Daily
Gainesville
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 21st of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ City leaders in Gainesville kick off the 6th annual Journey to Juneteenth with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall at 10 a.m. today as part of a monthlong series of events (including celebrations on May 23, June 6, and June 19) honoring emancipation and black history. WCJB
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ The F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park is set to anchor UF’s IFAS Extension office in Newberry and boost ag-tech research, education, and job opportunities with Harvest Singularity Holding Co.’s first $66 million hydroponic greenhouse, which will begin construction this year. The Gainesville Sun
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ TV20's Wildlife Wednesday reporter Vinny Mutone featured caracals Zaba and Cleo at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo — the animals display training behaviors that help keepers monitor their health this week. WCJB
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ On May 20, the Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts declared an extreme water shortage in Alachua County due to drought and low aquifer levels — water restrictions limit landscape irrigation to one day per week between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. and advise postponing new plantings. Alachua Chronicle
- ➤ A guide outlines hurricane shutter options (from storm panels to roll-down systems) and details costs, installation times, and pros and cons to help homeowners in Gainesville prepare for hurricane season beginning June 1. Updated recommendations from the Florida Farm Bureau and NOAA came during Hurricane Preparedness Week. The Gainesville Sun
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward released a message on May 20 honoring Florida Emancipation Day, which recalled the day 61,000 enslaved people were freed. His statement reasserted a commitment to a community where opportunity is real for all — echoing a legacy of courage and hope. Alachua Chronicle
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Gators men's golf team secured a ticket to the NCAA National Championships in Carlsbad after winning the Columbus Regional on Wednesday, with Luke Poulter finishing first at even par. The tournament will tee off on May 29. WCJB
- ➤ The Florida Gators claimed the USA Today Network SEC All-Sports Trophy today, earning their 29th overall win and first since 2017-18. They edged Texas with strong performances in men’s basketball, women’s track, and cross country. GatorSports
- ➤ Santa Fe College softball earned an 11th seed for the NJCAA World Series in Oxford, Alabama & will open against Odessa College on May 25 at 6:45 p.m. marking their first season with 40 wins since 2013. The Gainesville Sun
- ➤ The Florida Gators women's track and field team won the SEC Outdoor Championship Saturday in Auburn, Alabama, with 107 points+a historic triple crown after 30 years. Several athletes set records, and the team will compete in the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminaries from May 27. WRUF
- ➤ Florida’s baseball team beat Vanderbilt 8 to 3 in the SEC Tournament second round in Hoover, Alabama (junior left fielder Blake Cyr and sophomore shortstop Brendan Lawson each hit a home run), and the Gators will face Alabama at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow. The Independent Florida Alligator
- ➤ Florida baseball faced Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament on Wednesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network in Hoover, Alabama. The Gators had won eight of their last ten games (boosting their record) and the kickoff may have been delayed because an earlier matchup ran long. The Gainesville Sun
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Our Town by Thornton Wilder
7:30 p.m. — Gainesville Community Playhouse — Ticket prices vary — Experience the Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that explores the essential truths of life in a small town.
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Gainesville Speed Dating for Singles in Their 20s and 30s
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Tinker Restaurant — Ticket cost unknown — Connect with up to 12 local singles through engaging 6-minute dates.
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Ole 60 Concert
8:00 – 9:30 PM — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets starting at $83 each — Enjoy a night of live music in Gainesville's vibrant venue.
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UF Short Course in Horticulture
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM — Straughn IFAS Extension Center — Registration fees apply — Explore emerging environmental challenges and innovative horticultural solutions.
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Easy Star All-Stars Concert
8:00 – 9:30 PM — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets available — Experience reggae-driven performances that reimagine classic albums.
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Black Uhuru Live in Concert
8-11 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Kids 12 & Under get in free — Experience reggae legends Black Uhuru and local favorites Macca Reggae Samba perform live under the stars.
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FREE Live on the Lawn: The Savants with The Shambles
6-9 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Free entry — Enjoy a relaxing outdoor concert featuring classic rock favorites in Gainesville.
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Gainesville Toddler Multi-Sport Program
9:00-10:50 a.m. — Veterans Memorial Park — $90 — Engaging multisport activities for toddlers aged 18 months to 4 years during summer.
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
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
~ Beverly Sills
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