Your guide for fall in Gainesville

Fall is finally here, and you know what that means: going to pumpkin patches, having your friend take 53 pictures of you holding the same pumpkin at various angles and drinking pumpkin spice lattes to stay toasty in our crisp 82-degree weather! But in all seriousness, even though we don’t have the cold weather and falling leaves right now, there are plenty of ways to get in the fall spirit right here in Gainesville.

Pumpkin patches

This is a guide to some of the best and worst pumpkin patches to visit in Gainesville, from those offering ziplines and bounce houses to those with minimal attractions.

• BEST - U Pick Lane Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

Although it’s quite a drive, this pumpkin patch, located at 2391 NE 140th Ave. in Williston, Florida, is well worth it. It’s easily the best and most authentic fall experience you’re going to be able to have within a driving distance of Gainesville. This pumpkin patch not only has a real patch where you are able to pick your pumpkin directly off the stem, but it also includes a beautiful corn maze and a zip line. This zip line isn’t just for children; it can easily fly any college student across the farm! For only $10 all of these attractions are available to visitors. With reasonably priced pumpkins, horses to pet, hay to climb and delicious corn to eat, this pumpkin patch has everything you could possibly hope for this fall season.

•BEST - Gainesville Church of God Pumpkin Patch

Located at 7003 NW 39th Ave., this is a pumpkin patch I would highly recommend visiting. This pumpkin patch is not only a memorable way to spend a fall day, but it also has a charitable purpose: All of the profits made are going directly to needy children and families in both Gainesville and Guatemala. So you can buy pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, play pumpkin checkers and have your face painted, all for a great cause. The pumpkin patch even includes a free bouncy house college students are allowed to jump in, and the church also throws Halloween movie nights on Fridays.

•WORST - Trinity United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

This was among one of the more disappointing pumpkin patches to visit in Gainesville. There’s nothing wrong with this pumpkin patch; it just does not offer the same exciting attractions and fall experiences the other pumpkin patches do. But if you’re simply looking to pick up a pumpkin and take a couple fall pictures, then this is the place for you, and the place even has a few spots set up just for picture taking.

•WORST - Wesley United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

This pumpkin patch is also one I would not highly recommend visiting. Wesley’s pumpkin patch, located at 826 NW 23rd Ave., is a short distance from campus but won’t give you the experience you’ll be able to find at any of the other pumpkin patches. It is much smaller than all of the patches previously mentioned, and it is not the most ideal place to take your fall pictures considering the fact it is directly on a main road. But if you’re in the market for the sole purpose of buying a pumpkin to carve, this is the perfect place to stop by!

Your local fall favorites

It’s October, so every coffee shop has pumpkin-spiced everything. This fall season, let us take a detour from some of the more overplayed fall favorites like the typical pumpkin spice lattes and try some new fall flavors in our local Gainesville coffee shops!

• BEST - Maude’s Classic Cafe

One coffee shop that’s full of new interesting flavors is Maude’s Classic Cafe, located at 101 SE Second Place. Here I tried a pumpkin-spiced Italian soda for the first time, and although it sounds a bit strange, it was the most delicious drink I’ve tasted in Gainesville thus far. The cafe also has a variety of other fall specials worth noting: blackberry lavender white mochas, honey and cinnamon milkshakes, hot cider and hot cinnamon spice tea.

• BEST - Patticakes

Another coffee shop that’s worth swinging by is Patticakes. There are also new fall flavors to try there, including Mayan hot cocoa, sea salt hot cocoa and hot apple cider topped with caramel. Of course, you can’t resist grabbing one of a pumpkin chocolate chip cupcake while you’re at it.

Once you visit one of these local coffee shops and taste the fall treats, you’re going to thank me for breaking your typical Starbucks routine!

Gainesville’s hot fall events

• BEST - Adult trick-or-treating

For those looking for some alcoholic treats instead of sugary ones, Swamp Head Brewery has you covered. From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 26, the brewery will be holding an adult trick-or-treating event with candy-inspired beers like Reese’s Stout, Mounds Catherine’s Russian Imperial Stout and Warhead Berliner, according to the event’s Facebook page.

• BEST - Boo at the Zoo

This is a great option for those looking for a family-friendly Halloween. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo will transform into a big trick-or-treating event with 14 candy stations, food and music. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, and admission is one canned good per person, which will go to local charities.

• WORST - All Saints Day Cemetery Tour

This is a self-guided tour through the Kanapaha Presbyterian Church Cemetery, which was founded in the late 1850s, on Oct. 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It makes the “Worst” list because why are you in a cemetery the day before Halloween? Aren’t you really pushing your luck? (These may also be personal issues.)