13 Christmas Things to Do with Kids in Sarasota and Bradenton for 2026
The top family pick near Sarasota and Bradenton is the North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, which runs select evenings from November 27 to December 22, 2026, with a personal visit with Santa and a gift for every child. For Santa on a budget of zero, Siesta Key Village offers free photos with Santa on November 28.
Other picks add snow on Old Main Street, Santa at Christmas on Main and Holiday Splendor, and shows from Florida Studio Theatre, the Van Wezel and The Sarasota Ballet.
1.Florida Railroad Museum
The North Pole Express train ride from Parrish with a visit from Santa.
The North Pole Express carries riders round trip to the North Pole, where each child gets a personal visit with Santa and a special gift. The ride includes unlimited cookies and hot chocolate, storytelling, model train displays, campfires, reindeer food and a toy tent.
- Know before you go
- Put everyone traveling together on one reservation. There is no waitlist for sold out departures. Strollers, car seats, large coolers and oversized bags are not allowed aboard. Children under one can ride on an adult's lap with a lap rider ticket.
- Best time
- Select evenings November 27 to 29, December 2 to 6, December 9 to 13 and December 16 to 22, 2026. Most evenings have departures at 5:15 and 7:15 PM.
- Local tip
- Arrive 45 to 60 minutes before departure; the train cannot be held for late guests and parking at the museum is free.
2.Palma Sola Botanical Park
Free botanical garden holiday lights with Santa, food trucks and a gift market.
Winter Nights Under the Lights fills the park with acres of holiday lights, decorated trees and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food trucks, a gift market, hot cider, crafts and live holiday music are also listed, and Toys for Tots is part of the event.
- Know before you go
- Admission is listed as free. Pets are not allowed.
- Best time
- Thursday to Sunday, December 17 to 20, 2026, 6 to 9 PM.
- Local tip
- Plan an evening visit; the event runs only four nights.
3.Main Street At Lakewood Ranch
Free rides, games, Santa and a candlelight service on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
Christmas on Main offers free rides and games from 4 to 6:30 PM, a visit from Santa and a candlelight service from 7 to 8 PM. It is hosted by Grace Community Church at 8100 Lakewood Main Street.
- Know before you go
- No registration is required, and the organizer lists free games, rides and attractions for the whole family.
- Best time
- Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20, 2026, 4 to 8 PM.
- Local tip
- Come early for the free rides and games, which end at 6:30 PM; the candlelight service closes the evening.
4.Siesta Key Village
Siesta Key's Holiday Parade, with free Santa photos before it starts.
The Siesta Key Holiday Parade starts at 5:30 PM at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road, heads north on Beach Road and turns onto Ocean Boulevard, ending in Siesta Key Village. Before the parade, Santa is at the Village Gazebo from 3 to 5 PM, and the first 250 children get a holiday gift bag.
- Know before you go
- The organizer says photos with Santa are free. The Santa spot is the Village Gazebo, Ocean Boulevard at Avenida Messina and Canal Road.
- Best time
- Saturday, November 28, 2026. Santa photos 3 to 5 PM (line closes 4:30 PM); parade 5:30 PM.
- Local tip
- Join the Santa line before 4:30 PM, when it closes. Santa also visits The Big Tiki Lounge after the parade.
5.Old Main Street
Falling snow, a snow slide and live performances on Bradenton's Old Main Street.
Winter Wonderland takes over downtown Bradenton's historic Old Main Street with falling snow and a snow slide for kids, carnival games, live holiday performances and local vendors. There are also food and drink vendors, photo ops and a costume contest at the photo frame at Old Main and 4th Avenue.
- Know before you go
- The organizer says the event is free to the public; you only need money for shopping or food.
- Best time
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5 to 8 PM.
- Local tip
- The City Centre Parking Garage above Orange Blossom is free, with its entrance on 10th Street across from the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.
6.The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Holiday Splendor in the Museum of Art Courtyard supports Toys for Tots.
Holiday Splendor is a Museum of Art Courtyard festival with a visit with Santa, face painting, food trucks and live music from local school groups. It supports the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots.
- Know before you go
- The Ringling says admission is free with one unwrapped toy per person. Food is sold separately.
- Best time
- December 10 and 17, 5 to 8 PM. The Ringling's listing shows the dates without a year, so confirm on the Ringling page.
- Local tip
- Enter through the Visitor's Pavilion. Toys are also sold in the Museum Store if you forget one.
7.Bradenton Area Convention Center
European Holiday Market: 80 plus merchants, glühwein, pierogies and Old Saint Nicholas.
The European Holiday Market fills the Bradenton Area Convention Center with more than 80 merchants selling handmade crafts, plus interactive attractions and food and drinks. The Bradenton Times lists German style glühwein, Polish pierogies and locally made brats, with photo opportunities and a visit from Old Saint Nicholas.
- Know before you go
- A ticketed event. The Bradenton Times reports children under 12 enter free. The Florida Railroad Museum page also mentions a model train exhibit and holiday tree displays.
