Newberry, FL

Newberry, Florida: A Place to Call Home

With slightly less than 5,000 residents, the city of Newberry, Florida is a small town in Alachua County that is brimming with charm. Initially settled as a mining town in the late 1800s, Newberry has blossomed into a thriving town most famous for the annual Newberry Watermelon Festival and now for the new Easton Sports Complex and Nations Park Ballfields.

Annual Festival

The Newberry and Jonesville Chamber of Commerce are an active force in the community that assists in the planning and implementation of annual events and is a hub of information for the local business culture. Among the many annual events in the city, Newberry's most famous annual festival is the Newberry Watermelon Festival.

The Newberry Watermelon Festival was first held in 1946 in celebration of one of the area's most important crops: watermelon. Each year residents look forward to this event which features a watermelon eating contest, hog calling contest, a beauty pageant, and the year's "Big Melon."

Committed to Green Living

Newberry, Florida is dedicated to moving toward green living and values the environment. In 2012, Newberry hosted the All Day Green Celebration to commemorate the completion of solar PV panels on the city's Easton Sports Complex. Newberry is also home to an interesting residential community named the Town of Tioga. The houses and buildings in this innovative community are designed for green living and employ the use of functional gardens within the community in order to promote sustainability.

Entertainment & Recreation

Newberry is home to many restaurants (don't miss Newberry Backyard Barbeque), recreational facilities, and historical landmarks. The Little Red School House is one of the city's most interesting museums and draws thousands of visitors each year. A tour through this historical building provides a glimpse into the history of education in the city that spans over 100 years.

The Canterbury Horse Park is a favorite stop for residents and visitors alike. A premier equestrian center, the Canterbury Horse Park offers a state-of-the-art facility for horse shows and competitions. Hosting five or more events per month, the Canterbury Horse Park is a year-round favorite hub of entertainment.

Sports lovers will delight in learning that Newberry, Florida, offers numerous opportunities to play sports. Newberry sports facilities are tailored to meet the recreational needs of adults, children, and families. The largest sports facility in Newberry is Easton Sports Complex, which offers archery lessons, sports programs, and summer camps. Nations Park is reserved for baseball and softball tournaments while Diamond Sports Park offers athletes an additional place to play.