Good morning, Gainesville.

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Pollinator Palooza brings conservation, music and craft beer to First Magnitude Brewing Co. on Saturday, June 27 from noon to 4 p.m.—families can pick up a free native plant while scientists showcase live caterpillars and discuss pollinator protection.

UF students behind Brewing Thoughts will open their first café in a Southwest First Street storefront early this fall.

The shop — which began as a mobile service — will offer coffee, breakfast and later hours with mocktails and tapas as nearby construction concludes.

Santa Fe College celebrated the groundbreaking of its first locker room for baseball and softball teams Thursday morning near its fields.

The new clubhouse, which includes showers, changing areas, and a training area, will be completed in Spring (2027) with additional ballfield improvements planned.

Alachua City Commission approved a plan amendment clearing the way for the Farmlands mixed-use development along U.S. 441 on Monday night, and deferred the companion rezoning ordinance to July 27— the amendment shifts 33 acres' designations amid strong public feedback.

Residents in Gainesville need to protect pets from extreme heat as forecasts predict mid-100s heat index this weekend & local experts advise pet owners to look for signs of heatstroke and use cooling supplies while limiting outdoor exercise.

UF and UMD researchers will develop VIGOR, an AI tool to warn the public about water conditions that can lead to dangerous Vibrio infections.

Supported by a $3.6 million NIH grant, the project will use satellite and water-quality data to forecast risks for coastal communities.

Florida basketball's 2026-27 matchups were unveiled Thursday, June 25 — the team will face home-and-away games with Texas and play permanent rivals Georgia and South Carolina, while a non-conference opener against Miami is set for Nov.

2 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.

The Gainesville Sun invites fans to vote for the best girls flag football player (7 nominees) from its All-Area high school teams as the poll closes at noon on Monday, June 29.

Florida’s Aidan King and Brendan Lawson earned D1 Baseball Second Team All-American honors on Thursday.

King, a standout pitcher (8 wins, 3.21 ERA, 1.03 WHIP), became the first Gator underclassman to receive the SEC honor while Lawson led Florida in key offensive categories.

Florida basketball alum Xavian Lee signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to attend training camp (which secures his exclusive G League rights if waived).

The point guard, who played with the Gators after transferring from Princeton, averaged 11.1 points last season.

Former Florida Gator Kyle Pitts signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons, making him the league’s third-highest paid tight end — he will finish the season on a $15 million franchise tag.

TV20 Sideline Spotlight revisits the Union County baseball team's state title win from a few months ago.

Head coach Jiwan James, Kendall Carter, Wesley Crockett and Erick Lasseter are featured on the show airing (Thursday at 3:30 p.m.) on the livestream.

Jackson Barberi, Aidan King and Joshua Whritenour will train with Team USA at the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp this summer; King earns his second invite while Barberi and Whritenour debut.

The camp starts Saturday, June 27 at Burlington Athletic Stadium (Burlington, N.C.)

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.

AVELLO Concert

9:00 p.m. — Vivid Music Hall — Ticketed event — Experience an electrifying night with AVELLO in Gainesville.

Skweezy Jibbs Movie Premiere

6:30-8:00 p.m. — The Wooly — Tickets required — Enjoy the premiere of a comedy mockumentary about the making of a blockbuster film.

Parrotfish Live Performance

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Signal Lounge — $10 cover — Experience the scummiest, most lovable rock band from Florida that promises an unforgettable live show.

Underoath Live Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — The Wooly — Tickets available — Experience an energetic performance by Underoath with soaring choruses and hard-hitting rhythms.

Asian Food Festival in Downtown Gainesville

3-11 p.m. — Depot Park — Free admission — Celebrate Asian cuisine with 60+ food vendors, live entertainment, and cultural performances over a fun-filled weekend.

Health & Safety Camp

1-5 p.m. — Millhopper Station South Community Association — Cost not specified — Engage early adolescents in fun activities focused on health, safety, and social skills.

The Main Event Basketball Tournament

All Day — Alachua County Sports & Events Center — Admission fee varies — Experience a weekend of competitive youth basketball as regional teams showcase their talent.