- Best time
- Early December 2026. The Manatee Performing Arts Center lists December 3 to 6, 10 AM to 6 PM; the Bradenton Times reports December 2 to 6. Confirm the exact days when you buy.
- Local tip
- Advance tickets are sold online and at the Manatee Performing Arts Center box office.
8.Centennial Park
The Mayor's Hometown Christmas tree lighting in Historic Downtown Venice.
The Mayor's Hometown Christmas kicks off the season in downtown Venice with a Christmas tree lighting, performances by local choirs including The Venice Chorale, and time with Santa. You can also shop and dine in the Historic Downtown Venice businesses.
- Know before you go
- At Centennial Park, 200 West Venice Avenue. The organizer page does not say whether the event is free.
- Best time
- Friday, November 27, 2026, 5 to 7 PM.
- Local tip
- Bring chairs or blankets, as the organizer advises.
9.Parrish Hometown Christmas
A free evening of market shopping, food, Santa and activities in Parrish.
Parrish Hometown Christmas is an evening of holiday fun, market shopping, food and community connection. The page lists Santa, children's activities, entertainment and games, plus handmade makers, local market vendors and community organizations.
- Know before you go
- Admission is free. The organizer states there is no rain date.
- Best time
- Sunday, December 13, 2026, 4 to 8 PM.
- Local tip
- Dress for the weather; it is an outdoor event.
10.Keating Theatre
Deck the Halls, a Florida style holiday show blending Christmas and Hanukkah.
Deck the Halls is part of Florida Studio Theatre's children's theatre season, billed as a holiday celebration in true Florida fashion. It has original songs, sketches and interactive fun, runs 50 minutes with no intermission and blends Christmas and Hanukkah themes.
- Know before you go
- At Keating Theatre, 1241 North Palm Avenue. The page does not list an age recommendation.
- Best time
- November 28 to December 24, 2026. Individual showtimes are at ticketing.
- Local tip
- Book showtimes through Florida Studio Theatre's ticketing.
11.Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland: a winter themed circus show for the whole family.
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland combines acrobatics and aerial acts with seasonal music. The Van Wezel says the show is new this year, winter themed, and an unforgettable holiday experience for the whole family.
- Know before you go
- At the Van Wezel, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. A ticketed show.
- Best time
- Sunday, December 20, 2026, 6 PM. Doors open one hour before showtime.
- Local tip
- Arrive when doors open, an hour before the 6 PM show.
12.Sarasota Opera House
The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker, a treasured family classic with 100 plus student dancers.
The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker follows Clara and the Nutcracker from the Mouse King to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The production features The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and over 100 students from the company's education programs, with live music from the Sarasota Music Conservatory.
- Know before you go
- At the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave. The organizer calls it a treasured family classic and lists no age requirement.
- Best time
- Sunday December 20 at 6:30 PM; Monday December 21 at 1 PM and 6:30 PM; Tuesday December 22 at 6:30 PM, 2026.
- Local tip
- The run time is about 2 hours including a 20 minute intermission, so plan for an early evening.
13.The Mall at University Town Center
Santa's parade, storytime with Mrs. Claus and nightly light shows at UTC.
Holidays at UTC runs November 14 to January 3 with Santa's Grand Arrival Parade, an outdoor ice rink presented by Tampa Bay Lightning and Wonderland Circus by Nik Wallenda. The page also lists storytime with Mrs. Claus, character visits at movie nights, and Holiday Movies Under the Stars, which it describes as free.
- Know before you go
- Carriage rides, the rink and the circus are separate attractions; the season page does not state admission for them.
- Best time
- November 14 to January 3. Light shows nightly 6:30 to 9:30 PM; carriage rides Thursday to Sunday 6 to 10 PM; fireworks every Saturday night.
- Local tip
- Check the season page for the specific date and time of each add on event, since the page does not list dates for the parade, rink or circus.
Check ages, tickets and times with each organizer. Find more family plans on Wayfind at https://www.gowayfind.com/christmas-in-florida.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the North Pole Express near Sarasota?
The Florida Railroad Museum runs it from its Parrish station on select evenings from November 27 to December 22, 2026. Most evenings have departures at 5:15 and 7:15 PM, and parking at the museum is free.
Where can kids see Santa for free in Sarasota and Bradenton?
Siesta Key Village offers free photos with Santa on November 28, 2026, from 3 to 5 PM. Santa also appears at Christmas on Main (December 19 and 20), Palma Sola's Winter Nights (December 17 to 20) and Parrish Hometown Christmas (December 13).
Is there snow in Bradenton at Christmas?
Winter Wonderland on Old Main Street on December 5, 2026, lists falling snow and a snow slide for kids, from 5 to 8 PM.
Can babies ride the North Pole Express?
Children under one may ride without charge when seated on an adult's lap with a lap rider ticket. Strollers and car seats are not allowed aboard.
Are there kids' holiday shows in Sarasota?
Florida Studio Theatre's Deck the Halls runs November 28 to December 24, 2026, and Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland plays the Van Wezel on December 20. The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker is December 20 to 22.
