Where can you get a picture with the big guy? We have the low-down on all the locations Santa will be and where you can get that family holiday photo!
Nov 7 - Dec 24 ~ Santa's Flight Academy at UTC Mall: Make your reservation to meet Santa for a picture-perfect moment. After, take off on an interactive adventure at Santa's Flight Academy, complete with his 22-foot-tall sleigh and magical snow room! Reservations are strongly recommended for all photo sessions; however, walkups are welcome as well!
Nov 16-17 ~ Free Children's Portraits with Santa: This is a FREE event with no-strings attached. You will receive digital high resolution ready to print or share images sent directly to your email. Our timeless set will be sure to bring joy for generations to come and once Santa arrives there will be presents under the tree and the first 45 children will receive a special gift from Santa. Register in advance.
Nov 17, 24 at 6:30PM to 8PM / Dec 1 at 7:30PM to 9PM ~ Santa Paws: Grab your furry family members, holiday costume optional, and head to The Mall at UTC for pet photos with Santa! Reservations can be booked in advance.
Nov 23 | 5:30PM to 7:30PM ~ The 6th Annual Light Up Longboat: Enjoy live music, special appearances by Santa, Minnie, & Mickey, vendors, food and drink, a tree lighting, raffles and more. FREE.
Nov 29 | 5PM to 8PM ~ Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting: Enjoy a charming Christmas evening with live music featuring performances by First Baptist Church's Voices of Venice, the Venice Chorale, and children help light the tree! Enjoy time with Santa, food trucks, shopping, dining, & exploring historic downtown Venice! FREE.
Nov 30 - Dec 22 (Select Nights) ~ North Pole Express: Join us for a 35-minute ride from Parrish, FL to the North Pole. Upon arrival, everyone will detrain at our special North Pole station where Santa awaits to visit with every child. During your stay a variety of entertainment, activities, campfires and all the hot chocolate and cookies you care to eat are included with every train ticket. Ticket prices vary.
Nov 30, Dec 1, 7 and 8 ~ Santa Visits Ananda Farms: Bring the whole family to meet Santa Claus right here at Ananda Farm. Snap a photo, share your wish list, and make Christmas memories with the family.
Dec 1 | 10AM to 4PM ~ The Poinsettia Patch with Santa and Mrs. Claus: Find that perfect poinsettia, get a FREE picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy crafts for the kids, face painting, bounce houses, holiday vendors, food and dessert trucks and more. FREE parking / $5 admission. Fundraiser for Parrish Charter Academy and FORZA.
Dec 1, 8, 15 and 22 | 10AM to 2PM ~ Festive Photos with Santa at LWR Farmers Market: Have your picture taken with Santa and enjoy festive activities, shop for fresh local produce, and find unique gifts from our wonderful vendors.
Dec 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19 | 6:30PM to 8:30PM ~ Festive Photos with Santa on Main Street: Join us for Photos with Santa right by the beautifully decorated Christmas tree at the heart of Main Street.
Dec 4, 6, 7 and 8 | various times ~ Photos with Santa at the European Holiday Market: Kids, don't miss photos with Santa at the European Holiday Market.
Dec 4, 11 and 18 | 6PM to 9PM ~ Festive Photos with Santa at Ranch Nite Wednesdays: Get your picture with Santa at your favorite mid-week hangout!
Dec 6 | 10AM and 11AM ~ Here Comes Santa Claus: Visit Santa Claus himself at The Little Discovery Center. We'll sing "carols, " have a fun-filled Storytime, and make crafts for the holiday! FREE. RSVP.
Dec 6 | 5PM to 8PM ~ Santa Claus is Coming to the Lace Buckle: We will have photo opportunities with Santa and yummy snack. The event is free; however, we do ask for a non-perishable donation for F.E.L.T.
Dec 6 | 5PM to 9PM ~ Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Bat City Comic Professionals: Come out and meet the First Family of Christmas! Take free photos!
Dec 6 | 5:30PM to 9PM ~ 46th Annual Holiday Night of Lights: Enjoy the annual Christmas Carol Sing-a-long, a visit from Santa and the illumination of the St. Armands Circle 60-foot Christmas Tree. There will also be live musical performances and family crafts and activities, plus special store promotions. FREE admission.
Dec 6-7 | 3PM to 7PM ~ Palmetto's Christmas in the Park: Come enjoy reindeer games, holiday crafts, and festive decorations! You can also visit Santa. FREE but reservations REQUIRED.
Fri and Sat Dec 6-21 | 5PM to 10PM ~ Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival at the Freedom Factory: Drive through different areas of the facility, a light tunnel, and even on the actual track surface all while immersed in over 100,000 lights synchronized to music and dozens of set pieces. Come inside the Christmas village which features a 50-foot Christmas tree, Meet and Greet with Santa, games, rides, a Jumbotron playing Christmas movies, music, vendors, food, drinks, and more! $20 per carload.
