Good morning, Gainesville.

Gainesville recently held its Historic Preservation Awards, honoring restoration work on two of its oldest homes at 425 NE 3rd St and 526 NE 6th St and recognizing efforts by local leaders and groups to preserve cultural landmarks + heritage.

The ceremony praised skilled craftsmanship and community dedication.

Local venues offer a diverse arts lineup: Gainesville Community Playhouse presents 'Our Town' through June 7 at 7:30 p.m. and the Harn Museum hosts Florida in the Frame until July 26 while The Wooly and Phillips Center schedule comedy + music + dance shows this week, bringing performances to the community.

Three North Central Florida high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Pranay Gadikota (Buchholz High), Michael Wei of Frazer School, and Harrison Jackson of Lafayette High await final selection by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Dr. Stuart Bell, the University of Florida's sole presidential finalist, attended public forums on Wednesday to respond to DEI concerns raised by students, faculty and administrators at the university.

Christina M. Ramos, executive director of Touching Hearts at Home, returned from Washington to urge support for the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act - legislation that would let Medicare cover new blood tests for early diagnosis; she encouraged Florida families to contact their State Representatives.

Columbia’s Addy Sherman walked it off in the Class 4A State semifinal to earn the TV20 Softball Play of the Week, boosting her team in a key moment of the contest.

Over the weekend, Florida, Miami, Troy, and Rider played a home run derby at Condron Family Ballpark during the NCAA Gainesville Regional, with teams hitting 36 home runs in seven games.

After a 2-10 loss ended their season Monday, the Gators will seek new players through the portal (transfer options).

Florida's senior forward Alex Condon earned a spot on the national team and will debut in his hometown of Perth for FIBA World Cup Qualifiers on July 3.

He averaged 15.1 points with the Gators + skipped the NBA Draft to play his final college season.

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.

Tech Coffee Social

9-10 a.m. — Resident Coffee — Free entry — Kick-start your day with stimulating conversations and connections among tech professionals.

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.

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.

Bird and Byron Acoustic Performance

6-9 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Check event page for pricing — Experience indie rock and soul with heartfelt songwriting from the Nashville-based duo Bird and Byron.

Eden Brent Live Blues Performance

7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of piano-driven blues and storytelling from award-winning artist Eden Brent.

Juvenile Live at Heartwood Soundstage

7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Ticket prices vary — Experience a high-energy hip-hop performance with classic hits and crowd favorites.

Celebrity Bingo Fundraiser

6-9 p.m. — Senior Recreation Center — Community support event — Enjoy an evening of celebrity bingo, games, prizes, and food while benefiting Gianna’s Place.

#iDoit4mycity Weekend: Services Event

3-7 p.m. — Pulp Arts — Free entry — Engage in a vibrant community experience with a mix of entertainment and education over the weekend.

WUFT’s Fanfares & Fireworks

6-10 p.m. — UF Bandshell at Flavet Field — Free entry — Celebrate Independence Day Eve with live music, food trucks, and a dazzling fireworks finale.