25+ ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve weekend around Bradenton and Sarasota

It’s time to send 2022 out in style as 2023 arrives this weekend.

The clock on the old year will run out this Saturday night, and festivities around Bradenton and Sarasota will help mark the moment.

Still need some holiday plans? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s a guide to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day happenings around the Suncoast and Southwest Florida.

Main Street Live

Downtown Bradenton’s beloved street parties are back this year, and a special edition of Main Street Live will ring in the new year.

The event will bring live music, food, drinks and family fun to Old Main Street.

Other highlights include: a countdown to the new year; midnight fireworks; and a blowup slide for kids.

Local music favorite The Trevor Bystrom Band (world/rock/reggae/Latin and blues) will open for St. Petersburg/Treasure Island reggae act Seranation.

• Details: 6 p.m.-midnight on New Year’s Eve. Old Main Street, Bradenton. Free.
• Info: independentjones.com

Sarasota Pineapple Drop

Another option for local New Year’s Eve fun is downtown Sarasota’s annual street party, which famously features a pineapple drop at midnight.

The mega block party includes live DJs, food and drink, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities and more.

Amusement rides and games will be offered at Midway 5 Points Park from 1 p.m.-1 a.m..

This year, three downtown stages will feature live music simultaneously. Music begins at 8:30 p.m., with top 10 country artist Chas Collins at the Lemon Avenue Stage; pop, rock dance and alternative band 22N at the Main Stage; and live DJ squad SRQ Beats at the State Street Stage.

The illuminated pineapple drops at midnight, and then the party keeps going with a fireworks display over Sarasota Bay.

• Details: 1 p.m. New Year’s Eve-1 a.m. New Year’s Day. Intersection of Main St. and Lemon Ave., Sarasota. Free.
  
  
• Info: destinationdowntownsarasota.com

New Year’s Eve at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch

A New Year’s Eve celebration at Lakewood Ranch’s new community gathering spot will include food, beer, a live DJ and a countdown to midnight.

• Details: 6 p.m.-midnight New Year’s Eve. Waterside Place, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. Free admission. facebook.com/watersideplace.
  
  

New Year’s Eve parties

Local restaurants and bars will host New Year’s Eve shindigs with live music, drink and dinner specials and other festivities this Saturday. Here are some highlights:

88 Live Piano Bar’s New Year’s Eve party will include appetizers, champagne, festive decor and party favors. The Unessentials, a dueling piano act, will play.

• 8 p.m. 88 Live Piano Bar, 6640 Cortez Road W. Suite A, Bradenton. $25; advanced purchase required. facebook.com/88livepianobar.
  
  

Big Top Brewing Company in Sarasota will host a New Year’s food truck rally with seven diverse dining options, plus live music by Ya Ya Diamond and The Dream Chasers from 5 p.m. to midnight, when there will be a champagne toast and beer keg drop.

• Details: 5 p.m. Big Top Brewers Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. facebook.com/BigTopBrewCo.

Cortez Clam Factory will celebrate the New Year in Cortez with a night of live disco, pop, country and rock music from the Blues to Blackstreet Band, plus a special dinner offering.

• Details: 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Cortez Clam Factory, 10104 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. No cover. facebook.com/cortezclamfactory.

Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen in the Village of the Arts will host a night of live music with Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers, plus the restaurant’s menu of Southern delights.

• Details: 8 p.m.-midnight. Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton. $15 advance; $25 day of show. Reservations recommended. facebook.com/cottonmouthSOUL.
  
  

Drift In on Bradenton Beach’s Bridge Street will host a New Year’s Eve celebration with local rockers Concrete Edgar.

• Details: 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Drift In, 120 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach.

Ed’s Tavern in Lakewood Ranch will bring the new year with a live rock ‘n’ roll party featuring local band Shell and the Crabs. Ticket price includes select liquor, wine, domestic drafts, choice of dinner, a complimentary champagne toast and party favors.

• Details: 8 p.m. Ed’s Tavern, 10719 Rodeo Dr., Lakewood Ranch. $50 per person or pay as you go. facebook.com/edstavernlwr.

