Here's The Best Holiday Light Displays In Sarasota County In 2021

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota area might not ever see a white Christmas, but that doesn’t mean there’s no holiday spirit in the region.

With the holiday season upon us, many Sarasota County residents, neighborhood groups, businesses, destinations and organizations have put up festive outdoor decorations and light displays.

Here’s a guide to some of the best holiday light displays to check out in Sarasota this holiday season.

Selby Gardens’ Downtown Campus – 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota

The Lights in Bloom open-air holiday light show at the Selby Gardens’ downtown campus is a Sarasota-area tradition. It features more than 2 million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways. The show runs Dec. 11-23 and 26-30, and Jan. 1-2, 6 to 9 p.m. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members and $17 for children 5-17. Kids 4 and under get in free. Learn more here.

University Town Center – 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota

This shopping destination transforms into a brightly lit winter wonderland during the holiday season with its Festival of Lights. UTC offers nightly light shows running every 30 minutes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. during the season. There’s also a fireworks display every Saturday at 9 p.m. Learn more about the holidays at UTC here.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” House – 4217 Iola Drive, Sarasota

This replica of the Griswold’s light display in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is always a huge hit during the holiday season. It even has Clark Griswold standing in front of the home holding up strands of lights and a replica of the family's station wagon. With more than 17,000 lights, the display switches from colored to all-white lights every other night. Lights are on 6:30 to 10 p.m. nightly.

Enander’s Winter Wonderland – 2281 Mission Valley Blvd., Nokomis

For 30 years, this family has opened its yard as a Christmas light display for the community. The display features more than 350,000 lights and 400 lit figures. Admission is free. The walking display is open 6 to 10 p.m. through New Year’s Day. Learn more here.

Cedar Hollow Christmas Display – Bunyan Street, Sarasota

This neighborhood holiday display features a road covered with lit arches. The lights are on nightly from 5:30 to 1 a.m. Learn more here.

Night of Lights at the Bay – 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Through Dec. 27, the Mangrove Bayou Walkway at the Bay Park will be lit up with holiday magic from 6 to 11 p.m. Learn more here.

5465 Wilkinson Road, Sarasota

This decorated home features holiday-themed inflatables — including a beach-themed Santa in a Hawaiian shirt and grass skirt — and lights in trees, bushes and other landscaping elements.

Colonial Gables Neighborhood (Off Bee Ridge Road)

Every year this residents in this neighborhood "go all out," one Facebook user said.

1804 Spring Wood Drive, Sarasota

Patch reader Amy Ballard said, "Lights are synchronized to music. It is not a drive by light show. Bring a chair and watch the show. My friend works on it all year. Amazing!"

1651 Towering Oak Drive, Sarasota

This home in the Colonial Oaks neighborhood gets decked out for the holidays.

Patch reader Amy Sutton said, "It has inflatables and lights, as well as the lighted arches on the driveway, a large Olaf (from 'Frozen') inflatable, moving lights on the side of the house, and Clark Griswold on the top of the roof looking like he is being electrocuted by Christmas lights."

1630 Bay Hill Circle, Sarasota

Homeowner Gaye Booth said their display has won their community's holiday light display contest. This year, the home has "santa on a ladder (and) Santa's stables with all of his deer peeking over the fence," she said.

Holiday Tour of Lights

The SRQ Trolley takes guests on a tour of holiday lights throughout Sarasota while they listen to holiday music and enjoy a beverage (which guests bring for themselves). Tours leave at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 31 and cost $20 per person. Learn more here.

The Holiday Atlas has also listed a number of homes featuring fun Christmas light displays in the Sarasota area including the following addresses:

• 5635 Eastwind Drive, Sarasota
• 3466 Lalani Blvd., Sarasota
• 2522 Mapleloft Road, Sarasota
• 1061 Deer Hollow Blvd., Sarasota
• 2643 Jamaica Street, Sarasota
• 4189 Lancaster Drive, Sarasota
• 6834 Brentford Road, Sarasota
• 5425 Laurelwood Place, Sarasota
• 4065 Palau Drive, Sarasota

Find the Holiday Atlas’s complete list of holiday light displays in Sarasota here.

Know of a holiday display that should be included in this list? Email Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.