Christmas in Cortez

The Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) invites you to get in the holiday spirit at our fourth annual Christmas in Cortez festival! This FREE family-friendly event will be held Saturday, December 14th, 1pm – 4pm. This December marks a special chapter in our celebration’s history, as we unite with the Anna Maria Island Privateers to create an extraordinary joint community event.

Following the unprecedented impact of multiple hurricanes, we have joined forces with the Friends of FMM, Cortez Village Historical Society, and the Anna Maria Island Privateers to celebrate the season, as well as the resilience of our coastal communities. Since the Privateers’ traditional event couldn’t take place on the island due to storm damage, we are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to blend two beloved holiday traditions into one memorable celebration. Not only can festival-goers dress up like a pirate for a pictures and games at their awesome pirate ship, but the Privateers also have a Christmas gift for each child who attends. On the grounds, visitors can make their own holiday crafts, play lawn games, and jump around in the bounce house. Inside the Cortez Cultural Center, families can experience a special one-on-one meeting and photo session with the big man himself: Santa! Kids of all ages will enjoy playing with our old-fashioned wooden toys and listening to the Cortez jammers folksy tunes on the porch of the Bratton store.

Admission, parking, and all activities are FREE. Event parking is available at the F.I.S.H. Preserve located at Cortez Road and 116th Street (directly east of FMM). Refreshments are not available on-site, but food and drink are available for purchase at the many amazing restaurants located just a short stroll from museum grounds. The museum is currently closed for a structural rehabilitation of the historic building and will not be accessible during the event on Saturday, December 14th.