Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Sarasota: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

SARASOTA, FL — There is no shortage of things to do in Sarasota to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree and menorah lightings in Sarasota are:

• Downtown Sarasota tree lighting, Dec. 1, 6 to 8 p.m., at Selby Five Points Park. Hosted by the Sarasota Downtown Merchants, there will also be refreshments, music and photos with Santa.
• St. Armands Circle tree lighting, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. City commissioners will flip the switch to illuminate the 60-foot-tall tree.
• Hands on Hannukah, Dec. 18-23, at various Sarasota locations, including the Mall at University Town Center on the first night. Presented by Temple Sinai in Sarasota, this Hannukah festival includes crafts, food, music, story time and candle lightings.
• A Taste of Chanukah, Dec. 18, 4 to 6 p.m., at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota. Hosted by Chabad Lubavitch of Sarasota & Manatee Counties, this event includes a balloon menorah, live music, a trackless train, a 3-ton snow slide, kosher food, arts and crafts, and more. Chabad of Sarasota will also host menorah lightings during the holiday.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and theChristmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in the Sarasota area may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• Poinsettia Parade & Festival, Dec. 3, 5 p.m., in North Port. This year’s theme is “What a wonderful North Port life!” The parade travels from Sylvania Avenue down Sumter Boulevard and to the City Center Front Green.
• Venice Christmas Boat Parade, Dec. 3, 6 p.m., along the Intracoastal Waterway in Venice. This boat parade travels south from just north of Albee Road Bridge ending just before the Circus Bridge.
• Sarasota Holiday Parade, Dec. 3, 7 to 9 p.m., in downtown Sarasota. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland.”
• Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, Dec. 10, on Sarasota Bay. This event is presented by Suncoast Charities for Children and Marina Jack. Best viewing is from downtown’s Bayfront Park.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Sarasota County are:

• Toys for Tots fundraiser, Dec. 4, 5:30 to 9 p.m., at 1761 Bridge Street, Englewood. This home has more than 150,000 lights set to music. Bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
• Enander’s Winter Wonderland, Dec. 10 – Jan. 1, 2281 Mission Valley Blvd., Nokomis. For more than 30 years, this family has opened its yard as a Christmas light display for the community. The display features more than 350,000 lights and 400 lit figures. Admission is free. The walking display is open 6 to 10 p.m.
• Lights in Bloom, select nights from Dec. 10 – Jan. 5, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Selby Gardens’ downtown campus. More than 2 million lights illuminate the gardens and walkways.
• Cedar Hollow Christmas Display, Bunyan Street, Sarasota. This neighborhood, drive-thru holiday display features a road covered with lit arches. The lights are on nightly from 5:30 to 1 a.m.
• University Town Center, nightly light shows along Cattlemen Road in Sarasota from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Shows run every 30 minutes. Fireworks on Saturdays at 9 p.m.