Top holiday and Christmas events for Bradenton and Manatee County in 2025
It's time for holiday fun, and Bradenton and Sarasota have plenty of holly-jolly events in store for the 2025 season.
Festive holiday and Christmas happenings around Southwest Florida include illuminated boat parades, street parties and subtropical light displays.
Other events planned this December include holiday concerts, festivals, markets, theme park parties and much more.
Here's a guide to family-friendly holiday fun near you.
Christmas and holiday events
Orban's Poinsettia Open House: Orban's Nursery will help kick off the holiday season in Manatee County with its annual Poinsettia Open House.
The event is back after it was canceled last year due to severe damage to the nursery in 2024's hurricane season.
See thousands of locally grown poinsettias and other colorful plants for sale and browse offerings from local vendors. The event will also have food trucks and holiday photo areas.
- Details: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. Orban's Nursery, 9601 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton.
- Info: Facebook.com/OrbansNursery
Tyler Orban, the fourth-generation owner of Orban's Nursery, with some holiday poinsettias.
Palmetto's Christmas in the Park: This annual event includes kids' crafts, reindeer games and festive decorations to see around Palmetto Historical Park. The 2025 theme is "A Coastal Christmas."
- Details: 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. Palmetto Historical Park, 515 10th Ave. W., Palmetto. Free; online registration required.
- Info: (941) 742-4438. ManateeCountyAgMuseum.com/christmas-in-the-park
Walk Through Bethlehem: Samoset First Baptist Church's "Walk Through Bethlehem" event immerses visitors in a "live, dramatic, walk-through Christmas adventure that re-enacts what it might have been like the night Jesus was born." The event features over 100 actors, live animals, demonstrations and storytelling.
- Details: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7. Samoset First Baptist Church, 3200 15th St. E., Bradenton. Free; donations accepted.
- Info: Facebook.com/SamosetBaptist
Samoset First Baptist Church's annual
Historic Holiday Tours: Palmetto Historical Museum & the Manatee County Agricultural Museum will host educational tours that explore both museums' grounds this month, and visitors can see all the historical buildings decked out in Christmas decor.
Spots for the tours are limited, and reservations are required.
- Details: Historic Holiday Tours offered frpm 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 9 to Friday, Dec. 12. Palmetto Historical Park, 515 10th Ave. W., Palmetto. Free. Reservations required; 10 people per tour.
- Info: ManateeCountyAgMuseum.com
Chanukah on Main Street: A Chanukah Celebration on Lakewood Ranch Main Street will feature family fun and glow-in-the-dark dancers.
Other activities will include live music, food and drink vendors, a floral menorah lighting, face painting, balloon sculpting, doughnut decorating, a dreidl bounce house, a bubble light show and more.
- Details: 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15. Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Free admission.
- Info: ChabadOfBradenton.com
Steve Shapiro lights the Menorah on Main Street at the Lakewood Ranch Chanukah celebration in 2011.
A Celtic Christmas: First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota will offer two chances to see its annual Christmas musical spectacular this year. The Lubben Brothers, a triplet folk trio, will be backed by a 70-voice choir composed of the First Presbyterian Choir and the Sarasota-based Via Nova Chorale.
"The Lubben Brothers raise the roof with the energy of fiddles, whistle, accordion, dulcimer, percussion, and other instruments," an event preview says. They will also be joined by award-winning bagpiper Kevin Weigand.
- Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., Sarasota. $30 online; advanced purchase recommended.
- Info: ViaNovaChorale.org
Christmas in Cortez: Now in its fifth year, this festival spirits up holiday family fun in the historic fishing village of Cortez. Hosted by the Florida Maritime Museum, "Christmas in Cortez" will feature games, a bounce house, a Santa meet-and-greet and other holiday festivities.
Food and drink will be available for purchase at the festival. Event parking can be found at the FISH Preserve, just east of the Florida Maritime Museum. Parking, admission and activities are free.
- Details: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Free.
- Info: FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org
An Old Florida Christmas at Manatee Village Historical Park will offer live music performances, make-and-take crafts, photo opportunities with Father Christmas, family-friendly activities and vendors selling handmade goods. Historic buildings will be decorated in holiday style, and there will be a selection of food trucks.
- Details: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Manatee Village Historical Park, 1404 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. Free.
- Info: ManateeVillage.org
A Night Before Christmas at G.T. Bray: G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton will transform into a holiday wonderland for this family-friendly Christmas extravaganza.
The annual event is hosted by Manatee County Government, and it will feature a snow slide, a "foam zone," bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting and a letters to Santa station. Kids will also be able to say hello to Santa and Mrs. Claus and take a free picture with them.
Local vendors and food and dessert trucks will be there to add to the fun.
Entry is free, but organizers request a donation of one new, unwrapped toy per family for a Toys for Tots drive. Parking will be available in several lots around the park.
- Details: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Event parking available near the G.T. Bray Recreation Center, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton. Free entry.
- Info: Mymanatee.org
Santa Claus holds his signature hat as he arrives at G.T. Bray park for
The Path to Christmas: Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch will host an illuminated walk through the woods with live nativity characters this Christmas season.
The event will include a Santa Claus appearance, Christmas cookies and warm beverages, plus live music with favorite seasonal songs.
The church sanctuary will be open for visitors to pray and light candles in memory of loved ones.
- Details: 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 S.R. 64, Lakewood Ranch. Free.
