Gainesville Life

Halloween Happenings around Gainesville

Looking to expand beyond tooth decay on Halloween?  These local Halloween events around Gainesville just may fit the bill:

Friday, October 30 (in case one day is not enough)

Historic Halloween Haunt: Matheson Museum, 513 E. University Avenue (378-2280). Tours at 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM.  The 5:30 PM tour is for children.  Trick-or-treat and learn about area history in historic downtown Gainesville. Treats, refreshments, palm readings and more.  Cost: $5

Dracuween Kids Party: 6 P.M., Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, UF campus (371-2986). A Halloween party put on by the Dance Alive National Ballet with punch, cookies and a costume contest. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $15

Saturday, October 31 (Happy Halloween!)

Boo at the Zoo: Santa Fe College’s teaching zoo will be decorated for Halloween, and zookeepers will be handing out more than 92,000 pieces of candy at 12 candy stations around the zoo. Bring one canned good per visitor for admission and a bag for candy, canned goods for local food banks, 3 to 7:30 p.m., Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, 3000 N.W. 83rd St. (395-5601)

Halloween Hauntings at Haile Horse Pasture: Haunted trail walk, games, treats and prizes. Admission is free, 4 to 8 p.m., Haile Horse Pasture, enter at west gate (338-0606 or 538-3067)

Fall Open House and Plant Sale - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens - Gainesville, Florida

On October 10 and 11, 2009, the Fall Open House and Plant Sale at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, Florida, celebrated its 14th year. The event featured the Gainesville Orchid Society's annual show, and more than 40 vendors were on hand to sell various plants and gardening supplies. As always, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens opened its grounds for free for this event.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens was founded in October 1987.  Their Open House each year at this time is its way of celebrating its birthday with the community at large.

The Gainesville Orchid Society meets the fourth Monday of every month at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens at 7:00 PM in the Summer House.  Membership is open to all who are interested. Monthly meetings feature an educational program, a beginner's segment on growing orchids, and a plant table where members display their blooming orchids.  First time new members receive a free orchid plant.  Annual membership costs $20 for individuals and $25 per household.  For more information please visit their website or email Sue Weller at suefpelra@msn.com

Melisa Miller found her calling at age 14 or 15 on a church youth mission trip to Mexico, where she first hung drywall at an orphanage expansion.

Today, she leads a nonprofit organization of 400 volunteers who repair 25 homes a year for low-income homeowners around Gainesville.

Read the full inspiring story here, in today's Gainesville Sun:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090419/ARTICLES/904189982/1002/NEWS01?Title=Rebuilding-Gainesville-one-home-at-a-time

On April 25, 2009, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida joins thousands of volunteers throughout the nation in National Rebuilding Day 2009! Approximately 80 volunteers will donate their time on Saturday to provide free emergency repairs for 5 Gainesville area families in need. Sponsoring this year's event are Rotary International, Charles Perry Construction, Gainesville Jaycees, and GRU.  Please contact miller@rebuildgainesville.org or visit http://www.rebuildgainesville.org to learn how you can get involved.