5+ ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day around Bradenton
Looking for fun options to ring in 2026 around Bradenton?
Local events planned for New Year’s Eve include street parties, midnight ball drops, fireworks and more.
The fun will continue on New Year’s Day with the annual Shamrock Shiver plunge for charity on Anna Maria Island and into the weekend with an Art Walk in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts.
Here’s some more info to help make your new year a fun one.
Bradenton Alive New Year’s Eve Celebration
A New Year’s Eve party will bring live music to Rossi Park on the Bradenton Riverwalk Wednesday night.
Sarasota country songwriter Derek Lersch and his band will perform.
The event will also have food and drink vendors, merchants and a fireworks display.
- Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday. Rossi Park, 444 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. Free admission.
- Info: Facebook.com/BradentonsAlive
Sarasota Pineapple Drop
Another option for local New Year’s Eve fun is downtown Sarasota’s annual street party.
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 Selby 5 Points Park starting at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and ending at 1 a.m. Unlimited ride wristbands are $37 (group discounts are available online).
Live music will happen on three downtown stages throughout the event with bands playing rock, dance, country, soul and pop hits. Downtown bars and restaurants will offer New Year’s specials, and food and drink vendors will have more options on tap. The famous illuminated pineapple drop will happen at midnight at the corner of Main and Lemon streets, followed by a fireworks display over Sarasota Bay.
- Details: 1 p.m. Wednesday, New Year’s Eve to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, New Year’s Day. Intersection of Main St. and Lemon Ave., Sarasota. Free.
- Info: Facebook.com/DestinationDowntownSarasota
New Year’s Eve on Anna Maria Island
Drift-In AMI on Anna Maria Island aims to start a fresh New Year’s Eve tradition this year with the first ever New Year’s Oyster Drop on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.
The event will feature live music and drinks, and an oversized oyster shell will drop at midnight. Drift-In will give out bologna sandwiches and a champagne toast at midnight, organizers say.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar is co-sponsoring the celebration and will be serving food on site at Drift-In AMI from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., including sliders, oysters and tacos.
- Details: Noon Wednesday, New Year’s Eve to 1 a.m. Thursday, New Year’s Day. Drift-In AMI, 120 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. No cover.
- Info: Facebook.com/DriftInAMI.
New Year’s Eve at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch
A New Year’s Eve celebration at Lakewood Ranch’s community gathering spot will include food and drinks, live music, games for all ages and a countdown to 2026.
At midnight, a light show by multiple Guinness World Record holder Sky Elements Drone Shows will illuminate the night.
Other activities will include an outdoor arcade, an illuminated mini-golf course and bounce houses.
- Details: 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. Free entry.
- Info: LakewoodRanch.com.
Clancy’s Shamrock Shiver party for charity
Every year, Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub in Cortez hosts the Shamrock Shiver on New Year’s Day, when locals costume up and head out to Anna Maria Island to plunge into the wintery waters of the Gulf for charity.
For its 18th year, the Shamrock Shiver will move to a new spot on Coquina Beach. Clancy’s collects charity pledges on behalf of participants, with a goal of raising thousands for local charities each year.
For this year’s event, a costume contest will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by the plunge into the Gulf at noon.
Afterward, the party will continue at Clancy’s with live music from 1 to 6 p.m., plus auctions and raffles that contribute to the fundraiser.
- Details: Shamrock Shiver plunge at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach. Afterparty begins at 1 p.m. at Clancy’s Irish Pub, 6218 Cortez Road W., Cortez.
- Info: Facebook.com/ClancysBradenton
Village of the Arts Art Walk weekend
Village of the Arts in Bradenton will host its first Art Walk of 2026 this weekend.
Take a stroll through the colorful village and visit shops and studios where resident artists display their crafts.
There will also be pop-up vendors and live music throughout the neighborhood, an event preview says.
The Village is also home to several restaurants and cafes where you can grab a meal or refreshment.
- Details: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Village of the Arts. GPS address: 1227 12th St. W., Bradenton. Free parking is available on streets throughout the village and at the empty lot on 13th Avenue. Free entry.
- Info: Facebook.com/VillageOfTheArts
Last chance for holiday lights
The Pilos Family Christmas Show in Bradenton sets thousands of twinkling Christmas lights to popular holiday music.
Visitors can park, tune in to 96.1 FM and enjoy the show, which features over two hours of music. Folding chairs are also welcome.
- Details: Open now. Light display hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The show will continue through the first week in January. 1811 72nd St. N.W., Bradenton. Free.
- Info: Facebook.com/PilosFamilyLightShow
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 available for purchase in the gardens.
- Details: Saturday, Dec. 6 to Saturday, Jan. 3. Early entry: 5:30 to 9 p.m. General entry: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Adults: $34 general admission; $44 early admission. Ages 5 to 17: $19 general admission; $24 early admission. Children under 5: Free.
- Info: Selby.org
Christmas lights at UTC: University Town Center in Sarasota has a calendar packed with holiday events into the new year, including a nightly Christmas light show along Cattlemen Road.
- Details: Through Jan. 4. University Town Center, 210 North Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.
- Info: UTCSarasota.com/holidays
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 5:50 AM.