2026 Floridiana Festival

Saturday, May 9

12pm-6pm

NEW LOCATION: First Magnitude Brewing Co., 1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville

FREE Admission

The Matheson History Museum’s annual Floridiana Festival is expanding! This year we are partnering with First Magnitude Brewing Company to hold the Festival in their Beer Garden on Saturday, May 9 from 12pm-6pm. Admission is FREE.

Come to First Magnitude at 1220 SE Veitch Street in Gainesville to snag your own piece of Florida kitsch and vintage Florida and enjoy specially branded Floridiana Festival beer and swag. The festival will also include food trucks and live music. There is something for everyone!

Interested in being a vendor? Please email Joanna at info@mathesonmuseum.org.

Voices of Life: The Legacy of the Alachua County Crisis Center Documentary Premiere

with the Friends of the Crisis Center

Wednesday, May 27

7pm

FREE with registration

The Matheson History Museum will host the premiere of the documentary Voices of Life: The Legacy of the Alachua County Crisis Center on Wednesday, May 27, at 7pm. The Alachua County Crisis Center has been serving the community for over 55 years.

The evening will also include a Q&A time with:

  • Joe Thigpen – Director of the Alachua County Crisis Center from 1973-1979 and current president of the Friends of the Crisis Center
  • Ariel Drescher – Current director of the Alachua County Crisis Center. She began as a volunteer in 2015.
  • Collin Whitlock – Educator, storyteller, and documentary filmmaker who created the Voices of Life documentary

Voices of Life registration

A Legacy of Excellence: African American Education in Rural Alachua County during Segregation

with E. Stanley Richardson and Veloria Kelly

Saturday, May 30

2pm

FREE with registration

On Saturday, May 30, Matheson Board 1st Vice President E. Stanley Richardson and Veloria Kelly will moderate a panel discussion of former students, educators, and historians about African American education in rural Alachua County during segregation.

A Legacy of Excellence registration

African American Legacies in Florida: 250 Years of American Ideals and Global Impact

Presented by the African & African American Historical Society, Inc. and Local Organizations

Saturday, August 29

10am-4pm

FREE with registration

Featuring Humanities-based Presenters including,

  • Dr. Andrew K. Frank, Allen Morris Professor of History and Director, Native American/Indigenous Studies Center, Florida State University
  • Dr. Connie Lester, History, Associate Professor at UCF, and Editor, The Florida Historical Quarterly
  • Dr. Rik Stevenson, Assistant Instructional Professor of African American Studies, University of Florida
  • Dr. Olivia Barnard, Assistant Professor of History, University of Florida
  • Brandon Nightingale, History, Howard University, Senior Project Manager, Black Press Archives Digitization

African American Legacies registration

The Other Book Part 2: The Shoulders We Stand On

with the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project

Recordings: