Restaurant Spotlights: 10 More Christmas Activities Before the 25th

Trattoria Bella Napoli

📍 1551 Main Street Sarasota

💲💲

This coastal Italian spot opened last week to much fanfare.

The menu features traditionally Neapolitan style dishes & of course some brick-oven pizza — grab a table

Wednesday, December 18th

Wednesday Pizza + Movie Night

📍 Big Top Brewers, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 5pm - 8pm

Grab your friends and join us Wednesday night inside the taproom for the coziest movie night in town — details

Sunset Volleyball

📍 Waterside Park, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 6pm - 8pm

Sunset Volleyball is a series of pickup volleyball games designed for volleyball players who are ready to jump in, play without instruction, and have a great time — details

Lights in Bloom

📍 Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota

🕦 6:30pm

Lights in Bloom features more than two million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways of our Downtown Sarasota campus — details

Photo's with Santa at UTC

📍 Mall at UTC

🕦 All day, check schedule

Make your reservation to meet Santa for a picture-perfect moment — details

Thursday, December 19th

Sheila Golden, Watercolor Class (Adults)

📍 Art Center Sarasota

🕦 10am - 1pm

Explore negative painting, layering and splatters with watercolor techniques. You’ll have fun while creatively exploring the watercolor medium — details

UTC Night Market

📍 The Green at UTC

🕦 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Outdoor market event featuring live music and a great mix of local makers selling handmade goods, jewelry, art, gifts and more — details

All Is Calm

📍 Asolo Repertory Theatre

🕦 Multiple Showings

After acclaimed runs Off Broadway and across North America, Peter Rothstein’s salute to heroes of The Great War makes its long-awaited Sarasota debut — details

Friday, December 20th

Breakfast with the GRINCH

📍 Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex, Sarasota

🕦 7:30am - 9:30am

Join us for a festive breakfast where the Grinch himself will be there to spread some holiday cheer — details

Christmas at Creator's Farm and Garden

📍 Creator's Farm and Garden, Venice

🕦 5pm

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 — 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

"Savor the Season" Holiday Festival

📍 Ananda Farm

🕦 See details

Join us at Ananda Farm's "Savor the Season" Holiday Festival! Experience a day filled with fun, food, and celebrations - details

Home for the Holidays

📍 Venice Performing Arts Center

🕦 7:30pm

Experience the most wonderful time of the year with family and friends at our annual celebration of music and togetherness — details

Saturday, December 21th

Sarasota Farmers Market

📍Downtown Sarasota, Main St & Lemon Avenue

🕦 7am - 1pm

Support local brands, explore interesting crafts, and grab fresh produce at the weekly farmer’s market — details

Breakfast with Santa

📍 Remy's on Main, Lakewood Ranch

🕦 9am - 11am

Enjoy a festive breakfast with Santa Claus himself, where kids and adults alike can savor delicious dishes while sharing their holiday wishes — details

Gingerbread House or Dreidel Decorating

📍 Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

🕦 11am

While donning chef's hats and aprons, decorate a festive gingerbread house or gingerbread dreidel guided by the distinguished Ritz-Carlton pastry team — details

Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival

📍 Freedom Factory, Bradenton

🕦 5pm - 9pm

1st Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival! This is a light show like no other — details

Fanciful Journey Show

📍 Sarasota Opera House

🕦 Multiple showings

Program Three opens with Les Patineurs, a playful tale of ice-skaters and their impromptu party on a frozen pond in Victorian England — details

Sunday, December 15th

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

The Sarasota Ballet: The Nutcracker

📍 Sarasota Opera House

🕦 6:30pm

Witness Clara and the Nutcracker battle with the Mouse King before journeying off to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince in this treasured family classic — details

Wonderland at the Big Top

📍 Big Top at UTC, Sarasota

🕦 Multiple showings, check schedule

“Wonderland” will take audiences on a heartwarming and visually stunning journey that brings together the enchantment of the winter holidays and their unique traditions — details