Do Florida’s cooler months make you want to curl up with a good book? The mild winter still means plenty of fun outdoor activities in north central Florida, but if you’re a resident of Oakmont — Gainesville’s top master-planned community — you can enjoy a plethora of literary events and festivals in your own backyard.

One of Oakmont’s numerous perks is its stellar amenities (resort-style swimming pools, the Residents Club hub for social spaces, a fitness center, outdoor sports courts, playground and an expansive event lawn). This also includes the calendar maintained by Oakmont’s activities director that might connect you to book clubs and fellow reading enthusiasts in your community.

And, given Gainesville’s vibrant arts and cultural scenes — and as hometown to the University of Florida — many local groups and bookstores offer literary programing for numerous interests.

Many of these events are free and open to the public, and volunteers are welcomed. Check organizational and event websites for more information.

Here’s a sampling of Gainesville literary fun for Oakmont residents.

 

ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc. — the Gainesville-based literacy nonprofit that puts on the Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival each April. It features poetry-centric performances and events at several locations. The April 2026 edition will be the fourth annual Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival.

Per its website, ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc.’s overriding mission is “supporting literacy in youth and adults through poetry, spoken word, storytelling and creative writing.” It also oversees the North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program, open to students ages 13-18 in nine counties.

Sunshine State Book Festival — the seventh annual Festival takes place January 23-24 right in Gainesville. Held every winter since 2020, it’s an anticipated two-day gathering of 100 local and regional authors, fans and readers of all ages, and literary performers. Venues include Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, Lyceum Theater and the Grand Ballroom at the Best Western Gateway.

A day-long writers’ workshop intensive, teen lit contest, children’s story time, speaker presentations and a writer showcase and expo are among the events. The Sunshine State Book Festival is presented by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (see more on this group below).

The Lynx Books — an independent Gainesville bookstore that hosts multiple events and book clubs. Monthly author events and book club gatherings are a staple, per the store’s website calendar. So are special observances such as a tea party on January 9 to celebrate lauded British author Jane Austen’s birthday. There’s also a weekly story time for little ones and families called The Lynx Tails, and poetry and fiction workshops.

Located at 601 South Main Street in Gainesville.

Writers Alliance of Gainesville — the organization that presents the annual Sunshine State Book Festival above. Its author membership also presents year-round programming each month, mostly at the Millhopper branch of the Alachua County Library. The Writers Alliance also publishes a literary review, maintains the Hogtowne Quill blog and a speakers’ bureau, and offers an online bookstore for members’ work.

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