The holiday season brings us festivities spanning the entire month of December on Anna Maria Island, marching us headfirst into another glorious year.
What are some of the best Christmas or New Years events on Anna Maria Island to capstone another great year? Don’t miss the following during your next beach vacation here!
The “Land and Sea” Holiday Exhibit at Island Gallery West
Location: 5368 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach, FL
You can take a pause from the energetic holiday festivities for a little respite at the Island Gallery West. For the month of December, from 1 am to 5 pm, the gallery is exploring the work of Maria Sine in her “Land and Sea” gallery.
Her works combine the elegance of marine life with vibrant beauty. Sine relies on a splendid mixture of acrylics and watercolors for a soft-textured look that blooms in vibrancy.
She is connected with nature conservation groups in the area whose influences can be found in her work. Her showcase of sea turtles is spectacular and representative of the rich wildlife well worth protecting on Anna Maria Island.
The showcase is part of the Holmes Beach Merchants’ Holiday Party. It is a collective of independent businesses that are celebrating art and the holidays with decorations, special seasonal sales, and free admission to a number of local festivities.
Roser Community Church Christmas Eve Event
Location: 512 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria Island, FL
For a faith-based community event, consider the historic non-denominational Roser Church. The 5:30 family service will feature a Nativity Pageant with classic Christmas carols, gifts and the singing of the Joyful Noise Children’s Choir. The 5:30 service is followed by a traditional service at 9 pm.
The service will end with a powerful rendition of Silent Night. All visitors are welcomed. The Roser Church is also a valuable resource for the community.
It is the first place of worship on the island founded by one of the island’s pioneers, Charles Roser, near some of the best homes for sale on Anna Maria Island. You can connect with some insightful and inspiring community leaders here, whether you are vacationing or planning on possibly relocating or purchasing a vacation home.
Decades Rewind Sleigh Ride Concert
Location: 502 Third Ave W Bradenton, FL
Nostalgia, the Christmas season, and music hits from years past are the components of the Decades Rewind event at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in downtown Bradenton.
Take part in a retro holiday-themed tour-de-force of dancing, singing, and acting in this Decades Rewind showcase. Performers commit to sensational renditions of classic tunes from the golden eras of the early 1960s to the 1980s.
The show is $27 for adults and the show will be held on Dec 22nd and 23rd from 8 pm to about 10:00 pm, and it is sure to be another inspiring and wonderful addition to the holiday concert series.
Plan Your Visit
Anna Maria Island is an amazing vacation destination that is sure to fit all your needs. Look into booking one of our beautiful rental homes today!
Beachhouse Restaurant Fireworks
Location: 200 Gulf Dr. N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
The Beach house Restaurant is the place to be at the stroke of midnight with its huge party and fireworks celebration that draws visitors from all over.
You are welcomed to the Beachhouse Restaurant patio area or inside the restaurant with a reservation or on the surrounding beaches for free to enjoy the midnight fireworks spectacle.
Guests can use the locally designated parking areas, but they are expected to fill up quickly. Shuttles and trolleys are expected to pick up visitors to Anna Maria Island along the beach access point up its long coast. The shuttle will run to about 12:30 am.
Chuck Caudill will perform from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am at the restaurant while guests can sip on specialty cocktails and ready their champagne for the midnight toast. There’s no better place to see the fireworks close up.
The event is first come first serve for all, so be sure to arrive early and prepare for the midnight fireworks spectacle or make a reservation ahead of time.
Anna Maria Island
You can also see the fireworks from many other locations on Anna Maria Island. They crackle over the Gulf of Mexico. If you have a view of the sky on the gulf side of Bradenton Beach, you are sure to see them.
The above Christmas events on Anna Maria Island truly showcase the wonder and magic of our laid-back Old-Florida island getaway during the holidays, so get to as many of them as you can this year!