About this Event
Join the fun at the FREE 5th Annual Holidays at The Bay Community Celebration.
Snap a FREE family photo with Santa, create a make-and-take holiday craft with Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation (SPAF) Teaching Artists, enjoy a special story of the season read by Mr. Stevey, and catch a festive Holiday Showcase performance by Santa’s Frosty Follies.
Then settle in for a family movie showing of Toy Story 5 under the stars.
Ugly holiday sweaters and festive attire are encouraged!
Holidays at The Bay is presented by Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Schedule of Special Holiday Happenings
- 4:00–6:00 pm: Pictures with Santa, holiday make-and-take crafts with SPAF Teaching Artists, book browsing at the Sarasota County Pop-Up Library, and more festive fun
- 5:00–5:30 pm: Mr. Stevey reads a festive story of the season
- 5:30–6:00 pm: Holiday Showcase featuring Santa’s Frosty Follies
- 6:00–7:45 pm: Family movie showing of Toy Story 5 (2026, PG)
Come hungry and thirsty! The Nest Café will serve delicious food and festive sips, including Frozen Candy Cane Lemonade.
Share the joy of reading: Bring gently used children’s books to The Bay to give them a new home in one of the Lending Libraries throughout the park.
Know Before You Go
- Free Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in front of the Van Wezel (777 N. Tamiami Trail), Municipal Auditorium and Blue Pagoda (655 N. Tamiami Trail), as well as along the north side of Blvd of the Arts and in the nearby Rosemary District. Please avoid parking on the south side of Blvd of the Arts and in designated Sarasota Orchestra parking areas.
- Pets: Well-behaved, non-aggressive pets are welcome and must remain on up to a 6-foot leash at all times. Pet owners are asked to pick up after their pets. For events held indoors, only service dogs are permitted.
- Safety: Please report any safety concerns to the Sarasota Police Department Non-Emergency Line, available 24 hours a day, at (941) 316-1199.
Weather Updates: In the event of inclement weather, this event will be CANCELLED. Updates will be shared on , , and up to one hour before the scheduled start time.
About Toy Story 5 (2026)
(PG) Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang are back -- and this time, it’s Toy meets Tech when a new tablet turns playtime upside down.
Stevey Jones -- affectionately known as "Mr. Stevey" -- is an award-winning teaching artist, certified mindfulness educator, and children’s book author dedicated to youth emotional well-being. As the founder of Stevey Studios LLC and a 2023 Appleton Award winner, he has spent over five years pioneering his method: a unique blend of early literacy, art education, and mindful play designed to help students "feel better so they can learn better."
Based in Tampa, Florida, Stevey partners with major foundations and smaller nonprofits to transform schools, parks, museums, and libraries into vibrant hubs of healing, resilience, and creative growth.
About Santa's Frosty Follies
Santa's Frosty Follies is a long-running, festive holiday production presented in the Sarasota area by the Signature School of the Arts.
Signature School of the Arts is a premier performing arts institution dedicated to excellence in dance, music, theater, and creative practice. We provide rigorous training grounded in classical foundations and informed by contemporary research in creativity and human development.
About Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation
Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s mission is to create and sustain a vibrant performing arts center, advance education, and enrich communities by inspiring minds through the power of the arts. The Foundation has partnered with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall since 1987 to support arts education throughout our region, serving more than 35,000 students and their families annually with enriching arts-based education opportunities and professional development for more than 400 teachers across five counties.
Give a Gift That Gives Twice!
This holiday season, every gift to The Bay is doubled thanks to the Gulf Coast Community Foundation $2 Million Challenge Match. Your support helps maintain, complete and sustain The Bay for everyone to enjoy today and for generations to come.
Click here to become a Friend of The Bay or renew your Friendship today.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.