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Happy weekend, Gainesville!
In today’s happening-today edition: Matschie’s tree kangaroos, Earl Sweatshirt with The Alchemist, and Nowruz festival vibes + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Meet remarkable rainforest marsupials: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville showcased Matschie’s tree kangaroos Adelaide and Kopa, a species from Papua New Guinea, with training that helps staff monitor health and highlight adaptations — read the full story.
Florida artists in the spotlight: Big Culture & Arts Festival will return to Gainesville April 10-12 for its fourth year, pairing hip-hop icons Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist with circus acts and street culture — get lineup and ticket info.
Discover paths beyond the classroom: Gainesville invites families to the free 2026 Summer Blitz, connecting youth with summer camps, enrichment programs, and job opportunities, plus over 30 organizations, free food, music, and giveaways — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A feel-good color fix: Near Depot Park, The HeART Wall is a community mosaic of 2,500+ hearts that somehow boosts your steps and your serotonin. This simple, cheerful detour reads like a love letter from Gainesville to itself, and it might brighten your walk.
Craft stash goldmine: Hunting oddball yarn, stray needles, or that fabric you swear you’ll use? The Repurpose Project keeps materials in the loop and out of the landfill. Aisles of possibility spark new ideas, and you can stitch something you’ll love while doing right by the planet.
Where Gainesville gathers: First Magnitude Brewing Company pours crisp lagers, hop-forward sippers, and stellar seasonals in a laid-back space where just one easily becomes hours of catch-up. Rotating taps keep things fresh, the vibe stays easy, and weeknights start to feel like small-town reunions.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town today & tomorrow
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🌱 Nowruz & International Festival @ Shoppes at Thornebrook | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 AM – Celebrate Nowruz and a world of flavors at this international festival, where local vendors, music, and dancing make spring feel official. Bring your appetite, and your neighbors. If you want a booth, email [email protected], and ignore any randoms promising vendor spots.
🐄 Family Day 2026 @ UF IFAS Dairy Unit | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats a morning of fresh air, curious cows, and free admission at the UF/IFAS Dairy Farm. Bring the crew for genuine, hands-on learning about how milk happens, meet the herd, and collect a few wholesome stories to lord over the grandkids later.
❤ North Central Florida Health Festival @ Bo Diddley Plaza | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Ready to feel like a responsible grown-up? UF’s College of Nursing celebrates 70 years with a community health fest packed with free screenings, wellness booths, fitness and mindfulness demos, kid-friendly fun, local vendors and entertainment, all the feel-good without the lecture.
🐾 Petco Adoption Event @ Petco | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Got room in your routine for a snoring, biscuit-loving roommate? Swing by Petco on Newberry the first Saturday each month to meet adoptable pups, swap backstories with volunteers, and maybe find the walking buddy your step counter keeps nagging you about.
👗 Clothing Swap! @ The Repurpose Project | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Clean out the closet and swing by Repurpose Project’s first Saturday clothing swap, bring up to ten gently used pieces, then take home as many as you like. Free, call it shopping without a receipt, donations keep karma rolling, and parking is on 18th Terrace.
🌻 Blossom, Brew & BBQ Plant Sale @ First Magnitude Brewing Company | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Saturday at the Gainesville Garden Club means browsing member-grown natives, herbs, and shade lovers you’ll pretend are essential, then rewarding yourself with Danny from Looseys’ smoky BBQ, veg options, and a local brew. Free admission, easy to linger, good for the garden.
🎨 Painting Class: Beach Umbrellas @ Corks & Colors Studio | Sunday (3/8) at 12:30 PM – Whether your fridge is your gallery or you retired your brushes in grade school, this step-by-step Beach Umbrellas class brings beach vibes, minus sand. For $25, you get a 12×16 canvas and supplies, plus beer, wine, and soda. Seats are limited, so pre-register. Ages 5+.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Gainesville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 86°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 11%
Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny. High near 86, with temperatures falling to around 85 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 2 to 7 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm. Mostly clear. Low around 64, with temperatures rising to around 65 overnight. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 87°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 25%
A chance of rain showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 85 in the afternoon. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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