Best Things To Do in SRQ

December is here and so is the holiday cheer. This week in Sarasota we have no shortage of Christmas-themed events to bring out the holiday spirit.

Light shows and Christmas markets are in season, and Santa is in town early. Be sure to check out the locations highlighted below.

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Thanks for reading,

Carson

🔦 Event Spotlight

North Pole Express

📍 Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish

🕦 Multiple times - see details

Book SOON! Time is running out to get aboard the North Pole Express. Follow the link to reserve your spot and get the scoop — details

Wednesday, December 4th

Siesta Key Yoga

📍 Siesta Key Beach

🕦 5pm

Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 8:30am and on Wednesdays at 5:00pm. We are located behind the red and green lifeguard towers, to the left of the public beach access mat! Our yoga classes are geared towards all levels. No need to sign up, just show up!

Classic Car Show at Ed's Tavern

📍 Ed’s Tavern, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 5pm - 8pm

Community event that takes place on Main Street on the First Wednesday of Each Month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your ride or just enjoy the show for free! You can bring anything on wheels, and it’s just $10 per vehicle to participate! — details

Ranch Nite | 9-Hole Mini Golf

📍 Gateway Park, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 6pm

Tee off on our free 9-hole mini golf course and challenge your friends and family to a friendly competition. Stick around to grab a tasty bite from a food vendor, sip on a refreshing drink, and enjoy some live music - details

Trivia Night at Good Liquid Brewing Co

📍 1570 Lakefront Dr, Sarasota, FL 34240

🕦 7pm

Gather your friends, challenge your brain, and savor a beer at Good Liquid Brewing Company!

A Motown Christmas

📍 West Coast Black Theatre Troupe

🕦 7:30pm

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe invites the community to ring in the holidays with its exuberant original musical revue, A Motown Christmas. The show features some favorite traditional carols as well as numerous original Christmas songs written and recorded by Motown's most celebrated artists, all performed in WBTT's inimitable style — details 

Thursday, December 5th

Fruitville Library Storytime

📍 Fruitville Library, Sarasota

🕦 10am

Storytime includes simple stories, nursery rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and crafts. Space is limited. Free tickets are available at the youth desk beginning at 10 a.m. the morning of the program.

Rock Around the Christmas Tree - Aloha Ukulele Club Performance

📍 Waterside Place

🕦 6pm - 7pm

The Aloha Ukulele Club of Lakewood Ranch is so pleased to “Rock Around the Christmas Tree” with some Holiday Tunes at the Waterside Place Plaza on December 5th at 6PM. We love spreading a “joyous noise.” We meet several times a month to jam, learn new songs, and perform around Sarasota and Manatee counties — details 

Tequila Tasting

📍 Sage, Downtown Sarasota

🕦 7pm

Prepare to embark on a culinary and tequila journey like no other! Sage’s Tequila Dinner pairs the groundbreaking Mijenta Tequila, including the revolutionary Maestra Selection No. 1, with a 5-course menu designed by Executive Chef Christopher Covelli and Co-Executive Chef Vinnie Savadel — details 

Friday, December 6th

European Holiday Market

📍 Bradenton Convention Center

🕦 12pm - 9pm

An immersive experience featuring artisans selling seasonal treasures, along with European-inspired delicacies, festive beverages, interactive activities and live performances and entertainment — details 

50th Annual Singing Christmas Tree Spectacular

📍 1661 Main St, Sarasota

🕦 Multiple showings all weekend

Step into a dazzling holiday tradition with the 50th Annual Singing Christmas Tree Spectacular! This year’s celebration is more magical than ever, with five unforgettable performances that will captivate all ages. The First Sarasota Choir and Orchestra will usher in the Christmas spirit with cherished Christmas classics and some fresh, new favorites — details 

Tour of Lights | SRQ Trolley

📍 4041 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota

🕦 Multiple times all weekend

The Holiday Tour of Lights has become a MUST when you’re in the holiday spirits, so get ready to sit back, relax, sip on your favorite beverage (you provide), and listen to your favorite holiday music, while enjoying what Sarasota’s residents have created — details

Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival

📍 Freedom Factory, Bradenton

🕦 5pm - 9pm

The Christmas village will feature a 50 foot Christmas tree, Meet and Greet with Santa, games, rides, a Jumbotron playing Christmas movies, music, vendors, food, drinks, and more. This is a fully custom light show that you will not see anywhere else! — details

Old Manatee Candlelight Walking Tour

📍 708 Manatee Ave E Bradenton FL 34208

🕦 5pm - 9pm

Lights, music, food, vendors, and magic! Join the many small businesses in the Old Manatee neighborhood for an evening of holiday cheer! — details

46th Annual Night of Lights

📍 St. Armand's Circle

🕦 5:30 PM

46th Annual Holiday Night of Lights will magically transform St. Armands Circle into your favorite Holiday destination on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Be a part of the celebration, as the Circle comes to life at the official kick-off to the holiday season — details

