Sarasota may not have much snow to ring in the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean the scenery can’t take on a special glow this time of year. And over at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the glow is literal, as the annual Lights In Bloom celebration kicks off tonight at 5:30pm. “Every year, the garden transforms into a magical wonderland, filled with laughter, wonder, and the spirit of the season,” says Selby Gardens President & CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki. “[It’s] one of the most cherished must-do traditions in the Sarasota region.”

How do 15 acres of botanical gardens turn into a magical winter wonderland? Start by orchestrating a display of more than two million lights in every color of the rainbow, dangling them from towering trees like magic light-sicles and wrapping branches in scarlet. Cover the lawn with great illuminated arches lined with luminous flower petals and flocks of pink flamingoes with light-up antlers. Use strings of light as a sculpting medium for everything from gargantuan light-up butterflies populating the treetops to toadstools, cacti and oversized blooms unfolding in the dark. And in the back of the gardens, hang glowing lanterns from a Wishing Tree and pose for photos on benches overlooking the water, framed by giant red bows.

And it wouldn’t be a true immersive holiday experience without something truly immersive. Enter the canopied walkways and illuminated tunnels—literally—where guests find themselves cocooned in light for a remarkably transportive effect and an incredible photo opportunity.

“I encourage each of you to take the time to visit the show with your families and friends,” Rominiecki says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to unwind, enjoy the natural beauty around us, and create lasting memories.”

Opening tonight at 5:30pm, Lights In Bloom will be on display at Selby Gardens through January 1. As a new addition this year, The Green Orchid, Selby Gardens’ onsite restaurant, will be open on select nights for dinner service throughout the event. 

Pictured: Millions of lights transform Selby Gardens into a winter wonderland. Photo by Phil Lederer.

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Downtown Sarasota will shine brighter than ever during “Light Up the Night,” a festive Fresh Fridays celebration. This free event features the debut of the Downtown Improvement District’s spectacular new holiday tree, a live performance by The Rockefellers, photo opportunities with a giant inflatable snow globe, and giveaways for early attendees. Local hospitality partners will also be on hand, serving delicious food and drinks to create a memorable evening for the whole community. This event marks the first time downtown Sarasota has introduced a holiday tree of this scale, showcasing a significant investment in creating a vibrant and welcoming downtown atmosphere. “Light Up the Night” celebrates the holiday season, fosters community spirit, and introduces a brand-new holiday tradition to the city of Sarasota.

Friday, December 6, from 7 to 10pm, Selby Five Points Park. 

Join Venice Theatre for an extraordinary group travel experience to London, England.  If you would like to join us, now is the time to act! This trip will sell quickly, so don't delay. All slots are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. (Initial Deposit of $700 per person Due Jan. 31, 2025). 

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 Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) presents Future Now: Visual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, an exhibition celebrating innovative design and technological advancements in footwear. Featuring over 70 pieces from Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum, as well as loans from other prominent institutions, collectors, designers, and inventors, the exhibited footwear pushes the boundaries of what constitutes a shoe. Beyond an exhibition of dozens of “cool kicks,” Future Now asks viewers to consider questions about consumerism, sustainability, and what the history of human footwear says about us: its wearers. On view from February 9 through May 4, 2025, in Sarasota Art Museum’s third-floor galleries, Future Now is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum. This exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum is made possible, in part, with generous support from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Sarasota Magazine, and is paid for, in part, by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.

Pictured: Mr. Bailey. Octopus Shoe, 2018. Collection of Mr. Bailey. Image courtesy of Mr. Bailey.

The Pops Orchestra will ring in the holidays with soprano Tiffany Haas, who performed the role of “Glinda, the Good Witch” on Broadway as the understudy to Kristin Chenoweth and starred in the National Tour production of Wicked. There are two performances of “A Wicked Fun Holiday” featuring the Pops Orchestra conducted by Robyn Bell with Haas performing holiday and Broadway favorites, including many selections from the Broadway musical Wicked.

A Wicked Fun Holiday, Sunday, Dec 15, 3:00pm, Riverview PAC, (1 Ram Way, Sarasota), Monday, Dec 16, 7:30 p.m., SCF Neel PAC, Bradenton (5840 26th St. W, Bradenton) Tickets can be purchased online at thePopsOrchestra.org or by calling The Pops Box Office at 941-926-POPS (7677). 

Pictured: Tiffany Haas as Glinda. Photo courtesy of The Pops Orchestra.

For tickets and more information click here

Victor DeRenzi, artistic director and principal conductor, and Richard Russell, general director, have finalized the casting for Sarasota Opera’s 2025 Winter Opera Festival.  The season opens Saturday, Feb. 15, and will feature Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Giuseppe Verdi's Stiffelio. The casts of internationally recognized artists include some company favorites, along with singers making their company debuts. 

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Brigade is a phenomenal 7-piece band that will transport you back to the iconic sounds of the 1970s and 80s! Playing all your favorite songs by Heart and more. Doors open at 5pm Saturday for dinner and drinks at Hamlet’s Eatery. The band will play from 6-8:30 pm. General Admission tickets are available in advance for only $5. Get them early in case we sell out! Walk-ins may be possible but no guarantees.

821 Apricot Ave in the outside stage courtyard area of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime. 

 Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is set to ignite the 2025 Stage III Series with three compelling and daring plays that promise to challenge, entertain, and provoke thought. Known for pushing boundaries and offering audiences unique, offbeat experiences, FST’s Stage III Series returns to its Bowne’s Lab Theatre with an electrifying lineup: Advice by Brent Askari, Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein, and Shedding a Skin by Amanda Wilkin. 

While Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 25, all are invited to celebrate the festival of lights a few days early at University Town Center’s (UTC) Hanukkah on The Green on December 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Held in partnership with Temple Emanu-El, this free, outdoor community celebration promises an evening filled with music, joy, lights and festive treats. A highlight of the event will be a performance by Six13, an acclaimed six-man a cappella vocal band that brings an unprecedented style and energy to Jewish music. The New York City-based group has gained popularity with their original songs and fun parodies, like "Bohemian Chanukah," a parody of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," and “Era-lution,” a Taylor Swift-inspired medley about the story of Hanukkah.   

Join us at SRQ East Art Studios Saturday December 14th from 11am - 3pm for the kickoff of the SSAA Second Saturday Open Studios. We are hosting an an art sale at SEAS! Our artists will have small works available for easy gift giving. You can also visit their art studios, see works in progress and ask them about their process. We have a giant space, 13 talented artists and beautiful artworks on display. If you love art you won't want to miss this. You're sure to find something for everyone and every budget!!

SRQ East Art Studios, 8326 Consumer Ct, Sarasota. 

Check out the 2024 Holiday Gift Guide, December 2024. 

Read Here!