# Christmas lights in Sarasota–Bradenton for little kids, 2026

> Three Christmas light displays in and around Sarasota–Bradenton have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5:30 p.m. at Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens. They’re in Sarasota and Venice. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/sarasota-bradenton/christmas-lights/
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## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens** at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota, FL 34236. When: Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: Early entry 5:30–9 p.m.; general entry 6:30–9 p.m. Earliest start: 5:30 p.m. Price: Tickets on the Lights in Bloom site; buy ahead. More than two million lights along the garden paths. Early entry is the better bet with little ones who go to bed early. Official page: https://selby.org/events/lights-in-bloom-2026/
- **Holiday Light Shows at UTC Sarasota** at University Town Center, 210 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243. When: Nightly, Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Light shows 6:30–9:30 p.m. Earliest start: 6:30 p.m. Price: No ticket listed for the shows; carriage rides $12 per passenger. Nightly light shows around the shopping center, with fireworks every Saturday. Carriage rides run Thursday through Sunday. Official page: https://utcsarasota.com/holidays/
- **Wellen Wonderland tree lighting** at Downtown Wellen Park. When: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4–5. Time: 5–9:30 p.m. Price: No ticket listed. A two-night holiday festival with a Christmas tree lighting and live music. Santa is there to hear wish lists and pose for photos. Official page: https://www.visitsarasota.com/events-festivals/wellen-wonderland-0

## More holiday outings in Sarasota–Bradenton

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Sarasota–Bradenton](https://littlesweekly.com/sarasota-bradenton/nutcracker/index.md): 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Sarasota–Bradenton](https://littlesweekly.com/sarasota-bradenton/christmas-markets/index.md): 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights in Sarasota–Bradenton?
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.

### What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Sarasota–Bradenton?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Holiday Light Shows at UTC Sarasota (No ticket listed for the shows; carriage rides $12 per passenger). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Sarasota–Bradenton? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens at 5:30 p.m., Holiday Light Shows at UTC Sarasota at 6:30 p.m. and Wellen Wonderland tree lighting at 9:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

### How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).