Holiday Dessert Board Workshop

📍 Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex, Sarasota

🕦 5:30pm - 7pm

Get into the holiday spirit with our Holiday Dessert Board Workshop on Friday, December 13, from 5:30 to 7 PM! This family-friendly event offers a cozy evening of festive fun: sip on hot cocoa, dip into a chocolate fountain, and decorate cookies and treats with sprinkles and toppings — details 

Live Music at the Plaza

📍 Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 6pm - 9pm

This week’s live music at the Plaza features Jesse Daniels, a country, rock, and soul artist — details 

Saturday, December 7th

Intro to Pickleball

📍 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 8:30am - 10am

Join us on the courts for a fun-filled morning of learning the ins and outs of this addictive sport. No registration needed! Just show up and have a ball — details

Breakfast with Santa on the Bay

📍 Ritz-Carlton, Downtown Sarasota

🕦 9am - 12pm

Children will enjoy fun, interactive activities including face painting, cookie decorating and photos with Santa Claus. The breakfast buffet will be served on The Bayview Lawn — details 

Kids Ornament Making Class

📍 Summerfield Community Park, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 10am

"Ornament Making for Kids" program, children will be provided supplies and direction to create their very own keepsake ornament! — details 

Lakewood Ranch Holiday of the Arts Festival

📍 LWR Main Street

🕦 10am - 5pm

Browse and purchase fine arts and crafts from a fascinating and diverse array of original, handmade works by artisans from across America — details 

Holiday Market at the Brewery

📍 Big Top Brewers, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 11am - 4pm

Santa Claus arrives in style at noon—aboard a fire truck, courtesy of East Manatee Fire Rescue! Bring a new, unopened toy to donate to Toys for Tots and spread the holiday magic — details 

LEGO Club

📍 Selby Library, Sarasota

🕦 2pm - 3:30pm

Work on your own creations or build as a team. We provide the LEGOs, you provide the imagination. Creations will be on display in the youth area for one week following the programs — details

Coding Club

📍 Selby Library, Sarasota

🕦 2pm - 3:30pm

Meet other coders and work on your coding project. Share with others and troubleshoot as a team. Ages 9 - 18 — details 

A Night Before Christmas

📍 GT Bray Rec Center, Bradenton

🕦 4pm - 8pm

This event is sure to get you and your family in the Christmas spirit. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the park and taking professional pictures with the children 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! “Shop Local” Vendor Marketplace will be set up in the parking lot, along with food and dessert trucks! — details 

Palmetto's Christmas in the Park

📍 Palmetto Historical Park

🕦 7pm

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 — details 

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival & Bar Crawl

📍 Waterside Place, LWR

🕦 7am - 10pm

Get ready for an unforgettable day of live blues music and great food with a lineup of top blues performers. Indulge in delicious local food and drinks, explore unique vendors and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere with friends and family. After the festival (7pm), there is a bar crawl — details

Recipe for the Holiday

📍 Tree Fort Theatre, Sarasota

🕦 Multiple showings — see details

When a psychiatrist radio show host gives her advice, she matches it with a perfect recipe. This new musical sprinkles a dash of comedy and a dash of drama creating the perfect Recipe for the Holiday — details 

Sunday, December 8th

Breakfast with Santa

📍 The Grove, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 9am - 11am

Get ready for a magical breakfast with a sprinkle of holiday wonder because Santa’s making a stop at our place! Savor a hearty breakfast buffet crafted by our award-winning chefs, complete with a dash of holiday magic — details 

Siesta Key Farmers Market

📍 5211 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key

🕦 9am - 2pm

Shop local! Come check out local vendors - local rum, fresh produce, handmade soap, and more

Open Play at Playtime Plaza

📍 Playtime Plaza, Sarasota

🕦 10am - 5pm

Dive into a world where play and learning come together at Playtime Plaza — details 

Free Second Sundays

📍 Sarasota Art Museum at Ringling College

🕦 11am - 4pm

Enjoy a day of art and family fun at Sarasota Art Museum! On the second Sunday of each month, we offer free admission for visitors, special performances and art-making activities for the whole family — details 

Suncoast Scots Christmas Bazaar

📍 Scots Corner, Sarasota

🕦 1pm - 5pm

Enjoy Bagpipers & Drummers playing Holiday music, food and some Holiday Cheer (as in Scotland they say a cup of kindness) Who knows maybe we may sing a few Christmas Carols too. Outstanding raffle prizes will await you to win for your Secret Santa gift! — details 

PLAN AHEAD

Jazz Club of Sarasota Celebrating 45 years

📍 Holley Hall, Sarasota

🕦 7pm, and all weekend

Jazz Club celebrates the opening of our 45th season presenting a show with an All-Star ensemble. The event features performances by many of the finest musicians in the area — details 

Beach & Weather Conditions

Red Tide Map & Report 🔗

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