Katie Park

The first Wake Fest was held in 2000 on the Univeristy of Florida’s private lake, Lake Wauburg. Twenty-four years later, the wakeboarding and wake surfing competition is still going on, and this year for the first time, it took place at Cowpen Lake.

While there will be many vendors, activities and planes this year, one person in particular is missing.

Two University of Florida students have created a local chapter of a national organization, to live out its mission of “no kids sleep on the floor in our town.” To qualify as a bed recipient, individuals must be the legal guardian of the child or children ages 3 to 17 years old receiving the bed.

The only ice cream shop in east Gainesville is officially open for business. Totes Ice Cream opened at 1714 SE Hawthorne Road on Friday.

The park opened in 2021 in northwest Alachua County and featured a group hike this weekend.