10+ things to do around Bradenton this weekend: Boat parades, holiday fun, Renaissance Fest

Another December weekend is here, and there’s plenty of local fun on tap to help you enjoy.

Holiday boat parades will illuminate the Braden River and the Manatee River, and a host of other festive happenings are ready to go. Other events include a new downtown market in Palmetto and the Suncoast Renaissance Festival at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Still need plans? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s a hand-picked guide to fun times around Bradenton and Sarasota this weekend, Dec. 9-11.

Holiday boat parades

Jiggs Landing Outpost will host an “Old Florida” holiday boat parade on the Evers Reservoir and Braden River on Dec. 10.

Boaters who want to participate can arrive early to decorate their boats.

Spectators can bring a lawn chair and set up waterside.

• Details: Parade starts around 6 p.m. Dec. 10. Jiggs Landing Outpost, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. Free.
• Info: 941-727-4181. jiggslanding.com

The Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade keeps the holiday spirit afloat with a festive nautical display down the famous waterway.

Boat owners will compete for cash prizes based on theme creativity, lights, music and crowd reaction.

Parade viewing points include Snead Island, the Green Bridge Fishing Pier and sidewalk areas, parts of Riverside Drive in Palmetto and the Bradenton Riverwalk.

Or grab a reservation at Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, Caddy’s or Pier 22 Restaurant for a view with food.

Estimated viewing timeline:

6 p.m. - Staging begins at Shaw Point

6:30-7:30 p.m. - Bradenton Yacht Club (Private Members Club)

7:15-8:15 p.m. - Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant

7:30-8:30 p.m. - Pier 22 Restaurant/Twin Dolphin Marina

• Details: 6-9 p.m. Dec. 10 on the Manatee River. Free.
• Info: holidayboatparade.org

More Christmas and holiday events

Historic Holiday Tours: Palmetto Historical Museum & the Manatee County Agricultural Museum will host educational tours that explore both museums’ grounds this month, and visitors can see all the historical buildings decked out in Christmas decor.

Spots for the tours are limited, and reservations are required.

• Details: Historic Holiday Tours offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 6-9. Palmetto Historical Park, 515 10th Ave. W., Palmetto. Free.
• Info: palmettohistoricalpark.com.

Country Christmas at Hunsader Farms: Hunsader Farms in Bradenton is getting in the holiday spirit this December with displays of more than 300,000 lights, hayrides, train rides, campfires, snow tubing, Christmas movies, pictures with Santa, a petting zoo.

Check out craft vendors, fresh produce and plenty of food and drink options, too.

• Details: 6-10 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22 & 23. Hunsader Farms, 5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton. Admission: $15. Ages 5 and under: Free. Cash only. Free parking.
• Info: hunsaderfarms.com.

Night Before Christmas at G.T. Bray: On Dec. 9, G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton will transform into a holiday wonderland for a family-friendly Christmas extravaganza.

The annual event is sponsored by Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department and will feature a snow slide, bounce house, face painting and a showing of the 2003 hit “Elf.” Kids will also be able to say hello to Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Local vendors and food trucks will be there to add to the fun.

Entry is free, but organizers request a donation of one new, unwrapped toy per family for a Toys for Tots drive. A $5 wristband is required to access the snow slide, bounce house and face painting activities.

Vehicles should enter the event at 59th Street West and exit at 51st Street West.

• Details: 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 9. Event parking available near the G.T. Bray Recreation Center, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton. Free entry.
• Info: mymanatee.org/things_to_do/signature_events/a_night_before_christmas

Lights in Bloom: “Lights in Bloom” transforms Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota into an illuminated winter wonderland.

More than two million lights are in place to illuminate Selby’s gardens and walkways.

The event also includes arts and crafts, activities, entertainment and holiday photo ops. Food and drink will be sold in the gardens.

• Details: 6-9 p.m. Dec. 10-23, Dec. 26-Jan. 1 and Jan. 3-5. Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Adults: $30. Ages 5-17: $15. Children under 5: Free. Early entry tickets available for an upcharge.
• Info: selby.org.

