Daily
Gainesville
Tuesday, March 31st, 2026
Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 31st of March.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Heartwood Music Fest X will celebrate its tenth year on April 4–5 in Gainesville with local and regional artists performing on multiple stages (doors open at 3:00 p.m. and music starts at 4:00 p.m.). The festival will feature workshops, surprise guest acts, and free entry for kids 12 and under. Alachua Chronicle
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Leaders gathered in Gainesville on Monday at the Santa Fe College Blount Center for a family homelessness summit as St. Francis House closed daily services amid financial challenges. Officials and nonprofits discussed housing needs and rapid rehousing strategies — a plan to connect families to homes and prevent further homelessness. WCJB
- ➤ Florida will ban SNAP recipients from buying soda, energy drinks, candy + prepared desserts starting April 20. The policy aims to promote healthier buying habits and follows similar restrictions already in place in other states. The Gainesville Sun
- ➤ On Monday, March 30, passengers at Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) experienced wait times of 1 to 5 minutes amid a partial government shutdown that led to longer lines at other Florida airports. Officials urged travelers to check current wait estimates before departing. The Gainesville Sun
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Four Gators gymnasts, including Selena Harris-Miranda, earned WCGA All-America honors today + the team tallied nine awards overall. Florida will compete as the No. 3 overall seed at the NCAA Tempe Regional on Thursday evening. WRUF
- ➤ After a historic season with Florida basketball cutting down the nets for a national title last year, the SEC saw only Tennessee advance to the Elite Eight in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and no team made the Final Four — Big Ten teams eliminated five SEC squads. GatorSports
- ➤ Florida men's basketball now enters its offseason as several players are set to take on larger roles next season. Seniors may leave and juniors may declare for the NBA Draft while returnees like Boogie Fland & Urban Klavžar aim to boost the team for future games. The Independent Florida Alligator
- ➤ Florida women’s basketball faces a pivotal 15-day transfer portal window starting April 6 as players must decide to stay with new head coach Tammi Reiss (replacing Kelly Rae Finley) or transfer, a decision that may shape the future of the program. The Independent Florida Alligator
- ➤ After a weekend of SEC baseball sweeps, Alabama and Florida climbed in the rankings with Alabama sweeping Auburn and Florida beating Arkansas, while Tennessee fell after close losses to Vanderbilt. Texas retained the top spot after sweeping Oklahoma. GatorSports
- ➤ Former NFL coach Jon Gruden attended a Florida coaching clinic at the Heavener Football Complex on Friday as its keynote speaker. He joined head coach Jon Sumrall and about 350 coaches, received a personalized Gators uniform, and promoted Florida football on social media — reinforcing inspiration for the team. WRUF
- ➤ Florida Gators baseball returned to the Top 25 after a four-game sweep over ranked teams, including wins against Florida State and Arkansas; the team will face Jacksonville today at 6:30 p.m. and host Ole Miss in an SEC series starting Thursday. WRUF
- ➤ Florida Gators men’s tennis split a home doubleheader on Sunday after a 4-3 loss to No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners and a 4-0 win over North Carolina A&T Aggies — the team will face No. 17 Vanderbilt on Thursday. WRUF
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Easy Honey Concert
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — $33 general admission — Experience the energetic sounds of Easy Honey in an intimate Gainesville venue.
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Gainesville Asian Festival
10 AM – 4 PM — Bo Diddley Plaza — Free entry — Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture with performances, food trucks, and craft vendors.
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Easter Brunch Buffet
10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Best Western Gateway Grand — Adults $46.95, Seniors $38.95, Children $19.95 — Celebrate Easter with a festive buffet featuring delicious dishes and a joyful atmosphere.
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Free Fridays Concert Series Featuring Crooked Counsel
7-9 p.m. — Bo Diddley Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy live '60s and '70s rock music under the stars with Crooked Counsel.
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Executive MBA Spring Open House
9:15 AM - 12:00 PM — Hough Hall, Gainesville, FL — Free entry — Explore how the Executive MBA from UF can elevate your career with insights from program leaders and alumni.
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Gainesville Speed Dating Event
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Tinker Restaurant — Ticket required — Connect with potential matches in an engaging and fun speed dating format.
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Samantha Fish Live Concert
8-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Kids 12 and under free — Experience the powerhouse guitar and soulful melodies of one of today's most formidable musicians.
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The Happy Fits Concert
12-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets from $32 — Catch The Happy Fits live in an intimate setting.
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Florida Gators vs. Jacksonville University Dolphins Baseball
6:30-10:30 p.m. — Condron Ballpark — Support your team — Cheer on the Gators as they face off against the Dolphins in this exciting college baseball matchup.
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Yonder Mountain String Band Concert
8-11 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets from $81 — Enjoy an evening of live bluegrass and string band music in Gainesville.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
When you can't win by being better, you can win by being different.
~ James Clear
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