Gulf Drive Cafe & The Kokonut Hut in Bradenton Beach will host a New Year’s Eve party with a prime rib buffet, open bar, live band and DJ, midnight ball drop and champagne toast.

• Details: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Gulf Drive Cafe & The Kokonut Hut, 900 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach. $240 per couple. $600 for a table for six. Reservations recommended. facebook.com/gulfdrivecafe.

Joyland will give New Year’s Eve a country club twist with line dancing lessons from 6:30-8:30 p.m. ($10). A live DJ will keep the music going through midnight, and there will be a complimentary champagne toast.

• Details: 5:30 p.m.-midnight. Joyland, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. No cover. Open bar special: $50-$80. joylandsarasota.com.

Mademoiselle Paris will host chef-crafted New Year’s Eve dinners at its locations in University Town Center and on Anna Maria Island. Live music will compliment the four-course dinner menu.

• Details: 5 p.m. Mademoiselle Paris UTC, 8527 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park ($78) and Mademoiselle Paris AMI, 9906 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria ($68). Reservations required. mademoiselleparis.com.

Mattison’s restaurants: All three Mattison’s locations will be open on New Year’s Eve with festive drinks and dining and live entertainment.

Each location has its own music and special menu to offer for the holiday. Menu items include delectable appetizers, soups and salads, seafood, steaks and more gourmet dishes and desserts. All three three restaurants have outdoor seating, and the City Grille is an ideal spot to watch the Sarasota pineapple drop.

• Details: Reservations recommended. New Year’s Eve hours: 11 a.m.-midnight at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, 101 Riverwalk Blvd., Bradenton; 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. at Mattison’s City Grille Downtown Sarasota, 1 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 4 p.m.-midnight at Mattison’s Forty-One, 7275 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. mattisons.com.

Ortygia: Ortygia serves up authentic Sicilian fare in a cozy dining space in Village of the Arts. The restaurant will host two seatings on New Year’s Eve with candlelight ambiance, live entertainment and a fixed price menu.

• Details: Dinner at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Call 941-741-8646 for reservations. $80 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 1418 13th St. W., Bradenton. ortygiarestaurant.com.

Pier 22/GROVE: Sister restaurants Pier 22 in Bradenton and GROVE in Lakewood Ranch will both offer VIP New Year’s Eve celebrations.

A gourmet buffet, an open bar, live music and a midnight toast are part of the experience at both restaurants.

In addition the the ballroom celebrations, both restaurants will be open for regular dining on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Reservations recommended.

Note: As of Dec. 28, Pier 22’s New Year’s party was sold out. Limited tickets remained for GROVE’s celebration.

• Details: New Year’s Eve celebrations starts at 7 p.m. at Pier 22, 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, and at 7 p.m. at GROVE, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. $200 per person, plus tax and gratuity. pier22dining.com. grovelwr.com.

Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse will host an all-day New Year’s Eve bash full of live music and barbecue. The South Trail Band, Frankie Lombardi and Jan Wellinghof will perform.

• Details: Noon-1 a.m. Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse, 19 East Road, Sarasota. facebook.com/StottlemyersSmokehouse.
  
  

New Year’s Day parties

Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen in the Village of the Arts will host a jazz, blues and funk jam, plus the restaurant’s menu of Southern delights.

• Details: 5 p.m. Sunday. Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton. facebook.com/cottonmouthSOUL.

Jigg’s Landing on the Braden River will host the Bluegrass Pirates for a day of live music on Sunday; food and drink will be available for purchase.

• Details: 3-5:30 p.m. Jigg’s Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. facebook.com/BluegrassPirates.

“Rock Down to Noon’ at The Bishop

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature will host a special new year celebration for young ones early on New Year’s Eve. The event is included with museum admission and includes crafts, activities and music.

• Details: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Ages 5-17: $16. Ages 18 and up: $25.
• Info: 941-746-4131. bishopscience.org.

Shamrock Shiver

The 15th annual Shamrock Shiver on Anna Maria Island will kick off the new year with a day of fun and give local charities a big boost going into 2023.

