BEST BET: Holidays Around the Ranch

Lakewood Ranch will transform Main Street into a Winter Wonderland tonight for its annual Holidays Around the Ranch, which begins with Santa's arrival at 6 p.m.

The event will run from 6-9 p.m., Dec. 10, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Santa Claus will arrive by horse and carriage at 6 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony follows at 6:30 p.m.

Other festivities include pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, live music, skating on an acrylic ice rink, performances by several local dance teams, Dance Head videos, a Wii skiing competition and more.

For a optional $1 donation, guests also can try out the Marauder’s speed pitch game, which will be raising money for the Community Shoebox Reception event held from 3-6 p.m., Dec. 12, at the Polo Grill and Bar. Organizers will use the funds to purchase items for needy senior citizens for the holiday season.

During the Holidays Around the Ranch event, donations of non-perishable food will be collected for the Food Bank of Manatee as well as new or gently used children’s books for the food banks’ Royalty for Reading Program. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
6-6:05 p.m.: Gullett Dance Team
6:10-6:40 p.m.: Studio of Dance and Music
6:50-7:10 p.m.: Sarasota Youth Opera
7:15-7:35 p.m.: MSA Heat
7:40-7:45 p.m.: Imagine School’s Dance Team
7:50-8:10 p.m.: Jump Dance
8:15-8:20 p.m.: Willis Dance Team
8:25-8:35 p.m.: KC & the Sunshine Dancers
8:40-9 p.m.: Lakewood Ranch High School Silver Stars Dance Team