Holiday Cheer at the St. Pete Pier: Join the Fun at the Winter Beach Festival
The St. Pete Pier celebrates the Holiday season by serving up a typical Florida winter with a side of “up north.” The headliner of our Winter Beach festivities, which run from November 20 to January 17, is a skating rink. In case you haven’t heard, there’s not much in the way of outdoor ice skating in West-Central Florida.
Winter Beach also features an outdoor Holiday Market, as well as an array of fun activities. Here’s a rundown of activities and delights that are sure to add to your Holiday cheer.
Skate Away
Just to be clear, The Winter Beach skating rink is the real item, with real ice. (Let us worry about things if the temps are in the high 70s.) This rink, however, will offer a 360-degree water view from the Pier, not to mention the downtown St. Pete skyline.
The skating rink features a full slate of theme nights: ‘90s Nights (Dec. 1 and 8), where you can skate to that decade’s memorable hits; Britney Night (Dec. 15); Country Night (Jan. 6); and a special New Year’s Eve Midnight Skate, with a fireworks show as the clock brings in 2022. Click here for a complete breakdown of the themed skate nights.
A few other things you should know about ice skating at the Pier:
- Individual tickets cost $17 for all ages, and can be purchased in advance. Your ticket includes up to 75 minutes of skate time, skate rental (although you can bring your own), sales tax and fees. Reduced rates are available for groups of 10 or more, and you can book private parties and events. Click here for full ticket info.
- There is no age restriction. Our motto is “if you can walk, you can skate.”
- Skating goes on in rainy or warm weather as long as conditions are safe.
- Parents can enter the rink area at no charge to chaperone their kids.
- No hockey sticks or pucks.
Skate hours vary, but each night ends at 11 p.m. (with the exception of New Year’s Eve.) Click here for the full schedule.
Here’s to ice skating in a short-sleeve shirt.
Shop ’til You Stop
Why worry about whether your gifts will be delivered on time when you can simply show up at the Pier, buy unique presents and bring them home? Our Winter Beach Holiday Market will feature a diverse array of local vendors, artists and the Winter Beach gift shop. You’ll browse under the sun or stars and hunt for gifts for loved ones (or yourself) that have a distinctive flair.
Stop by for a refuel at our food and drink stations. Vendors include: Kahwa Coffee Roasters (coffee, hot chocolate, signature drinks); Uncle John’s Pride (smoked turkey legs); Ling’s Dumplings (Asian food); Winter Beach (chicken tenders, corn dogs, fries, cheese fries, churros, pretzels); Good Humor (ice cream); Open Water (Coca-Cola beverages). There’s also a Corona Extra tent available during select days and special events. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits.
Click here for details and updates on vendors.
Wait, There’s More (Merriment)!
The Winter Beach festival piles on the fun with a variety of other activities:
Sat., Nov. 27, City of St. Petersburg’s Santa Parade & Tree Lighting — A Holiday tradition in the ‘Burg, the parade culminates with Mayor Rick Kriseman presiding over the ritual Christmas tree lighting in North Straub Park. The Pier’s own tree will also be lit up for the first time.
Let it Snow — Flakes will fall on select nights at the Winter Beach Holiday Market. It may stir a bit of nostalgia in some of you. Our visitors from up north may find themselves relieved that the snow won’t stick, and there’s no need to hunker down and break out the shovels.
Arcade — Test your skills and win terrific prizes at our gaming arcade.
Photo Booth — Pose for pics and share on social media.
Santa — Youngsters can write to Santa and drop it off in the Winter Beach North Pole Mailbox.