Where’s the best place to see Christmas holiday lights around Bradenton? Here’s a list

Ryan Ballogg
·3 min read
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ annual holiday light spectacle, “Lights in Bloom,” returns from Dec. 8 2023 to Jan. 4, 2024.

When palm trees and sailboats are aglow, you know it’s the holiday season in Southwest Florida.

What the Suncoast lacks in wintry weather, it makes up for in colorful Christmas lights everywhere you go.

Around Bradenton and Sarasota, professional light displays, illuminated gardens and some particularly festive neighborhoods all make for great viewing.

If you’re still not sure where to begin your Christmas sightseeing adventure, let us be your proverbial Rudolph guiding the way.

Here are some top picks for Christmas light sights around Bradenton in 2023, plus a roundup of reader-submitted favorites.

Lights of Palmetto

Opened in 2018, Lights of Palmetto is a free, drive-in Christmas light attraction that features over 500,000 color-changing lights synced up to holiday and popular music. The show happens nightly from Thanksgiving to 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.

Lights of Palmetto has grown every year since it opened with more lights and new props.

Admission is free, but donations are happily accepted for a local toy drive charity. There’s also a box where kids can leave notes to Santa.

  • Details: Opens Thanksgiving night at 6 p.m. Runs nightly through early January. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through early 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 radio to 96.1 FM for music. Free; donations for charity accepted.

  • Info: facebook.com/lightsofpalmetto

Winter Nights Under the Lights

Palma Sola Botanical Park’s fourth annual holiday light display is back and bigger with more nights and new activities.

Take a stroll and snap a few family photos among acres of illuminated Florida foliage.

Attractions this year include Santa, food trucks, live holiday music, a gift market, hot cocoa and cider, hay rides, a tree decorating contest, crafts and a decorated golf cart parade.

  • Details: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 13-17. Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Ave. NW, Bradenton. Free (donations requested).

  • More info: palmasolabp.org.

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: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8-10, 12-23, 26-30 and Jan. 1-3. Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Adults: $30. Ages 5 to 17: $15. Children under 5: Free. Early entry tickets available for an upcharge.

  • More info: selby.org.

Favorite local and neighborhood light displays

Last year, we asked readers for their favorite spots to look at Christmas lights around Bradenton and Manatee County. These were their recommendations:

Bradenton:

  • Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Ave. N.W., Bradenton

  • First Avenue West in Bradenton

  • Swan Lake Village, 620 57th Ave. W., Bradenton

  • Bayshore Gardens area of Bradenton

  • 49th Drive East in Bradenton

  • Riverview Boulevard along the Manatee River

  • West Bradenton area

Lakewood Ranch and University Park:

Palmetto:

  • Lights of Palmetto, 5220 69th St. E., Palmetto

  • Downtown Palmetto

  • Palmetto Point neighborhood (located on Terra Ceia Bay, south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge; turn west on 50th Street West off of U.S. 19)

  • Ninth Street West in Palmetto

Parrish:

  • Kingsfield community