Tampa Winter Village ice skating: dates, tickets, parking

Winter Village, downtown Tampa’s outdoor ice rink and holiday market at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, is coming back for 2026. The opening date and skating tickets are not posted yet. Last season it opened Nov. 21, and skating cost $17 with skates included.

Last checked Oct. 15, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Winter Village site and its 2025 season listing, and the Friends of Tampa Recreation Santa Fest page.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership, the nonprofit that runs Winter Village, presented by the Tampa Bay Lightning, has posted its 2026 weekend events but not the opening night. Its site says “Coming Soon!” and “Tickets coming soon!” We will add the dates and rink hours as soon as they are out.

Know before you go

• Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, on the Tampa Riverwalk
• When: 2026 opening date to be announced; last season opened Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
• Skating: $17, or $15 under 12, skates and 75 minutes on the ice included, per the village’s site
• Tickets: timed, online only, non-refundable; not on sale yet
• Free: entry to the village, the shops and the cafe area
• Rink hours and weather closures: posted on the Winter Village Facebook page

Is Winter Village on this year?

Yes. The Downtown Partnership’s site lists 2026 events at the village: a Shop Small Weekend on Friday to Sunday, Nov. 27-29, and Tampa’s Santa Fest and Tree Lighting in the park on Saturday, Dec. 5. What is missing is the opening date, the rink hours and the ticket link. Last season, the village’s 10th, opened Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, and ran into early January, according to the partnership’s 2025 listing.

Ice skating: prices and tickets

From the Winter Village site:

• $17 per skater, skate rental included
• $15 for children under 12, skate rental included
• 75 minutes of skating per ticket
• Timed tickets, bought online. Walk-ups are shown a QR code to buy on their phone; if the current session is full, the next open times are offered.
• Waivers: each skater signs one online before the e-ticket arrives.
• No refunds and no transfers. Ticket questions go to the email address on the village’s site.
• College Night: $2 off skating on Thursdays for college students.

The organizer has not said whether 2026 prices will change, so check the ticket page when it opens.

What else is at the village

• The Shops of Winter Village: local makers and small businesses selling from PODS containers in a market layout.
• The cafe: hours and menu still “coming soon.”
• Silent Disco: free headphones from the information kiosk, with a valid ID, during village hours.
• Ice skating shows on select nights; dates to come.
• Winter Village Express: a 50-minute round trip on the TECO Line Streetcar from downtown’s Whiting Station to Ybor City and back, with a holiday sing-along, trivia and milk and cookies. Tickets to come.
• River of Lights cruises on the Pirate Water Taxi, leaving from the village’s stop to see the holiday lights along the Hillsborough River (cruise page).

Weekly nights

Dates at the village this season

Santa Fest details and the parade route are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page; the boat parade is on our holiday lights page.

Parking and getting there

• Garage: the organizer points to the William F. Poe Parking Garage, just north of Curtis Hixon Park, and other city garages and lots close by, at what it calls a “nominal rate.”
• Meters: downtown street parking is paid 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days. Rates and the rest are in our getting around guide.
• Without a car: the free TECO Line Streetcar, the Pirate Water Taxi and the Riverwalk all reach the park. On parade days, check our road construction and closures page.

Dogs

Leashed dogs are welcome on the Riverwalk, in the dog park next to the village and in the village event areas. They are not allowed on the ice.

What this means for you

• Skating tickets are timed and sell online; book as soon as they open, especially for weekends and the week of Christmas.
• Budget $17 a skater, or $15 under 12, if last year’s prices hold.
• Pair a skate with Santa Fest on Dec. 5 or the boat parade on Dec. 19, both free.
• The organizer posts rink hours and real-time updates on the village’s Facebook page; check it before you go.

More: holiday lights and Christmas events, the Nutcracker in Tampa and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When does Winter Village open in Tampa in 2026?

The Tampa Downtown Partnership has not posted the 2026 opening date; its site says Coming Soon and tickets are not on sale yet. Last season Winter Village opened Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, and ran into early January.

How much is ice skating at Winter Village?

The Winter Village site lists $17 per skater and $15 for children under 12, with skate rental and 75 minutes on the ice included. Tickets are timed, sold online only and are non-refundable.

Is Winter Village free?

Yes. Walking around the village, the shops and the cafe area is free. Only ice skating, and extras like the Winter Village Express streetcar ride, need a ticket.

Where do you park for Winter Village?

The organizer points to the William F. Poe Parking Garage just north of Curtis Hixon Park and other city garages and lots nearby. You can also arrive by the TECO Line Streetcar, the Pirate Water Taxi or on foot along the Riverwalk.

Can I bring my dog to Winter Village?

Leashed dogs are welcome in the village event areas and the dog park next door, but not on the ice rink, the organizer says.