Go Walking In A Winter Wonderland At Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

TAMPA, FL — While chances of snowfall in Tampa this holiday season are slim to none, residents can still enjoy a winter wonderland at the Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive.

The park along the Tampa Riverwalk has been transformed into a winter wonderland that is open to the public through Jan. 5.

The family-friendly Winter Village attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. It features an 5,000-square-foot outdoor ice-skating rink along the Hillsborough River, holiday light shows choreographed to music and other activities.

The Shops of Winter Village feature 10 boutiques located in PODS containers, offering decorative items, apparel, handmade toys, jewelry and dog accessories.

Vendors, including Icicles Craft Kitchen, Kahwa Coffee and Forever Pops, will offer seasonal food and drinks at the village.

Ice skating tickets include 90 minutes of skating and skate rental. Tickets will be available at the ice rink entrance for $15.

Winter Village hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

The village will be open for extended hours during Hillsborough County's winter (Dec. 23-Jan. 3) break. It will also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and from 4 to 10 p.m. Christmas Day.

For the second year, the Winter Village Express will make its way from downtown’s Whiting Station to Ybor City and back on the TECO Line Streetcar.

Join returning hosts Bob and Gretchen Quackenbush for this one-hour, round-trip excursion that features a holiday sing-along, holiday trivia, milk and cookies, and other surprises along the way on Sundays through Dec. 22.

Service begins at 3:25 p.m. with a car leaving the station every hour until the last car at 7:25 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased through the Winter Village website.

Special activities at Winter Village:

• The ninth annual Winter Wonder Ride, a charity bike ride that funds the purchase of bikes and helmets for at-risk kids, will take place Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. There will be a post-ride celebration at Winter Village featuring headline entertainer Ceelo Green.
• The Friends of the Riverwalk Lighted Boat Parade will take place Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s presenting sponsor is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Additional sponsors are Tampa General Hospital, TECO, Bucs Care Foundation and the City of Tampa.