Happy Friday everyone! Many of us have been waiting about eight months for this weekend. The return of football is pretty huge....but there's other things going on if football isn't your thing.

Without a doubt it is a big weekend for sports on the UF campus. The Gator football team starts its 2012 campaign this weekend as the Falcons of Bowling Green will be in the Swamp Saturday afternoon. Many have been looking forward to this football season, the second year of the Will Muschamp era. The action starts at 3:30 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.  Website

Also on campus this weekend, the ladies soccer team takes on Florida International at Pressly Stadium at 7 pm Sunday. On Monday, the volleyball team returns from it's road trip. They'll take on the Slovenian Junior National Team at 4 pm in the O'Connell Center.  Website

Downtown Gainesville will be active tonight with music and fun for the kids. United Downtown is an event that will take place on Friday nights before select UF home football games this season. It's the United Way's way of introducing some of the programs and agencies that serve the community. It's a free, family friendly event that will include a kid's area featuring a bounce house, face painting and arts and crafts. There'll also be food and live music. The event goes from 6 to 10 pm tonight at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in downtown Gainesville.  Website

You can celebrate the holiday weekend in Newberry as the Easton Newberry Sports Complex is hosting it's second annual Luau party. The fun goes from noon to 9 Saturday and from 1 pm until after dark Sunday. There'll be a variety of activities including an inflatable water park for the kids. There will be plenty of food and drink available. It all wraps up Sunday night with fireworks. The sports complex is about a mile north of Newberry on highway 27.   Website

Enjoy your weekend!