Families celebrate Christmas with the bears

A Country Bear Christmas was hosted Dec. 16 at the Bearadise Ranch Bear Preserve

  • By Kayleigh Omang
  • | 9:31 a.m. December 16, 2018
  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Lions, tigers and bears oh my!

Or more like, bears, elephants and alligators oh my! at the Bearaside Ranch Bear Preserve's Country Bear Christmas Dec. 15. 

At the ranch, families were able to participate in activities such as pony rides, face painting, viewing the bears, elephant rides and visits with Santa. 

Marc Murray, Diana McCourt, Noah Murray, Eryn Murray and Bjorn Welde Thomas
Marc Murray, Diana McCourt, Noah Murray, Eryn Murray and Bjorn Welde Thomas
Kids pick at clovers while they wait for the elephant to come out.
Kids pick at clovers while they wait for the elephant to come out.
A country band played on the lawn.
A country band played on the lawn.
The bears played with the barrel to get cookies out of the holes.
The bears played with the barrel to get cookies out of the holes.
Chief the pony gave children pony rides.
Chief the pony gave children pony rides.
Delilah Donoho grills lunch.
Delilah Donoho grills lunch.
Mike Caruthers shows guests his alligator.
Mike Caruthers shows guests his alligator.
The albino American Alligator is seven years old.
The albino American Alligator is seven years old.
Cherylann Haley poses for a photo with the bear.
Cherylann Haley poses for a photo with the bear.
Santa Tony
Santa Tony
Jay Hudsen refills his snowcone.
Jay Hudsen refills his snowcone.
CEO and President Monica Welde smiles as she gives tractor rides.
CEO and President Monica Welde smiles as she gives tractor rides.
The elephant gave rides throughout the day.
The elephant gave rides throughout the day.
Aubriana Elwell gets her face painted.
Aubriana Elwell gets her face painted.

 

Latest News

The 1,475 square foot Udermann house has been partially raised using about 50 hydraulic jacks in The Village in Longboat Key. It currently sits 4 and a half feet up and will eventually be raised to 12 feet.
  • July 4, 2026
Town may encourage home raising through code amendment
State Rep. James Buchanan was one of the driving forces behind a one-year accommodation in a state tax bill that requires either county governments to cover any fees associated with collecting voter-approved school taxes or to waive those fees.
  • July 4, 2026
Buchanan proposal on school-tax fees now law
A rendering of the Fruitville Road elevation of the 1899 Fruitville project.
  • July 3, 2026
1899 Fruitville apartment development advances
Changes to the city of Sarasota's public parking program means longer enforcement hours and higher fines.
  • July 2, 2026
City parking changes are now in effect

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content