Things to do in downtown Gainesville, GA

This is Gainesville in Hall County, Georgia, not Gainesville, Florida. Everything below is within a few blocks of the square unless it says otherwise, and the day planner will put any of it in walking order for you.

On the square

The square is the center of everything the City stages downtown, from SQUAREcrows in October to Jingle Mingle in November. Restaurants line Bradford, Main, Spring and Washington streets, and the Downtown Dining District rules let you carry a drink between them.

• In Gainesville's Downtown Dining District you may carry alcoholic drinks from 10 a.m. to midnight. Drinks must be bought from a licensed downtown business and carried in a clear plastic cup of 16 oz or less, with a limit of two at a time; no cans, glass or metal. City of Gainesville: Downtown Dining District
• Main Street Gainesville, part of the City's Community & Economic Development Department, is accredited by Main Street America and Georgia Main Street. In 2025 the Georgia Downtown Association named it Downtown of the Year, and the state Department of Community Affairs named it a Georgia Exceptional Main Street (GEMS) community. City of Gainesville: Main Street Gainesville

History you can walk to

Much of downtown was rebuilt after the April 6, 1936 tornado. These are the landmarks of that rebuild, plus the one building that came through it.

• The Stripped Classical, marble-faced Hall County Courthouse at Spring and Green streets replaced the courthouse destroyed in 1936. Atlanta architects Daniell & Beutell designed it, it was completed in 1937, and it was listed on the National Register in 1995. It is the sixth Hall County courthouse. National Register of Historic Places nomination: Hall County Courthouse (1995)
• The blocks holding the new courthouse and city hall were declared "Roosevelt Squares" on a monument to FDR placed by the Hall County Board of Commissioners. In 1978 the two blocks were joined into one large square. National Register of Historic Places nomination: Hall County Courthouse (1995)
• The white-marble Federal Building and Courthouse opened in 1910 as the post office at Washington and Green streets and gained a four-story addition on Spring Street in 1936. It was one of the few downtown buildings not destroyed or heavily damaged by the tornado. National Register of Historic Places nomination: Federal Building and Courthouse, Gainesville (1974)
• Gainesville's historic City Hall, built in 1937 after the tornado and designed by the same firm as the courthouse, has been renovated as an event venue at 117 Jesse Jewell Parkway. Explore Gainesville: Historic City Hall; NRHP Hall County Courthouse nomination
• Poultry Park, at 444 Jesse Jewell Parkway, honors the city's poultry industry with a chicken on top of a 25-foot marble obelisk. Local poultry industry leaders started the project, and the park was dedicated in 1977. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Historic Parks; The Gainesville Times, "Ask the Times: Poultry statue went up in 1977"

Museums, galleries and theatre

• The Northeast Georgia History Center, at 322 Academy Street NE, covers more than 10,000 years of regional history, including a 19th-century cabin that was once home to Cherokee leader White Path. It is open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM; general admission is $10. Northeast Georgia History Center: Visit Us
• The Quinlan Visual Arts Center, at 514 Green Street NE, grew from a 1946 artists' sketch club. It sits on Green Street land donated by Leslie Quinlan in 1955 and hosts up to 20 exhibitions a year. Hours are Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM and Saturday 10 AM–4 PM; it is closed Sundays. Quinlan Visual Arts Center: History and home page
• Brenau University was founded in Gainesville in 1878 as the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary by Dr. W.C. Wilkes. Its galleries are at 200 Boulevard, beside the historic district. Brenau University: History & Traditions; Explore Gainesville: Arts & Culture
• Gainesville Theatre Alliance, formed in 1979, is an inter-collegiate theatre collaboration between Brenau University and the University of North Georgia. It performs in Brenau's 700-seat Pearce Auditorium and 340-seat Hosch Theatre and in UNG's 210-seat Ed Cabell Theatre. Gainesville Theatre Alliance: Overview and Audience Services

More on each, with addresses: arts and theatre near the square.

Greenways and the lake

• The Rock Creek Greenway's 2 miles of tree-shaded trail link the historic square to Lake Lanier through four parks: Rock Creek Veterans Park, Ivey Terrace Park, Wilshire Trails Park and Longwood Park. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Greenways
• The Midland Greenway, formerly the Midtown Greenway, is a rails-to-trails path along an abandoned rail line south of the square. It has an amphitheater, dog park, inclusive playground, FitCourt and public restrooms, and connects to the Highlands to Islands Trail. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Greenways
• Lake Lanier Olympic Park, at 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, was built for the 1996 Olympic rowing and canoe/kayak competitions. Its original timing tower still stands and is described as the last remaining 1996 venue still used for its original purpose. Explore Gainesville: Lake Lanier Olympic Park venue page

What is on in the next few weeks

See the full events calendar, with every date linked to its organiser.

Every place on this page

• Historic downtown square

  historic square

  112 Main Street SW, Gainesville, GA 30501 (Explore Gainesville venue address)

  The square hosts the City's downtown events, from First Friday concerts to SQUAREcrows and Trick or Treat on the Square.

