Holidays at The Bay brings Hawaiian twist to holidays

By Ian Swaby
| 8:45 a.m. December 14, 2025

Lylah MacDonald, 6, hops along in the sack race.

Sarasota
Neighbors

As Santa Claus greeted kids and families, attendees also had Hawaiian leis draped over their shoulders.

A tropical element was part of this year's Holidays at The Bay, held Dec. 13, with the theme of "Holiday Hula."

Some of the other features of the event, the fourth annual Holidays at The Bay, included crafts with the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, a sack race Olympics, and a story suited to the season read by children's mindfulness educator Mr. Stevey (Stevey Jones).

Amid the event's showing of “Lilo & Stitch," attendees were welcome to wear hula skirts and Hawaiian attire in addition to ugly sweaters and festive apparel.

"It's really nice to be here," said Daniela Garcia, noting the offerings by Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and Mr. Stevey and Friends, which she said the family was always glad to be part of.

"It's a great community," she said.

River McMichael, 5, clears the cornhole board to start a round of the game.

Hailey Zhang, 1, plays with cones in the park grass.

Wenxiao Li and his son Eddy Li, 3, exchange a high-five and a kick.

Krasi Atanasov and Jon Selcuk enjoy a visit with Santa Claus.

Charlie Tavernier, 7, hops along in the sack race.

Jude Tomchinsky, 2, practices hula hoop tricks like rolling it backwards.

Mindfulness educator Stevey Jones (Mr. Stevey) leads kids in Mr. Stevey Storytime, encouraging them to imagine falling snowflakes.

Yana Kostyuk, 3, and Dominic Parker, 7, work on a craft project with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Claire Garcia, 5, works on the craft project with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Wendy Egan, Eliana Egan, 5, Santa Claus, Macallister Egan, 7 and Shawn Egan have a seat together.

Oversize ornaments and gummy bears adorn the area where Santa Claus greeted kids and families.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.