- Info: PeacePCUSA.com/the-path-to-christmas
Bradenton's Winter Wonderland: This Bradenton Christmas tradition will return in 2025 with a snow slide and other festive activities in the heart of downtown.
Enjoy holiday-themed family photo ops, performances by local youth music groups and strolling performers as snow falls on Old Main Street.
A free winter carnival will feature games like a snowball toss and ice fishing, and there will be a market of holiday gift vendors and food and drink merchants. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be in attendance.
- Details: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Old Main St., Bradenton. Free.
- Info: RealizeBradenton.com/events/winter-wonderland
Ian Haas, 3, enjoys a toboggan ride on the man-made hill on Old Main Street as part of the 2006 Winter Wonderland festivities.
North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum: The North Pole Express transports guests through rural Manatee County to a Christmas village with activities, campfires, hot chocolate, cookies and a meet-and-greet with Santa. The experience lasts about three and a half hours.
Tickets for this local favorite are quick to sell out.
- Details: Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 3-7, 10-14 and 17-22. Florida Railroad Museum, 12210 83rd St. E., Parrish. Tickets start at $29.25 for children and $35.50 for adults.
- Info: (941) 776-0906. FRRM.org
Holiday parades
AMI Privateers Children's Christmas Parade: After last year's parade was canceled due to hurricane damage, this annual beach tradition returns to Anna Maria Island in 2025.
The children's parade features colorful floats decorated for the holidays. It steps off at 10 a.m. from the Coquina Beach South Ramp and travels up Gulf Drive through Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, ending at City Pier Park in Anna Maria.
The parade will be followed by an after-party at Holmes Beach City Field with free hot dogs and drinks for kids and a visit from Santa.
- Details: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Anna Maria Island. Free.
- Info: Facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandPrivateers
Anna Maria Island Privateers will travel down the length of Anna Maria Island in their pirate ship joined by families, businesses and organizations during the annual Children's Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Jiggs Landing Outpost will host an Old Florida holiday boat parade on the Evers Reservoir and Braden River on Dec. 6.
There will be live music starting at 3 p.m., and the Outpost will be open until sunset serving food, drinks and sweets.
The parade starts at sunset. Spectators can bring a lawn chair and set up waterside.
You can also watch the boats go by at Linger Lodge, where the parade ends.
- Details: Parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Jiggs Landing Outpost, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. Free. No entry fee for participants.
- Info: (941) 727-4181. JiggsLanding.com
The Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade keeps the holiday spirit afloat with a festive nautical display down the famous waterway.
Boat owners will compete for cash prizes with categories for boats over and under 30 feet.
VIP viewing parties will be held at the Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant and Pier 22.
Public viewing points include Snead Island, the Green Bridge, parts of Riverside Drive in Palmetto and the Bradenton Riverwalk.
Alternatively, grab a reservation at Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, Caddy's or Pier 22 Restaurant for a view with food. Estimated viewing timeline:
- 5:30 p.m. - Staging begins at Shaw Point
- 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. - Bradenton Yacht Club (Private Members Club)
- 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. - Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
- 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Pier 22 Restaurant / Twin Dolphin Marina / Oak & Stone
- Details: 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 on the Manatee River. Free.
- Info: HolidayBoatParade.org
Decorated boats, kayaks and canoes will light up the Manatee River and fill the air with holiday music during the annual parade on Dec. 13.
Where to get Christmas trees
Christmas tree lot opens: The longest-running Christmas tree lot in Bradenton opened Nov. 21.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County's 71st annual Christmas Tree Lot offers 3 to 12-foot Fraser fir trees, plus wreaths.
"Your purchase supports Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and helps fund programs for local youth," organizers say.
Purchases can be made using credit or debit cards, checks or money orders. Cash will not be accepted this year.
- Details: Accessible via Publix at Westgate Shopping Center, 3913 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29; Then open noon to 7 p.m. Sundays, 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 14, while supplies last.
- Info: Facebook.com/BoysGirlsClubsManatee
11/23/2018--Picking out a Christmas tree during a visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee lot on Manatee Avenue is a Bradenton tradition that started in 1954.
Holiday shopping and markets
Holidays at UTC: University Town Center has more than a month of holiday activities planned.
Attractions include nightly light shows along Cattlemen Road, an ice rink, outdoor holiday movie showings, horse-drawn carriage rides, Saturday night fireworks shows, an outdoor exhibit of large holiday greeting cards created by local students and performances by local school groups.
Tightrope walker Nik Wallenda and the Circus Arts Conservatory will present a holiday circus show, "Wonderland: Believe," from Nov. 21 to Jan. 4.
- Details: Through Jan. 4. University Town Center, 210 North Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.
- Info: MallAtUTC.com
Visitors to the Mall at University Town Center can visit with the jolly old elf at Santa's Flight Academy. Children can take photos with Santa, and play in snow in the 22-foot-tall sleigh in the mall's center court.
Village of the Arts in Bradenton will host a market on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, with lots of opportunities to find unique gifts and a scavenger hunt.
The shops of the live-work community display and sell a wide range of crafts and art styles. Live music and eats and drinks at Village restaurants and cafes are another reason to stop by.
On Dec. 5 and 6, "A Holly Jolly Village Christmas" will offer another chance to shop.
Friday's Art Walk will feature music by the Southeast High School choir and the Sentimental Gents Barbershop Quartet, and on Saturday Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and wife Gina will visit the Village as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
- Details: Small Business Saturday market is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. December Art Walk is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Village of the Arts, downtown Bradenton. Free.
- Info: Facebook.com/VillageOfTheArts
