Living in the Sarasota and Longboat Key area is a truly amazing experience year-round. Anyone who has been here has fallen in love with the pristine white beaches, clear blue water, swaying palm trees and balmy weather. This area combines the best of tropical paradise and cultural life, offering a trendy downtown with great restaurants, various theaters, art galleries and botanical gardens.
But during the holiday season, the entire area takes on a magical aura. Because Lindahl Construction understands that choosing where to build your new custom home includes understanding your new city, we are taking a week off from construction talk to share some of our favorite Sarasota holiday traditions. We hope you enjoy celebrating the holidays , Florida style. 
You may think that because our holidays are sunny and warm, that we don’t know how to celebrate the season in style. To the contrary, our favorite Sarasota holiday traditions simply add a tropical twist that makes them truly unique. If you are new to the area or visiting for the first time, grab your flop flops and enjoy the festivities!
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- Holiday Lights at St. Armand’s Circle: On December 6, kick off the season with Christmas carols and our first visit from Santa, who arrives by sleigh and will be available for photos. The streets of St. Armand’s will be lit up and shops will be offering specials. But no matter how much fun you have browsing the storefronts, don’t miss the tree lighting and performance by the students from the Sarasota Academy of the Arts. Event runs from 5:30 PM-9 PM, but if you plan on eating dinner, reservations at any restaurants on the Circle are recommended. More information here.
- Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens: One of the most popular and beautiful venues in Sarasota is the exquisite Selby Botanical Gardens, home to one of the world’s foremost collections of exotic orchids. From December 14 through January 4, Selby Gardens presents a spectacular light display – one of the best in Florida. You are invited to tour the gardens, decked out in all their splendor with over 2 million lights, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. nightly. More information here.
- Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade: Main Street and Sarasota’s eclectic downtown is one of the most charming aspects of our town. The annual crowds are estimated at 25,000 but the feel is decidedly small-town. Along with traditional parade floats and participants, you can expect to see vintage circus wagons and performers to celebrate our heritage. Of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, of course – as will most of your new neighbors. The parade is December 7 and kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and lasts approximately two hours. More information here.
- The Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: This is one of our most unique and popular traditions, celebrating Christmas in a waterfront town! The floating festival takes place on December 14 and begins at 6:00 p.m. Sarasota Bay is illuminated by a fleet of brightly-lit boats, decorated by local residents and businesses alike. You’ll see entries ranging from small boats to luxury yachts, and enjoy fun holiday music wafting across the water. One of our most lighthearted and fun events, you don’t want to miss it. Show up early with a folding chair, best viewing is from Bayfront Park or Centennial Park. More information here.
Choosing where to build your new custom home depends on many factors, and quality of life is an important aspect of any lifestyle decision. Sarasota offers an incredible lifestyle all year-round. If you are sold on Longboat Key, Siesta Key or Sarasota for your new home, Lindahl Construction would welcome the opportunity to discuss your plans with you. We have been building quality homes and additions in this area for decades. We look forward to meeting you! Happy Holidays!