12 Holiday Date Night Ideas in Sarasota and Bradenton for 2026
For a holiday date night in Sarasota, start with Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens, which lists early entry from 5:30 PM from December 5, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Add a show: The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker, Leslie Odom Jr.'s Christmas Tour at the Van Wezel or It's a Wonderful Life at Asolo Rep.
For drinks, Miracle at The Tap is Tamiami Tap's holiday pop up bar, and the Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl on December 19 is for ages 21 and over. Dates below come from each organizer's page.
1.Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota
Walk two million lights at Selby Gardens' Lights in Bloom, with early entry at 5:30 PM.
Lights in Bloom is Selby Gardens' holiday light show on its Downtown Sarasota campus, with more than two million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways. The 2026 season runs December 5, 2026 to January 2, 2027.
- Know before you go
- Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound Street. Selby lists both campuses closed on Christmas Day; the page does not list other closed nights, so check before you go.
- Best time
- December 5, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Early entry 5:30 to 9:00 PM, general entry 6:30 to 9:00 PM.
- Local tip
- Advance purchase is strongly encouraged, so book your entry time before you go.
2.Tamiami Tap
Miracle at The Tap, Sarasota's holiday pop up bar, starts the day after Thanksgiving.
Miracle at The Tap is Tamiami Tap's holiday pop up bar and is listed on Miracle's 2026 locations page for Sarasota. The bar's page says it runs from the day after Thanksgiving through December 30.
- Know before you go
- The bar's page states its kitchen is open till midnight. The page does not state an age rule or address; a map link on it points to South Osprey Avenue in Sarasota.
- Best time
- From the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27, 2026) through December 30, per the bar's page. Miracle notes locations, dates and hours are subject to change.
- Local tip
- Check Tamiami Tap's social media for hours, since the bar's page does not list Miracle specific hours.
3.Sarasota Opera House
The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker at the Sarasota Opera House, with live music.
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.
4.Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Leslie Odom Jr. brings his Christmas Tour to the Van Wezel with songs from Hamilton.
Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. brings his 2026 Christmas Tour to the Van Wezel. The concert includes holiday classics, originals from his Christmas albums and songs from Hamilton.
- Know before you go
- At the Van Wezel, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. A ticketed concert.
- Best time
- Monday, December 14, 2026, 7 PM. Doors open one hour earlier.
- Local tip
- Doors open at 6 PM, so you have time for dinner nearby first.
5.Sarasota Opera House
A Festive Celebration: a 75 minute holiday concert with no intermission.
Conductor Naomi Woo leads the Sarasota Orchestra in a holiday program with soprano Sarah Fleiss, featuring works by Mozart and Handel. The program also includes Britten's Men of Goodwill, inspired by a traditional carol, and pieces by Tchaikovsky, Beach, Sibelius and Andrew Balfour.
- Know before you go
- At the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Conductor Naomi Woo shares commentary on the stories behind the pieces.
- Best time
- Wednesday, December 23, 2026, 7:30 PM.
- Local tip
- The concert is about 60 to 75 minutes with no intermission, which leaves time for a late dinner.
6.Asolo Repertory Theatre
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, with five actors playing dozens of roles.
This 1940s style radio play retells George Bailey's story as a live studio audience watches. Five actors play dozens of characters in a play with music adapted by Joe Landry.
- Know before you go
- Plays in the Cook Theatre, Asolo Rep's second stage. The page lists no age notes.
- Best time
- December 2 to January 3. Evening shows at 7:30 PM and 1:30 PM matinees; December 24 is a matinee only.
- Local tip
- Call the box office at 941 351 8000 with questions about specific performances.
7.West Coast Black Theatre Troupe
A Motown Christmas runs from December 2 into early January at WBTT.
A Motown Christmas is listed in West Coast Black Theatre Troupe's 2026 holiday lineup. The troupe's page lists the run only as December 2 to January 3, 2027.
- Know before you go
- The page does not list a description or venue for this production beyond the troupe's address at 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota.
- Best time
- December 2, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Showtimes are not listed on the page we checked.