St. Armands Circle Winter Spectacular: St. Armands Circle in Sarasota is transforming into a winter wonderland on the water this holiday season.

St. Armands Circle Winter Spectacular features an ice skating rink, rides, holiday activities and live entertainment. There are also light displays and a 60-foot Christmas tree to gaze upon.

Rides include the Polar Palm Express trackless train, a carousel and a gingerbread bounce house.

• Details: 4-9 p.m. daily through Jan. 3; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. General admission is $10 for ages 3 and up. Ice skating: $10 add-on. Crafting experience: $10-add on.
• Info: winteronthecircle.com

Enchant St. Petersburg presented by the Hallmark Channel: The popular annual event at Tropicana Field returns with over 4 million lights.

There is ice skating, a Christmas Light Maze to a 100 foot tall tree, live entertainment, a shopping Village with vendors, crafts and food.

• Details: Nov. 25 through Jan. 1. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $20 for children, kids free on select Wednesday nights. Discounts for seniors and military. Ice skating is an additional $18 per person. VIP passes and private event rentals available.
• Info: https://enchantchristmas.com/st-petersburg-fl-tropicana-field

ArtCenter Manatee

Bradenton’s community arts hub welcomes three new exhibits this month.

“12x12/Off the Wall” is an all-media juried art exhibit, with all pieces in a small and square format. The pieces will be available for purchase right off of the gallery floor.

A showcase by the International Society of Scratchboard Artists will display the highly-detailed engraving medium known as scratchboard, in which a surface covered in dark ink is scratched with fine tools to create works of art.

And ArtCenter Manatee’s popular Holiday Extravaganza is back for its fourth year with locally-made Christmas ornaments and decor on display and for sale.

• Details: Through Dec. 30. Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon., Fri. and Sat.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue., Wed. and Thurs. ArtCenter Manatee, 209 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Free entry.
• Info: artcentermanatee.org

Suncoast Renaissance Festival

The Sarasota Fairgrounds will transform into a medieval wonderland this weekend for the Suncoast Renaissance Festival.

The event will feature stage shows, music, jousting, vendors and artisans, festive food.

• Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $17-$26 (children under 5 free).
• Info: suncoastrenaissancefestival.com.

Performing arts and shows

“The Music Man” at Manatee Performing Arts Center: “In River City, Iowa, the town was promised a marching band by a salesman named Harold Hill. What they don’t know is that he is a con man who has no understanding of music. He plans to skip town after receiving money to buy the instruments, but the plan doesn’t go exactly as he expected when he meets the town’s librarian, Marian.”

• Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Through Dec. 18. Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton. $33.
  
  
• Info: 941-748-5875. manateeperformingartscenter.com

West Coast Black Theatre Troupe presents “Black Nativity”: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will once again present its popular rendition of the Langston Hughes gospel musical “Black Nativity” this holiday season. “The music is combined with dance, poetry and narrative to deliver a message of joy, hope and liberation,” a show preview says.

• Details: Nov. 30-Dec. 23. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. Adults: $50. Students and active military: $20.
• Info: 941-366-1505. westcoastblacktheatre.org

Sarasota Orchestra presents “Great Escapes 2: Seasonal Gifts”: Sarasota Orchestra will celebrate the holidays with a special concert this December. The program includes classic Yuletide carols as well as “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah” and a musical narration of ‘”Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

• Details: Dec. 7-11. Sarasota Orchestra’s Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets start at $45.
• Info: sarasotaorchestra.org. 941-953-3434.

Tanyalee Davis at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre: “Tanyalee Davis is a 3 foot 6 inch standup comedian who inspires, enlightens and entertains her audiences throughout North America, the UK, and other parts of the world with her own unique perspective and somewhat racy brand of comedy,” the comedian’s bio says.

• Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, 6:30 and 8:50 p.m. Friday and Saturday. McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. $28.
  
  
• Info: mccurdyscomedy.com

This story was originally published December 8, 2022 at 7:31 AM.