7p.m. - blankets or lawn chairs are encouraged and it promises to be a spectacular event since this year's event takes place the Saturday before a full moon - remember dusk is at 8:15p.m.
$12 for adults $6 for children ages two to thirteen. Members receive a $2 discount. No pets allowed.

Not a fan of the outdoors?

4. Head downtown where the historic Hippodrome Theatre is celebrating their 40th birthday!
Get there at 7p.m. to enjoy catering by Mark's Prime Steakhouse wine from over 8 local distributors music entertainment by the cast of Avenue Q special guests and of course birthday cake!
Tickets are $40 and available online or at the box office (352) 375-4477.