While we wait for high temperatures to dip below 85 degrees, there’s plenty to daydream about in the weeks ahead. The St. Petersburg Downtown Improvement District announced the upcoming debut of Winter Wonder, a holiday-themed experience that will transform Downtown’s Williams Park (350 2nd Ave N) for the holiday season.
The highlight of the open-air experience will be a full ice skating rink located in front of the stage on the north end of the park, joined by a makers market, food and drinks, live entertainment and family activities throughout its six-week run. Winter Wonder will take place November 20 through January 3, all made possible through support from Duke Energy.
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Admission to the skating rink will be $18 for adults, and reservations are open now. We’re already eyeing the Two-for-Tuesday, where each ticket is only $9. You can also get a full season pass for $65 and skate the night away whenever you feel so moved. The park and Winter Wonder area will be free and open to the public, with only the ice skating being ticketed.
Ice skating will be open seven days a week, running from 6-10 pm Monday-Friday and 2-10 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The full market, alongside food and beverage and other activities, will be open Thursday-Sunday.
The market will be a showcase of local businesses, while Winter Wonder’s Food & Beverage Commons will offer a variety of seasonal favorites including food, desserts, specialty coffees, cocktails, beer and wine. Community performances and family programming will take place throughout the season.
The Winter Wonder experience is part of a broader effort to revitalize and activate Williams Park, which is one of the city’s oldest public parks. Construction is nearly complete on the park’s new bandshell and Winter Wonder will be one of the first activations for the updated facility.
“Winter Wonder is an opportunity to experience Williams Park in a new way,” said Shaun Drinkard, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Improvement District. “We want people to come skate, shop with local businesses, enjoy some food and drinks in the park. Over six weeks, we’ll also learn what draws people here and how to make this historic public space more active throughout the year.”