Dec 7 | 8AM to 10AM ~ Breakfast with Santa Cow: We will have some coloring sheets, a letter to Santa station, photo opportunities with Santa Cow and a special treat! Hosted by Chick-Fil-A Creekwood. FREE.
Dec 7 | 10AM to 2PM ~ Winterfest at Palma Sola Botanical Park: This event features an ice-skating rink, 9-hole mini golf course, tropical Santa meet & greet, craft stations in Santa's workshop, a karaoke and dance zone, an open play zone, scavenger hunts with prizes, local market vendors, food trucks, special interactive guest experiences, and more! FREE entry / cost for wristband to do activities.
Dec 7 | 10:30AM to 2PM ~ Lester Family Fun Day: Enjoy pony rides, face painting, crafts, inflatables, live, performances, raffles, food and a visit from Santa.
Dec 7 | 11AM to 4PM ~ Holiday Market with Santa: Enjoy a meet and greet with Santa, food trucks and local vendors, a kids' zone, a Cocoa Bar, calf feeding and cuddling, live music, drink specials and more. Hosted by Big Trop Brewers Collective. FREE admission.
Dec 7 | 11AM to 4PM ~ A Holly Jolly Village Christmas: Step into a Christmas wonderland and find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list! Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, ready for photo ops, handing out presents, and soaking up the holiday charm as they stroll through the Village. Hosted by Village of the Arts. FREE.
Dec 7 | 3PM to 6PM ~ Southside Village Holiday Stroll: See Santa arrive by firetruck, plus enjoy a Kids Zone with bounce houses and hot cocoa, face painting, live music, hair tinsel, raffles and more. FREE.
Dec 7 | 4PM to 8PM ~ A Night Before Christmas: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the park and taking professional pictures with the children which you’ll be able to download for free. There also will be a variety of family-friendly activities, including DJ, inflatables, face painting, crafts, petting zoo, foam zone and snow slides! Admission is FREE; however, a suggested donation per family of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots is kindly requested.
Dec 8 | 12PM to 2PM ~ Santa's Visit to American Honey Creamery: Bring the family to take your OWN pictures for FREE!
Dec 8 | 2PM to 4PM ~ Visit with Santa: Santa will be at Bricks and Minifigs Sarasota reading and passing out a special LEGO themed treat. FREE!
Dec 8 | 3PM to 5PM ~ Meet the Grinch at Foxtail Coffee UTC: This kid-friendly meet-and-greet is the perfect opportunity to create magical holiday memories and take festive photos with the whole family.
Dec 8 | 5PM to 8PM ~ Kickoff to Christmas: Enjoy Professional family photos with Santa, meet and greets with your favorite Christmas characters, cookies with Mrs. Claus, train rides, petting zoo, Danny Go-snow party, arctic blast laser tag, Christmas crafts, face painting, hot cocoa and more. Hosted by Forward Community COG. FREE.
Dec 9 | 6PM to 8:30PM ~ River Wonderland: Come play games, enjoy tasty food, make some fun Christmas crafts, watch our performing arts perform, visit the petting zoo and say hi to SANTA!! Hosted by Braden River High School. FREE.
Dec 11-15 | 6PM to 9PM ~ Winter Nights Under the Lights: The park will be magically lit up while sounds of holiday music will abound. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be here, as well as his nemesis The Grinch. Come hungry as we'll have a variety of food trucks on hand with seating, as well as hot cider, cocoa, coffee, tea, beer, wine & seltzers. You can shop for holiday gifts inside our Galleria building and vote on your favorite Christmas tree decorated by elementary school students. FREE admission / donations appreciated. Hosted by Palma Sola Botanical Gardens.
Dec 13 | 9:30AM to 11:30AM ~ Cookies and Playdate with Santa: Enjoy hot chocolate and decorate cookies with Santa! Hosted by The Flock SRQ. $20 / free for members. RSVP.
Dec 13 | 6PM to 9PM ~ Movie in the Park - The Santa Clause: Enjoy a free screening of the movie The Santa Clause, plus Santa will be spreading holiday cheer and joining us for photos from 6PM to 8 PM!
Dec 13-14 | 4PM to 9PM ~ Cookies and Milk with Santa: Save the date for milk and cookies with Santa at Dakin Dairy! More info to come!
Dec 13-14 | 5PM to 8PM ~ Christmas Town Celebration at Southside: From our lights maze and snow machines, pictures with Santa and Grinch, “Journey to Bethlehem“ and all the fun and treats ... you don’t want to miss this event. FREE.
Dec 14 | 10AM to 1PM ~ Candy Canes with Santa: Santa is coming to Flip Zone! Pictures will be available.
Dec 14 | 11AM to 2PM ~ Winterfest at North River Ranch: Come play in the snow, take pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, and shop local vendors for the holidays! Winterfest at North River Ranch will feature a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey rink, face painting, holiday crafts and more. Register for your FREE ticket.
Dec 14 | 11AM to 2PM ~ Meet and Greet Santa and The Grinch: Come and get your pictures with Santa and the Grinch. Giving away prizes and refreshments. FREE! Hosted by Learning Express Toys of University Park.
