🎄 Festivals, Celebrations, Tree Lightings 🎄
🎅 Santa Sightings 🎅
Nov 9-Dec 22 Ananda Farm 'Savor the Season' Holiday Festival At Ananda Farm, we're crafting unforgettable memories for everyone. Between our thrilling attractions, culinary experiences, themed photo ops, and special events. There's something for everyone to enjoy! Fri-Sun
Nov 7-Dec 24 Santa's Flight Academy and Photos with Santa Make your reservation to meet Santa for a picture-perfect moment. After, take off on an interactive adventure at Santa's Flight Academy, complete with his 22-foot-tall sleigh! Hours vary daily
Nov 30-Dec 22 (weekends) Photos with Santa at Court Thirteen For just $5 (and a toy donation if you’re able), snap a magical memory with Santa—right on your phone! On Sundays, furry friends are also welcome for pet photos with Santa. 10AM-2PM
Nov 23 6th Annual Light Up LongboatSpecial appearances by Santa, Minnie, & Mickey, Local eats & treats, Shop local: gift card sales & merchandise, Tree lighting ceremony. 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Dec 4, 11 and 18 Festive Photos with Santa at Ranch Nite Wednesday Snap some memorable photos with Santa, enjoy live music that’ll get you in the holiday spirit, and indulge in delicious bites from our fantastic food trucks. Plus, challenge your friends to a friendly game of cornhole! 6-9PM
Dec 6 Holiday Night of Lights Join in with our annual Christmas Carol Sing-a-long beginning at 6:00 pm. Pics with Santa, photos with Santa, write letters to Santa, tree lighting and so much more! 5:30PM St Armands Circle
Dec 6 Fresh Fridays | Light up the Night Enjoy live music under the twinkling city lights and dance under the stars in the heart of downtown Sarasota. Plus, celebrate the Downtown Improvement District's new holiday tree where we will be lighting it up at Fresh Fridays. 7-10PM
Dec 6 and 7 Palmetto's Christmas in the Park Celebrate the holiday season with the return of Palmetto’s Christmas in the Park at the Palmetto Historical Park & Manatee County Agricultural Museum. Come enjoy reindeer games, holiday crafts, and festive decorations! December 6th from 3 – 7 PM & Saturday, December 7th from 2 – 7 PM TICKET REQUIRED
Dec 7 A Night Before Christmas | GT Bray Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the park and taking professional pictures with the children which you’ll be able to download for free. There also will be a variety of family-friendly activities, including DJ, inflatables, face painting, crafts, petting zoo, foam zone and snow slides!
Dec 7 North Port's annual Poinsettia Parade & Festival Resurrection Pools, will continue to feature the annual tree lighting ceremony, mobile food vendors, entertainment, attractions, merchandise vendors, and much more. 3-7PM
Dec 13, 14, 20, 21 Small Town Christmas Padgett Ranch Enjoy our Christmas Story Hayride, Polar Express Train Ride, Reindeer Hay Run and Snack(corn)Box. Try out our Holly Jolly Bounce Pillow and Rockin’ all around Ranch Rodeo Arena. Savor up to our S’more Bar and have dinner at the Family Grill. Free photos with Santa! 5:30-8:30PM
Dec 11-28 (select nights) Christmas at Creator's Farm and Garden Included in your admission, you will experience thousands of lights throughout 5 acres of gardens, live Christmas music with Joey O, fun Florida snow and laser lights, s'mores by the fire, children's games with prizes, and other fun activities. Special events on Friday, December 13 with hand bell performance, Friday, December 27 line dancing with Kelly, and Saturday, December 28 dance lessons with Jonathan and Heather.
DEC 13 Christmas Town Celebration From our lights maze and snow machines, pictures with Santa and Grinch, “Journey to Bethlehem“, to all the fun and treats - you don’t want to miss this event. This year, we cannot wait to celebrate Christmas with you!
Dec 13 and 14 Milk and Cookies on the Farm with SANTA! Come join us for Milk and Cookies on the Farm with SANTA! We have a lot of fun, and exciting things lined up for you and your family!
Dec 14 Third Annual Holidays at The Bay Community Celebration Spread the season’s cheer by snapping a FREE family photo with Santa. Join Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Teaching Artists for a make-and-take holiday craft project, dancing, and a “Sounds of The Season” story read by Mr. Stevey. Dance to Rockin’ Reindeer music spun by DJ Rick Levine, enjoy family-friendly games, a movie showing of Toy Story 4, and more!
Dec 14 Christmas Spectacular at Playtime Plaza FREE meet & greet + photos with Santa 
•FREE access to a real Manatee County Fire Truck 
•Let it Snow Bubbles 
•Discounted Play inside Playtime Plaza 
•DIY Festive Slime Making
Dec 14 Winter Wonderland Celebration Meet Santa for a picture and share your holiday wishes with him. - Watch in wonder as snow magically fall throughout the evening. Performances and more! 5-8:30PM
Dec 14 Santa Firehouse Pancake Breakfast Enjoy pancakes, a present from Santa, ornament decorating and bake sale items. Bake sale proceeds will go to the Venice Firefighters Benevolent fund.
