OurTownSarasota.com News Events
The Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice areas are hosting a variety of Christmas and holiday events throughout December 2025, including boat parades, light festivals, and musical performances
.
Here is a report on the key festivities:
Parades and Festivals
- Venice Christmas Boat Parade: Enjoy a dazzling display of decorated boats along the Intracoastal Waterway at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
- Sarasota Holiday Parade: The 29th annual parade with the theme “Celebrate Sarasota” will take place in downtown Sarasota at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
- Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade: Bradenton’s annual boat parade lights up the Manatee River around 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 13.
- Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas Parade: This land-based parade starts at Coquina Beach’s south boat ramp at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, and ends at Anna Maria City Pier Park, where Santa will hand out gifts to children.
- Holidays at The Bay: A free community celebration in Sarasota’s Bay Park from 4-7:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, featuring snow and other activities.
- Winter Wonderland: Bradenton’s Old Main Street will host this event with a snow slide, a winter carnival, music, and a holiday market from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, December 14.
Music and Arts Performances
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: Presents “Deck the Halls,” a musical celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah with a local Sarasota twist (decorated palm trees and sand snowmen).
- Venice Symphony and Key Chorale: The Venice Symphony presents “Sounds of the Season” with Key Chorale on the weekend of December 19-21. The Sarasota Ballet School also presents “The Nutcracker” with the Venice Symphony on December 12 and 13.
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: Features several holiday performances, including the Venice Concert Band’s “Holiday Splendor” (Dec 8) and “Classically Christmas” (Dec 15).
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: The venue has a lineup of national holiday tours, including Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland (Dec 21), A Very Broadway Christmas (Dec 22), and Straight No Chaser – Holiday Road Tour (Dec 29).
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: Hosting the area premiere of Disney’s
from December 4–21.
Light Displays and Tours
- Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens transforms into a wonderland of lights, a nightly event that runs throughout December.
- Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands Circle: The 47th annual event includes a musical performance and the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree on Friday, December 5.
- Christmas Carol Trolley: Take a festive 75-minute tour through downtown Sarasota’s lights with caroling and stories aboard the trolley.
- Hidden Elves at Lakewood Ranch Main Street: A festive walk-through event featuring hidden elf displays that run through the end of December.