Dec 14 | 11AM to 3PM ~ Waypoint Artisan Market: Shop 40+ Unique Local Small Businesses, enjoy live music, kids' activities, pet friendly and book exchange. Plus, Santa and Mrs. Claus will do a reading on stage with photos after. FREE admission.
Dec 14 | 1PM to 4PM ~ Christmas in Cortez: Visit Santa, jump in the bounce house, make holiday crafts to bring home, play games and more! Special feature this year is the huge pirate ship that the Privateers are bringing for a fun, pirate-themed photo op. FREE.
Dec 14 | 1:30PM to 3:30PM ~ The Ultimate Santa Experience: Sign up for a picture with Santa, plus character meet and greets, bounce houses and game room fun! Must RSVP to attend - limited spots available. FREE. Hosted by Awesome Youth Sports.
Dec 14 | 2PM to 4PM ~ Christmas Spectacular at Playtime Plaza: Enjoy free meet and greet with Santa, see a firetruck, DIY festive slime making, Let It Snow bubbles and discounted play time!
Dec 14 | 2PM to 4PM ~ Winter Wonderland with Santa: Start with a walk through our Winter Wonderland, Whoville with the Grinch, Peanuts, Polar Express, Candyland, and Rudolph photo areas, breakfast to go, and a special meeting with the one and only Santa! $5 per family or per 5 people / RSVP in advance.
Dec 14 | 4PM to 7:30PM ~ Holidays at The Bay: Enjoy pictures with Santa, make and take crafts, yard games, seasonal storytime, a dance party and a free showing of the movie Toy Story 4. FREE.
Dec 14 | 4PM to 8PM ~ 6th Annual Holiday Celebration at Ellenton Premium Outlets: Families are able to enjoy cookie decorating, photo booth, music, hot chocolate bar, and more. The holiday fun continues with photos with Santa!
Dec 14, 19, 21 | Various times ~ Cruise with Santa: The cruise includes photos with Santa, a goody bag for each child, dolphin watching and holiday tunes. $25+ for adults and $15 for kids 10 and under. RSVP.
Dec 15 | 4PM to 6PM ~ Santa and S'mores: Get a free picture with Santa, plus enjoy s'mores, hot cocoa and crafts. Hosted by Bayside Community Church Fruitville Campus. FREE.
Dec 15 | 4PM to 8PM ~ Parrish Hometown Christmas Event: See Santa Claus arrive by fire truck, live performances, Christmas caroling, snow slide, arts and crafts, hot cocoa, a petting zoo and more. FREE.
Dec 19 | 9:30AM to 10:30AM ~ Open Play: Pictures with Santa: Join The Roots Health Center for a morning of Free Open Play, holly jolly tunes and pictures with Santa! For ages 0 to 5. FREE.
Dec 19 | 5PM to 6PM ~ Winter Wonderland Party: Join us for a family-friendly night of fun, games, crafts, and a visit from Santa. Hosted by South Manatee Library. FREE.
Dec 19 | 5PM to 8PM ~ Christmas Party: Santa will be present giving away free toys to children under 12 years old (until supplies last). Join our celebration with raffles, music, and food for the community. Hosted by Acapulco Tropical y Más.
Dec 21 | 10AM to 12PM ~ Skate with Santa: Skate with Santa Tiny Tot Special at Astro Skate Bradenton! Wear a red shirt and get in half price.
Dec 21 | 10AM to 1PM ~ Mayor Santa and First Lady Claus visits the Bradenton Public Market: Our very own Mayor Brown and his wife, Gina will once again show you why Bradenton is known as The Friendly City as they bring holiday cheer to the Market on Saturday. FREE admission.
Dec 21-22 | 10AM to 12PM ~ Photos with Santa at Court Thirteen: For just $5 (and a toy donation if you’re able), snap a magical memory with Santa—right on your phone! On Sundays, furry friends are also welcome for pet photos with Santa. Court Thirteen will be decked out in festive decorations, creating the perfect Christmas backdrop. Kids can even bring letters to Santa to drop off during their visit!
Dec 21-22 | 11AM to 3PM ~ Santa at the Red Barn: Santa Claus will be ready to have his picture taken with kids, adults, and clean pets. Stop by and say hello to him. Bring your own camera and take pictures. Santa's elves will also be available to take pictures for $6.95.
Dec 21 | 2PM ~ Pictures with Santa: We will be hosting Santa, who loves taking pictures with you! We will also have activities, cookies & milk, games, and so much more! Hosted by Alpha Martial Arts. FREE.
Dec 22 | 3PM to 5PM ~ Santa Visits South Siesta: Join us as Santa visits with kids and families at the South Village Daiquiri Deck. Photos may be taken with Santa free of charge. Gift bags will be given to the first 250 kids.
Dec 22 | 6PM to 8PM ~ Santa Visits Altitudes: Come and see the big guy THIS Sunday, from 6pm to 8PM. Included in admission.
For more holiday fun, click on a picture below!
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