  Source: City of Gainesville: Downtown Events, checked 2026-10-16

• Roosevelt Square and the FDR monument

  historic civic square / monument

  Courthouse–City Hall block, Spring/Green/Main streets, Gainesville, GA 30501

  The courthouse and city hall blocks were declared "Roosevelt Squares" on a monument to FDR's post-tornado visit, and Roosevelt dedicated the rebuilt civic center here on March 23, 1938.

  Source: NRHP nomination: Hall County Courthouse; Digital Library of Georgia record dlg_vang_hal218, checked 2026-10-16

• Hall County Courthouse (1937)

  historic building (NRHP)

  Corner of Spring Street and Green Street, Gainesville, GA

  This WPA-funded Stripped Classical courthouse by Daniell & Beutell replaced the courthouse destroyed by the 1936 tornado and was listed on the National Register in 1995.

  Source: NRHP nomination: Hall County Courthouse (1995), checked 2026-10-16

• Federal Building and Courthouse

  historic building (NRHP)

  126 Washington Street (original post office front) / Spring Street addition, Gainesville, GA

  This white-marble 1910 post office, with a 1936 Spring Street addition, was one of the few downtown buildings not destroyed or heavily damaged by the 1936 tornado.

  Source: NRHP nomination: Federal Building and Courthouse (1974), checked 2026-10-16

• Historic City Hall

  historic building / event venue

  117 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville, GA 30501

  Built in 1937 and newly renovated, the historic City Hall is now booked as an event venue.

  Source: Explore Gainesville: Historic City Hall, checked 2026-10-16

• Northeast Georgia History Center

  history museum

  322 Academy Street NE, Gainesville, GA 30501

  Exhibits and historic structures span more than 10,000 years of regional history, including the 19th-century cabin of Cherokee leader White Path. General admission is $10.

  Wednesday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM; closed Sunday–Tuesday unless hosting an event

  Source: Northeast Georgia History Center: Visit Us, checked 2026-10-16

• Quinlan Visual Arts Center

  art center / galleries

  514 Green Street NE, Gainesville, GA 30501

  This nonprofit arts center grew from a 1946 sketch club and hosts up to 20 exhibitions a year on historic Green Street.

  Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM; Saturday 10 AM–4 PM; closed Sunday

  Source: Quinlan Visual Arts Center: home and History pages, checked 2026-10-16

• Brenau University historic campus

  university campus / galleries / theatre

  500 Washington Street SE, Gainesville, GA (OSM campus point); Brenau Galleries at 200 Boulevard

  Brenau was founded in 1878 as the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, and its Pearce Auditorium and Hosch Theatre are Gainesville Theatre Alliance venues.

  Source: Brenau University: History & Traditions; Gainesville Theatre Alliance: Audience Services, checked 2026-10-16

• Green Street Historic District

  historic district / walking tour

  Green Street NE (walking tour roughly 380–756 Green Street)

  Victorian and Neo-Classical Revival homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s line the street, and a printed walking-tour map is available at the Gainesville Visitor Center.

  Source: Explore Gainesville: Historic Green Street Walking Tour, checked 2026-10-16

• Poultry Park (chicken monument)

  historic park / monument

  444 Jesse Jewell Parkway SE, Gainesville, GA 30501

  A chicken sits on top of a 25-foot marble obelisk honoring the poultry industry; the park was dedicated in 1977.

  Source: City of Gainesville: Historic Parks; The Gainesville Times (1977 dedication), checked 2026-10-16

• Midland Greenway

  greenway / rail-trail

  682 Grove Street (amphitheater), Gainesville, GA 30501

  This rails-to-trails greenway south of the square has an amphitheater, dog park, inclusive playground and public restrooms.

  Source: City of Gainesville: Greenways, checked 2026-10-16

• Rock Creek Greenway (Rock Creek Veterans Park)

  greenway / war memorials

  223 Northside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501

  Two miles of shaded trail run from Rock Creek Veterans Park, one block from the square, past WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials to Longwood Park on Lake Lanier.

  Source: City of Gainesville: Greenways; Historic Parks, checked 2026-10-16

• Wilshire Trails Park

  park / holiday lights

  849 Wilshire Road, Gainesville, GA (Greenways page lists 849 Wilshire Trails Road)

  This Rock Creek Greenway park has a covered bridge and storybook trail and is home to the annual Wilshire Wonderland of Lights.

  Source: City of Gainesville: Greenways; Wilshire Wonderland, checked 2026-10-16

• The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

  arts center (restored 1914 train depot)

  331 Spring Street SW, Gainesville, GA 30501

  The Arts Council's home is a restored 1914 train depot with an outdoor pavilion stage used for its concert series.

  Source: Explore Gainesville: Arts & Culture, checked 2026-10-16

Questions

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Gainesville downtown events