If you think a White Christmas requires snow, you have to spend the holidays enjoying the beaches of Anna Maria Island. The pleasant December weather makes it perfect for lounging in the sun.
Aside from relaxing on the beach, shopping at local boutiques, and dining at delicious restaurants, a full slate of holiday activities makes for a merry Christmas.
Kick off the season with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. The tree lights up by 6:15 p.m. Bring out your family for this festive event.
Enjoy the festively decorated vessels in the Bradenton Beach Boat Parade on Dec. 3, which sails from Bradenton Beach Marina. View the parade from the Longboat Pass Bridge, the Bradenton Beach City Pier, or the Bradenton Beach City Pier. Or get your boat all decked out and enter the parade.
A Night Before Christmas takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 at GT Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive West in Bradenton. The event features a real snow slide, face painting, a bounce house, the movie “Elf,” and more. Admission is free; however, $5 wristbands are required for inflatables and slides, and a suggested donation per family of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots is requested. Wristbands will be on sale at the GT Bray Park front desk starting Dec. 2.
Yo Ho Ho, Mateys! The Anna Maria Privateers Island Christmas Parade rolls at 10 a.m. on Dec. 10 from the north entrance of Coquina Beach Park in Bradenton Beach to City Pier Park on the northern tip of the island. Immediately following the parade, the Privateers host a Children’s Party with Santa. All children are welcome.
Also on Dec. 10, the Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade sets sail up the Manatee River with a fleet of decked-out vessels. Thousands of local residents and visitors flock to the river to experience the magic. Grab a spot at Green Bridge or the Bradenton Riverwalk. Staging takes place at Snead Island and the parade starts at sundown.
Christmas in the Park at Palmetto Historical Park takes place the first weekend in December. To celebrate Christmas, the Palmetto Historical Park and Manatee County Agricultural Museum partner up to create a fun, festive event that includes visits with Santa, crafts, and tours of the beautifully decorated buildings (by reservation only). Parents, bring your cameras. With the most wonderful time of the year just around the corner, there is no time like the present to gift yourself a luxury vacation rental.