Dec 14 Meet and Greet Santa and Grinch at Learning Express of University Park Come and get your pictures with Santa and the Grinch. Make memories to last a lifetime. Giving away prizes and refreshments.
Dec 14 CRPE Academy Presents Christmas Festival A beautiful celebration filled with holiday cheer, featuring a diverse selection of local businesses and organizations that share our commitment to community engagement. 3-7PM
Dec 14 Winter Wonderland at Learning Unlimited and Manatee Learning Academy Start with a walk through our Winter Wonderland, Whoville with the Grinch, Peanuts, Polar Express, Candyland, and Rudolph photo areas, snack to go, and a special meeting with the one and only Santa!
Dec 14 Christmas in Cortez Visit Santa, jump in the bounce house, make holiday crafts to bring home, play games and more! Special feature this year is the huge pirate ship that the Privateers are bringing for a fun, pirate-themed photo op.
Dec 14 North River Ranch's 2nd Annual Winterfest Come play in the snow, take pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, and shop local vendors for the holidays! Winterfest at North River Ranch will feature a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey rink, face painting, holiday crafts and more.
Dec 15 Holiday Market with Santa YOU'RE INVITED to our Holiday Market with Santa 🎅🏼 Photos with Santa 🎅🏼 inside our Winter Wonderland! A life size Snow Globe, 2 Bounce Houses, Face Painting and games for all ages sponsored by Tropical Thrills Florida. Cookies and coloring with Santa, a holiday parade, live music, yoga and more! The Meadows Farmers Market 9AM-3PM
Dec 15 Santa and S'Mores at Bayside Come enjoy free pictures with Santa and then stay to make s'mores and hot cocoa and take home a craft! 4-6PM
Dec 15 Parrish Hometown Christmas Event Santa Claus arriving by Fire Truck, local vendors, snow slide, arts and crafts and more!
Dec 1, 8, 15, 22 Festive Photos with Santa at the Market This holiday season, come spread the cheer at our Farmers' Market each Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Meet the one and only Santa Claus at the Plaza, where you can capture magical moments with photos and share your holiday wishes. Waterside Place
Dec 19 Open Play: Pictures with Santa! Santa is in town and his sleigh is making a stop at The Roots next week! He is requesting all his happy elves join him for a morning of festive fun! 9:30-10:30
Dec 21 Mayor Santa and First Lady Claus Visits Bradenton Public Market Our very own Mayor Brown and his wife, Gina will once again show you why Bradenton is known as The Friendly City as they bring holiday cheer to the Market from 10 am - 1 pm.
Dec 21 Swim with Santa Wear your swimsuit and come celebrate a uniquely tropical festivity while Santa takes a holiday before his biggest day of the year! Loads of fun to be had by all, in and out of the water, with photo ops galore. Kids will enjoy a variety of games and create take-home crafts. 10AM-NOON $10 Registration required
Dec 21 Antzcak Christmas Lights with Santa Dec 21-24 Free Hot Cocoa and Santa will visit on the 21st at approx 7PM!
Dec 21 Pictures with Santa at Alpha Martial Arts Academy Join us for this FREE COMMUNITY EVENT! We will be hosting Santa, who loves taking pictures with you! We will also have activities, cookies & milk, games, and so much more!
Dec 21 - Dec 22 (weekends) Photos with Santa at Court Thirteen For just $5 (and a toy donation if you’re able), snap a magical memory with Santa—right on your phone! On Sundays, furry friends are also welcome for pet photos with Santa. 10AM-2PM
Dec 21 Christmas on Main Grace Community Church is transforming Lakewood Ranch Main Street into a winter wonderland with free games, rides, and attractions for the whole family! Santa himself will even be there, and you won’t want to miss the heartwarming candlelight service from 7 to 8 pm. Brought to you by Grace Community Church! 4-8PM free
Dec 22 Donuts with the Grinch at Five-O! The next two weekends come buy some dough and take a pic with the grinch! 9-11AM
Dec 22 Santa Visits South Siesta Village Daiquiri Deck Join us as Santa visits with kids and families at the South Village Daiquiri Deck. Photos may be taken with Santa free of charge. Gift bags will be given to the first 250 kids. No registration needed. 3-5PM
Dec 22 Santa at Ananda Farm Florida Don’t Miss the LAST WEEKEND of Christmas here at Ananda Farm! This Friday through Sunday is your final chance to experience the magic of our holiday festival before we close to prepare for an exciting spring season, reopening January 31, 2025! 
Santa will be stopping by on Sunday from 12-2 PM for a festive holiday send-off!
Dec 22 Santa Visits Sarasota Polo for Opening Day! Don't forget! Santa will be joining us on Opening Day at the Sarasota Polo Club. Come visit with Santa and then watch a fabulous polo match! 10AM-3PM
Dec 22 Santa is coming to Altitude Trampoline Park SANTA is coming this SUNDAY, December 22nd from 6-8PM.
Dec 23 Photos with Santa at Main Street Creamery Come get your free picture with Santa between 3pm and 6pm! Santa will be set up on our green bench inside, ready to meet your little ones!
Go back to the main 2024 Christmas Events guide here ⤵️
