Photo courtesy of Hannah Walls.
By Hannah Walls
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa’s Winter Village is returning to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park this holiday season, marking its 10th year of bringing ice skating, festive lights, and local shopping to downtown visitors.
The annual event, organized by the Tampa Downtown Partnership, will run from Nov. 22 through Jan. 5, featuring the open-air ice rink, holiday market with local vendors, and the Winter Village Express train that travels along the Riverwalk.
“Winter Village has grown from a small community gathering into a cherished Tampa tradition that brings families, friends, and visitors together in Tampa’s Downtown,” said Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
New this season, organizers are expanding the market lineup and adding themed skating nights to celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary. The park will also feature updated decorations and live entertainment on select weekends.
The Winter Village’s official Instagram account has shared ten tips in honor of the event’s 10th anniversary.
According to the account, the top three tips for visitors are to bundle up, “the rink is chilly but the vibes are warm,” try the hot cocoa, which they call “a game changer,” and catch the nightly light show.
Winter Village will be open daily through Jan. 5, with skating sessions available by reservation and tickets sold online. Admission to the park is free, but activities such as skating and the Winter Village Express require tickets.
As the event marks a decade downtown, many Tampa residents say Winter Village has become a cherished part of their holiday routine.
“I’ve attended Winter Village every year that I’ve been in Tampa,” said Sophia Romana, a junior at the University of Tampa. “It is something that I look forward to each holiday season, and I’m excited to see what they do for their tenth year.”
As the event celebrates its tenth anniversary downtown, organizers are offering a unique way for visitors to mark the milestone.
Winter Village will kick off its 10th season with a special Time Capsule celebration. Guests are invited to bring photos from past visits or take a new Polaroid on site to include in a capsule that will remain sealed until the event’s 20th anniversary in 2035.
This year, Winter Village is also adding new accessibility features, including a Sensory Relief Zone for neurodiverse guests, CARD-certified staff, widened pathways, improved ADA access, and multilingual signage in English, Spanish, and enhanced text for low-visibility readers.
In addition to skating and the Time Capsule Celebration, the event includes a holiday market, food and beverage vendors, and themed entertainment on select nights.
This year’s Winter Village will feature more than 70 local small businesses, an increase from 41 vendors last season, according to the Tampa Downtown Partnership. The holiday market features 10 full-season retailers, seven partial-season shops, and over 30 rotating vendors throughout the event.
“For our 10th anniversary, we’re celebrating not just the holiday season. This is a celebration of the people, small businesses, and partnerships that make this event so special,” Hairston-Bridges said. Visitors can find more information, reserve skating sessions, and view the full vendor lineup at www.wintervillagetampa.com.