All states › Florida › Sarasota
Christmas Lights in Sarasota, FL
The top places to see Christmas lights in Sarasota this season are Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Dec 5 – Jan 2), Holiday Splendor at The Ringling (Dec 10 – Dec 17) and Holiday Nights on the Bayfront at The Ringling (Dec 29 – Dec 30). We've mapped 10 displays in Sarasota and 8 more nearby (5 events, 5 parades, 3 tree lightings). 10 are free. 2 are synced to music. Tap any display for dates, hours and directions.
Updated Nov 11, 2026
Near Sarasota (within 25 miles)
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 Sarasota? Add it free.
Christmas lights in Sarasota: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in Sarasota?
Popular picks this season include Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Dec 5 – Jan 2), Holiday Splendor at The Ringling (Dec 10 – Dec 17), Holiday Nights on the Bayfront at The Ringling (Dec 29 – Dec 30) and Tinsel Town Trolley (Dec 8 – Dec 23). In all, 18 displays are mapped in and around Sarasota, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in Sarasota?
Free options include Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Colonial Gables lights (Bee Ridge Rd and Honore Ave area), Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights and Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade. 10 of the 18 displays near Sarasota are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near Sarasota?
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 Sarasota?
Yes. Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival at Freedom Factory and Holidays at University Town Center. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.
When do Christmas lights start in Sarasota?
The earliest Sarasota-area displays turn on Dec 5, 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 Sarasota 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.
Get free quotes