During a December Anna Maria Island vacation, you can see fireworks, celebrate the holiday season, and join in the thrills of nearby Sarasota’s bustling downtown area. There’s so much to see and so little time. Check out the following must-see Sarasota holiday events coming up soon.
The Village of Sarasota: Fireworks, Food, and a Long Night Out
Location: 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236
Marina Jack will be hosting its annual spectacular fireworks show on New Year’s Eve as the premier Sarasota holiday event. The fireworks are expected to launch at midnight this year, with the Suncoast Charities for Children and Marina Jack working on organizing the show.
In the hours leading up to the fireworks, there will be several dedicated areas of Marina Jack hosting their own form of entertainment and special menus:
- Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill: Reggae and rock from Coastal Jamz will blare from 9pm to 1am with a $30 cover charge. You get a stunning view of the marina and, of course, an up close and personal look at the crackling fireworks.
- Deep Six Lounge & Piano Bar: Music from Rock Lee begins at 6pm. Guests are treated to a four-course meal with a champagne toast and party favors beginning at 7:30pm.
The Dining Room: The Dining Room at Marina Jack is two dinner seatings, from 4pm to 7pm for the first set and 8:45pm for the second set. Both will feature a four-course dinner and champagne toast at midnight. Off the Cuff will be performing from 10pm to 2am. - As you can see, Marina Jack is the place to be for the fireworks and the celebrations that go throughout the evening. Partake in champagne toasts, open bars, and four-course meals as you celebrate the New Year while holding nothing back.
The marina will have big crowds, exciting attractions, and some incredible dining experiences open late into the night. This is the kind of adventure for visitors who want to go big or not go at all.
Marina Jack II Celebration Cruise
Instead of dining at Marina Jack, you can also choose to book an incredible four-hour dinner cruise on the Marina Jack II ship with a buffet of beef tenderloin, chef’s potato selection, grilled asparagus, crab cakes, greens salad and a special dessert.
Enjoy live music and a dance floor, a champagne toast at midnight, and a perfect view of the fireworks on the water. The cost is $159.95 per person.
Speakeasy Soiree at the Powel Crosley Estate
Location: 8374 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243
Dine, dance, and party the night away in an upscale and elegant setting at the Speakeasy Soiree at the Powel Crosley Estate on Tamiami Trail. There’s a lot to take in, but guests for the evening are invited to a five-course menu with a live performance in a jazzing Speakeasy Soiree.
Dinner starts at 7:30pm. At 9:30pm, jazz music and performers light up the room in full costume, channeling a 1920’s jazz-music aesthetic with guests dressed to the nines in their absolute best.
Guests can venture to the Prohibition bar for some poker and clams on the house, or head to the Bayside Lounge, an outdoor pavilion area with DJ music and champagne. Make a champagne toast at midnight and say farewell to 2017.
The cost for dinner and the after party will be $135 per person. Tickets to the after party alone, which starts at 9:30pm, will be $38. Call the estate at 941-722-3244 more for details. Reservations are required.
Jazz at Two
Location: 3975 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota
See a performance pulled right from the 1920’s at the Universalist Church of Sarasota Dec 22nd. Synia Carroll and the Billy Marcus Trio will channel the singing ranges of Nancy Wilson, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald for an illuminating night of jazz. The event is 2pm to 4pm and it is $15 per person.
6th Annual Jingle 5k Run/Walk
Location: 8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34202
That same afternoon you can choose to jump in line for the 6th Annual Jingle 5k Run/Walk. It’s certain to be a festive and fun run on Dec 22nd. Music will boom from speakers set up along the course. Runners put jingle bells on their shoes to ramp up the holiday spirit. A kids’ run begins at 6pm, while the 5K begins at 7pm.
While staying in any of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals, you won’t ever be far from all of these exciting events and many others that make Sarasota and Bradenton the place to be during the holidays!
