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Christmas Lights in Longboat Key, FL

The top places to see Christmas lights in Longboat Key this season are Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Dec 5 – Jan 2), Tinsel Town Trolley (Dec 8 – Dec 23) and Holiday Splendor at The Ringling (Dec 10 – Dec 17). We've mapped 1 display in Longboat Key and 16 more nearby (5 events, 4 parades, 2 tree lightings). 9 are free. 3 are synced to music. Tap any display for dates, hours and directions.

Updated Nov 11, 2026

Light Up Longboat

Tree lighting · Longboat Key, FL · Free

Near Longboat Key (within 25 miles)

Holiday Nights on the Bayfront at The Ringling

Event · Sarasota, FL

Opens soon

5.4 miDec 29 – Dec 30

Holiday Splendor at The Ringling

Event · Sarasota, FL · Admission supports Toys for Tots (price not listed)

Opens soon

5.4 miDec 10 – Dec 17

Tinsel Town Trolley

Event · Sarasota, FL · See Discover Sarasota Tours

Opens soon

8.0 miDec 8 – Dec 23

Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Walk-thru · Sarasota, FL · General $34 adult non-member / $29 member, $19 ages 5-17; early entry $44/$39 adult, $24 child; under 5 free

Opens soon

8.1 miDec 5 – Jan 2

The Oakdale Christmas House

Home display · St. Petersburg, FL · Free

Opens soon Music

24 miNov 27 – Jan 3

Holiday Night of Lights at St. Armands Circle

Tree lighting · Sarasota, FL · Free

7.0 mi
7.5 mi

Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights

Parade · Sarasota, FL · Free

7.7 mi

Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade

Parade · Bradenton, FL · Free

8.5 mi

Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade

Parade · Sarasota, FL · Free

8.6 mi

Holidays at University Town Center

Event · Sarasota, FL · Varies

Music

12 mi

Wonderland: Believe at University Town Center

Light show · Sarasota, FL · Varies; tickets online

12 mi

Lights at Spooky Point (Historic Spanish Point)

Walk-thru · Osprey, FL · See website (campus general admission adults $20)

17 mi

Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival at Freedom Factory

Drive-thru · Bradenton, FL · $20 per carload (2024)

Music

20 mi

Hunsader Farms Country Christmas

Event · Bradenton, FL · $15 (2022)

21 mi

Venice Christmas Boat Parade

Parade · Venice, FL · Free

24 mi

Tap + Tour on a few displays to get one driving route you can send to your phone (how it works). Missing a house or show in Longboat Key? Add it free.

Christmas lights in Longboat Key: common questions

What are the best Christmas lights in Longboat Key?

Popular picks this season include Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Dec 5 – Jan 2), Tinsel Town Trolley (Dec 8 – Dec 23), Holiday Splendor at The Ringling (Dec 10 – Dec 17) and Holiday Nights on the Bayfront at The Ringling (Dec 29 – Dec 30). In all, 17 displays are mapped in and around Longboat Key, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Where can I see free Christmas lights in Longboat Key?

Free options include Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Colonial Gables lights (Bee Ridge Rd and Honore Ave area), The Oakdale Christmas House and Light Up Longboat. 9 of the 17 displays near Longboat Key are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near Longboat Key?

Yes. Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival at Freedom Factory ($20 per carload (2024)). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Are there Christmas lights synced to music in Longboat Key?

Yes. Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival at Freedom Factory, Holidays at University Town Center and The Oakdale Christmas House. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

When do Christmas lights start in Longboat Key?

The earliest Longboat Key-area displays turn on Nov 27, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.

Want your house to look like this?

Professional Christmas light installers in Longboat Key hang, maintain and take down your lights, or install permanent lights you control from your phone. Tell us about your house and get free quotes.

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