2025 UPDATE

For over 30 years, the Holiday Craft Festival at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center has served as a hub for artisans to showcase their unique talents and handmade gifts for members from the Gainesville community and beyond. It is a tradition that we cherish and plan meticulously each year to ensure the experience is full of joy and holiday spirit for all.

Regrettably, unforeseen scheduling conflicts have forced us to make the tough decision to cancel the 2025 O’Connell Center Holiday Craft Festival. We deeply regret the disappointment this may cause and want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly.

Over the past few years, the festival has become increasingly more challenging to schedule. It coincides with several university sports seasons, numerous on-campus holiday events, and the lead-up to fall commencement ceremonies.

We are diligently exploring all avenues to ensure the return of the Holiday Craft Festival in 2026. While we are not sure what this will look like at the current moment, we will inform everyone as soon as we have more details.

While we have played host to this event for over 30 years, it has been a part of the Gainesville community for more than half a century. The significance and impact of such a tradition is not lost on us.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support. And thank you for being a part of what makes our community so special. 

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