- Local tip
- Follow the More Info link on the troupe's page for the production details and showtimes.
8.Florida Studio Theatre
It's a Blunderful Life, an upscripted holiday movie, opens Thanksgiving weekend.
It's a Blunderful Life is listed by Florida Studio Theatre as an upscripted holiday movie in its FST Improv lineup. It plays in Bowne's Lab.
- Know before you go
- The page lists no age notes or description beyond the title and "An Upscripted Holiday Movie."
- Best time
- November 28 to December 19, 2026. Showtimes are at ticketing.
- Local tip
- Check ticketing for showtimes.
9.Joe's On Main
A self guided ugly sweater pub crawl through downtown Sarasota.
The Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl is a self guided downtown Sarasota holiday crawl where everyone wears an ugly holiday sweater. It includes games, contests, prizes and geo located charms.
- Know before you go
- Ages 21 and over. The listed venue is Joe's On Main, 1448 Main Street, Sarasota.
- Best time
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, 4:30 to 9 PM. Check in at any recommended stop between 4 and 9 PM.
- Local tip
- The page recommends arriving by 5 PM. A mobile device with internet access is required.
10.Sarasota Art Museum
Jazz Thursday with The Barker Project's holiday show on the museum plaza.
The Barker Project, a Sarasota based group led by bassist Johnnie Barker, plays a holiday show on the museum's Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza, hosted with the Jazz Club of Sarasota. The Bistro opens at 5 PM with a special evening menu, and the galleries and shop stay open later with a treasure hunt in the shop.
- Know before you go
- At 1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Food and drinks are sold on site and outside food and beverages are not allowed.
- Best time
- Thursday, December 17, 2026. Performance 5:30 to 8 PM; check in opens at 4:30 PM outside the main gates.
- Local tip
- Early entry is not permitted, so plan to line up at check in rather than arriving long before.
11.Venice Performing Arts Center
The Venice Symphony's Holiday Celebration, with guest vocalist Colin Eaton.
The Venice Symphony blends holiday traditions with narration, with guest vocalist Colin Eaton. Venice Performing Arts Center calls the concert family friendly.
- Know before you go
- At 1 Indian Avenue, Building 5, Venice.
- Best time
- Friday, December 18 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, December 19 at 3:30 and 7:30 PM; Sunday, December 20 at 3:30 PM, 2026.
- Local tip
- Choose the Friday or Saturday 7:30 PM show for an evening out.
12.The Mall at University Town Center
Nightly light shows and Thursday to Sunday carriage rides at UTC.
Holidays at UTC runs November 14 to January 3 with a nightly light show from 6:30 to 9:30 PM and carriage rides Thursday to Sunday from 6 to 10 PM. Festive fireworks go off every Saturday night.
- 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.
Book show tickets early and confirm hours before you go. Plan more of your holiday season on Wayfind at https://www.gowayfind.com/christmas-in-florida.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good holiday date night in Sarasota?
Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens runs December 5, 2026 to January 2, 2027 with more than two million lights, and early entry starts at 5:30 PM. Pair it with a show at the Van Wezel, Sarasota Opera House or Asolo Rep.
When is The Sarasota Ballet's Nutcracker in 2026?
At the Sarasota Opera House: Sunday, December 20 at 6:30 PM; Monday, December 21 at 1 PM and 6:30 PM; and Tuesday, December 22 at 6:30 PM. The Sarasota Ballet also lists performances in Venice on December 11 and 12.
Is there a holiday pop up bar in Sarasota?
Miracle at The Tap at Tamiami Tap is listed on Miracle's 2026 locations page, and the bar's page says it runs from the day after Thanksgiving through December 30.
When is Leslie Odom Jr.'s Christmas Tour in Sarasota?
The Van Wezel lists Monday, December 14, 2026, at 7 PM, with doors open an hour earlier.
Are there holiday plays in Sarasota in 2026?
Asolo Rep's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs December 2 to January 3, A Motown Christmas at WBTT runs December 2 to January 3, 2027, and Florida Studio Theatre's It's a Blunderful Life runs November 28 to December 19.