Event participants dress up in costumes of all kinds and line up in the sand. Then, they plunge into the chilly Gulf of Mexico waters on behalf of pledge donors. It makes for a truly unique sight on Bradenton Beach. The event traditionally includes a costume contest.

A post-plunge party at Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub in Cortez will include raffles, auctions and live music by local country/bluegrass/rock group, Dr. Dave Band. The event raises money for local charities that aid disadvantaged children in Manatee County. Last year’s event raised $56,180, organizers say. This year’s goal: at least $50,000.

To find out how to plunge for pledges, or to donate, call Clancy’s at 941-794-2481 (extension 2).

• Details: The plunge happens at noon on Sunday, New Year’s Day. Find it on Bradenton Beach off of Gulf Drive between Fourth Street South and 12th Street South. Post-plunge party starting at 12:30 p.m. at Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub, 6218 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.
• Info: clancysirishsportspub.com/shamrock-shiver-charity-plunge.

Holiday events and light displays

Lights of Palmetto: Opened in 2018, Lights of Palmetto is a free, drive-in Christmas light attraction that features over 100,000 color-changing lights synced with holiday and popular music. The show happens nightly in December and early January on the 4-acre property of the Stallings family near Buffalo Creek Road. Simply pull in and tune your radio to 96.1 FM to enjoy music with the lights.

This year’s display includes an illuminated barn and house, a mega Christmas tree at about 30 feet tall, over 100 3D-printed snowflakes, a manger scene and more.

• Details: Open 5:45-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:45-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through the second week of January. Lights of Palmetto is located at 5220 69th Street East. Visitors can park and watch in their cars or walk up the sidewalk on nearby Buffalo Creek Road for another vantage point. Tune to 96.1 FM for music. Free; donations for charity accepted.
  
  
• Info: facebook.com/lightsofpalmetto

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

More than 2 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 available for purchase 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

Christmas at Busch Gardens: The Busch Gardens annual Christmas Town celebration puts a holly jolly twist on Florida theme park fun.

The park is decked out in lights and decorations for the holiday party, and there are festive eats, shows, rides and music to enjoy.

A $132.99 Fun Card allows unlimited entries to the Christmas Town event and free entry to the park through the end of 2023.

• Details: Nov. 14 through Jan. 9. Busch Gardens, 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa. Single day ticket: $132.99.
• Info: buschgardens.com/tampa/events/christmas-town

Shows and performing arts

Holiday youth circus: Sailor Circus Academy’s annual youth circus showcase is back to provide some family-friendly holiday cheer over the New Year’s weekend. The show features trampoline, trapeze, cyr wheel and other acts set to favorite holiday music.

• Details: 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. $20-$40.
• Info: circusarts.org.

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre will celebrate New Year’s Eve with lineup of comedians, food and drink. Club founder Les McCurdy will host the evening, with guest acts by Scott Novotny and Helen Keaney and a headline show by Ron Feingold. He is known for his unique musical spin on comedy — “a blend of traditional stand-up and a cappella music where Ron sings ALL of his own back-ups, lead vocals and even vocal percussion,” the comedian’s bio says.

“A Place in the Sun: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder” at Florida Studio Theatre: “With a catalogue spanning six decades and multiple genres, Stevie Wonder has earned the status of the most-awarded solo artist of all time. ‘A Place in the Sun’ highlights Wonder’s significant artistic contributions and features such timeless hits as ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You,’ ‘Superstition,’ and ‘Isn’t She Lovely?’”

• Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through March 26. Playing at Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret dinner theater, 1239 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Starting at $37.

“New Year’s Romance on the Piano”: Russian classical pianist Eleonora Lvov will perform soulful musical works for a free concert at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday.

Lvov has performed with orchestras worldwide and won several international music competitions. These days, she teaches students in the Sarasota area.

• Details: 4-6 p.m. Sunday. Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 322 15th St. W., Bradenton. Free. Donations requested.
• Info: 941-358-0235. manateeuuf.org.

Did we miss a local New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day event? Send an email with details to rballogg@bradenton.com for consideration.

This story was originally published December 29, 2022 at 12:10 PM.