THE FEST is an independent multiple-day, multiple-venue underground music festival held annually in Gainesville, FL with support from the fine folks from VISIT GAINESVILLE, ALACHUA COUNTY. Established in 2002 with only 60 bands, four stages, and two days, THE FEST has experienced a massive growth rate and now is three days long, 15+ venues and over 350 bands, comedians and professional wrestlers. FEST is always held the last weekend of October. The reason why it is held that weekend is because the University of Florida plays the University of Georgia out of town in Jacksonville, Florida. Therefore, the town is kind of empty and Fest is able to bring in thousands of smart music fans from all over the world to Gainesville for a killer weekend in the Florida fall weather.