Jordy’s Guide To The 2022 Holiday Season
With Thanksgiving right around the corner (I can’t even believe how FAST this year has gone by!), I wanted to get in the holiday spirit a bit early and give you my Holiday Guide to Sarasota in today’s blog. I will be outlining the best five things to do this holiday season to help get you in the spirit to deck the halls! November and December are my favorite months out of the year and Sarasota really makes them feel special. Below are the events that are on my personal list this year and I hope you enjoy them if you do visit!
Holidays at UTC
2021 at Santa’s Grand Arrival, UTC
University Town Center goes all out for the holiday season and is a must visit spot to get into the holiday spirit. The entire town center is decked out with holiday lights and decor and it really makes holiday shopping feel special. They kicked off the grand opening of their light show and Santas arrival on November 12th, however they have nightly attractions through January 12th including:
Nightly Light Show (630PM-930PM, every 30-minutes)
Ice Skating Rink
Holiday Movie Premiers every Friday & Saturday by the lawn
Fireworks every Saturday evening
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Thursday-Sunday
Sand Sculptures
Holiday Night Markets every third Thursday
and so, so, so much more. Check out their event calendar here
Downtown Sarasota’s Annual Tree Lighting
I have attended the annual tree lighting in Downtown for many years and always enjoy watching. It’s so special to see Five Points Park get lit up with a beautiful Christmas tree. This year, you can attend on December 1st, 2022 from 6PM-8PM. They offer refreshments, live music, and photos with Santa. The tree lighting starts at 7PM sharp!
Siesta Key Light Up The Village & Holiday Parade
Saturday, November 26th, 2022. 5PM-9PM.
Siesta Key Village is one of my favorite spots in Sarasota to hang out and grab a bite to eat or drink. It’s even more wonderful during the holiday season and this event is worthy of adding to your list! The event begins at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road at 530PM traveling North onto Beach Road into the Village. Many businesses and local groups will be participating in the parade and welcoming Santa to Siesta Village. Shops and restaurants will offer refreshments and special holiday bargains from 5PM to 9PM. Santa will arrive at the Siesta Center immediately following the parade to greet everyone and photos are complimentary!
Selby Gardens Lights in Bloom
Selby Gardens is located right outside of Downtown Sarasota and is a must visit spot any time of the year, but if you’re in town for the Holidays, this is a must visit event that runs through December 10th-January 5th. They feature over 2 millions lights illuminating the gardens and walkways, photo opportunities, activities, and entertainment. You can upgrade your experience and add an all-inclusive buffet to make this a perfect holiday date night. You can purchase tickets here.
Downtown Sarasota’s Holiday Parade
Every year downtown Sarasota hosts a massive holiday parade that you must check out and it takes place down Main Street beginning at 7PM. Bring a lawn chair and grab a spot along the road to watch local vendors in the parade, Santa, music, refreshments, and plenty of holiday cheer!
I hope you enjoyed this blog today! If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to me. I wish you a very happy Holiday season!