MANATEE COUNTY, FL (October 30, 2024) – Tickets on sale now for the Bradenton Area Convention Center’s new signature event, the European Holiday Market. Starting December 4 through December 8, the inaugural event will transform the convention center into a turn-of-the century European inspired city center, buzzing with market stalls and authentic holiday treats complete with a Gulf Coast twist.
Advanced tickets are $15 and available online or at the Manatee Performing Arts Center Box Office. Starting December 4, tickets will be $20 online, at the box office, or at the door. Children under the age of 8 enter for free. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special ticket pricing is available for veterans and educators on designated days.
“We’re ready to kick off the holiday season,” says Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This fully immersive experience is an ideal way to attract holiday shoppers and enthusiasts from the immediate Bradenton Area and Tampa Bay region as well as provide an additional attraction option for those already visiting our destination from out of town.”
European Holiday Market guests will enter the convention center and step into a simulated European train depot from the 1880s. Once guests exit “the depot” they will “arrive” at a quaint European village lined with artisans offering one-of-a-kind treasures.
Inspired by long-standing traditions and architecture of Germany, France and other European countries, guests will travel abroad through state-of-the-art stimulating technology, projecting the story of four characters finding their meaning of the holiday season.
European-inspired dishes with a Gulf Coast twist will be offered by local caterer Oscura and will include dishes like lamb meatball skewers, Bavarian pretzel bites, grilled bratwurst and Belgian waffles with chocolate. Anna Maria Oyster Bar will be serving the freshest local catch paired with festive holiday margaritas and more.
Artisan merchants will offer guests exquisite handmade items that will be sure to make for the perfect gift for the holidays. Some of the merchants include eco-friendly jewelry, hand crafted floral designs, and island inspired art and trinkets, to name a few.
Attendees will also enjoy interactive activities like holiday wreath-making as well as live performances featuring seasonal music and exquisite stage performances. Children will be welcomed to pose for a photo with Santa and his set of holiday friends.
The time to experience this one-of-a-kind event is now!
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About the European Holiday Market
The European Holiday Market, presented by the Bradenton Area Convention Center, is an immersive experience that transports visitors to the traditional markets of Europe, with a Gulf Coast twist unique to the Bradenton Area and its nearby islands just a stone’s throw away. From December 4 through December 8, attendees will enjoy artisans selling seasonal treasures, European-inspired delicacies, festive beverages, interactive activities, live stage productions and immersive video projections, and entertainment from professionals. Bringing old-world charm to Florida shores, the European Holiday Market will evoke the traditions, sights, sounds, and tastes of Europe on Florida's west coast.