Curtis Hixon Park along the Tampa Riverwalk is getting its annual holiday makeover as Winter Village returns for the season on Friday, November 20. The free-to-attend event brings back its centerpiece real-ice skating rink, holiday shopping and seasonal food vendors, running through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
Winter Village is presented by the Tampa Bay Lightning and takes place along the Tampa Riverwalk, according to Osprey Observer. Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, said Winter Village celebrates Tampa Downtown's community, local businesses and public spaces. The event is free to attend and open to all ages, according to wintervillagetampa.com, though the ice rink requires a separate ticket.
Skating Costs and Rink Details
Skating tickets cost $17 for skaters over age 12 and $15 for children under 12, with each session covering 75 minutes of ice time and skate rental included. All skating visits must be reserved in advance by purchasing a timed ticket online, per the event's official site. Ice-skating and Winter Village Express tickets go on sale this Friday, November 6, according to the Tampa Downtown Partnership. College students with valid identification get $2 off skating rentals on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and the rink will host special ice-skating performances on select dates throughout the season.
Last season's rink offered the same 75-minute, $17 format, including skate rental, per reporting from Laker/Lutz News on the 2025 event. That earlier season ran under conflicting end dates in local coverage — Laker/Lutz News reported the 2025-26 run stretched from November 21, 2025, to January 4, 2026, while Bay News 9 reported the event stayed open through January 5, with special skating shows planned for opening weekend, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Shops, Food and Weekly Programming
The Shops of Winter Village will include eight full-season retailers, seven partial-season shops and 18 rotating vendors this year, selling handmade jewelry, apparel, home decor, candles, Tampa-themed gifts, baked goods and artwork. The shops are delivered by PODS Moving and Storage and feature a curated lineup of local small businesses. Last season, the shops spotlighted 70 local small businesses, up from 41 the year before, according to the same Laker/Lutz News report, which also noted the 2025 lineup included 10 full-season retailers, seven partial-season shops and more than 30 rotating vendors.
Food and beverage vendors this season include Hot Dog Fever, Whatever Pops, Blind Tiger and Gourmet Crepes and Coffee, offering coffee, pastries, crepes, empanadas and frozen treats. The first 100 shoppers at the Winter Village shop will receive a free commemorative tote bag. Weekly programming runs throughout the season, including silent discos, with Saturday night entertainment featuring live performances and holiday music from 7 to 8 p.m.
Shop Small Weekend and Character Visits
Shop Small Weekend returns Saturday and Sunday, November 28-29, from 1 to 4 p.m., highlighting young entrepreneurs both days. Last year's version of the event, held November 28 to 30, featured 18 additional small businesses, per Laker/Lutz News. The 2025 season also added accessibility features including a sensory relief zone described as a quiet retreat space for neurodiverse guests, according to the outlet's report on the event's 10th season.
Seasonal character visits take place on select Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., with Frosty, Elsa, Olaf, the Grinch and the Gingerbread Man making appearances. River of Lights cruises are also part of Winter Village.
Getting There: Streetcars, Scooters and Water Taxis
Visitors can reach Winter Village through nearby scooter and bike rentals, the Dash Tampa micro-transit service and the Pirate Water Taxi. The Winter Village Express adds a festive TECO Line Streetcar ride between Whiting Station and Ybor City, with tickets priced at $10 and advance reservations required. Both skating reservations and Winter Village Express tickets are available online, with ticket sales opening this Friday.
Winter Village is located at 600 N. Ashley Drive in Tampa, placing it within easy reach of downtown's growing mix of dining, shopping and riverfront attractions for the holiday season.
