# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Sarasota–Bradenton, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Sarasota–Bradenton with 2026 dates: two parades and one tree lighting or lighting night, all free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/sarasota-bradenton/christmas-parades/
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## Christmas parades

- **Santa's Grand Arrival Parade at UTC** at N. Cattlemen Road at University Town Center, Sarasota. When: Sat, Nov 14, 2026. Time: Kids zone 3 to 5 p.m.; tree lighting 6 p.m.; parade 6:30 p.m.; fireworks 7:30 p.m. Price: Free to watch; free event parking. Giant balloons, floats and marching bands, with Santa at the end. The afternoon kids zone on The Green has games and crafts, which helps fill the wait with little ones. Official page: https://utcsarasota.com/event/santas-grand-arrival-parade-2026/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Sarasota Holiday Parade** at Main Street, Downtown Sarasota. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: See the site for the start time. Price: Free. Sarasota’s holiday parade comes down Main Street downtown. Official page: https://sarasotaholidayparade.com/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade** at Manatee River, Bradenton and Palmetto, Bradenton. When: Sat, Dec 12, 2026. Time: Staging 5:30 p.m.; boats head out at sundown. Organizers estimate the boats reach the Riverhouse area around 7 p.m. and Pier 22 between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Price: Free at the public viewing areas. Decorated boats travel up the Manatee River after dark. The public viewing spots are the Green Bridge and the Palmetto Pier. Organizers say the timing is an estimate, so bring layers for the kids if you get there early. Official page: https://holidayboatparade.org/faq (checked 2026-10-30)

## 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

### When is the Christmas parade in Sarasota–Bradenton in 2026?
Santa's Grand Arrival Parade at UTC: Sat, Nov 14, 2026, Kids zone 3 to 5 p.m.; tree lighting 6 p.m.; parade 6:30 p.m.; fireworks 7:30 p.m. (Sarasota). Sarasota Holiday Parade: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, See the site for the start time (Downtown Sarasota).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Sarasota–Bradenton?
Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade at Manatee River, Bradenton and Palmetto: Sat, Dec 12, 2026, Staging 5:30 p.m.; boats head out at sundown. Organizers estimate the boats reach the Riverhouse area around 7 p.m. and Pier 22 between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Sarasota–Bradenton free?
All of the ones we list are free to watch: Santa's Grand Arrival Parade at UTC, Sarasota Holiday Parade and Manatee River Holiday Boat Parade. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Daytime ones are easiest with toddlers: Sarasota Holiday Parade. Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).