On Saturday, Nov. 21, five holiday events stack onto one day at and around Kiener Plaza. A race goes off at 7:30 a.m. and the fireworks start at 7 p.m. Skating at the rink is free from open to close. In the afternoon a parade comes through, and at dusk the Salvation Army tree is lit.
For the rest of Winterfest's run, the igloos and the new curling bays sell in 90-minute blocks, and the foundation urges booking skating time ahead. That's the most useful fact about downtown's holidays in 2026. The day that asks the least of you is nine days away, and everything after it is easier with a plan.
Twelve and a half hours at Kiener Plaza
Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the nonprofit conservancy for Gateway Arch National Park and the downtown areas around it, opens its 11th Winterfest on Nov. 21. Here's how the day lays out.
| Time | What happens | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Winterfest 5K and 1-mile Fun Run/Walk start at Kiener Plaza | Gateway Arch Park Foundation |
| 8 a.m. | Ice rink opens with free skating all day, courtesy of Ameren | Winterfest |
| 2:00 p.m. | 42nd Thanks-For-Giving Parade | Celebrate St. Louis |
| 5:30 p.m. | Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights ceremony | Winterfest |
| 5:45 p.m. | The Salvation Army tree of lights is lit | Winterfest |
| 7:00 p.m. | Fireworks | Winterfest |
| 8 p.m. | Rink closes | Winterfest |
The 5K, now in its sixth year, is the only part of the day that needs registration. It starts at Kiener Plaza, runs past the Old Courthouse and through the grounds of Gateway Arch National Park, and finishes back at the plaza. The foundation bills it as the only official race through the national park, and the proceeds support the foundation's work.
Celebrate St. Louis produces the parade with Gateway Arch Park Foundation as its partner. Expect marching bands, drumlines, dance groups, musical floats and Santa's traditional closing appearance. Last year, Fox 2 reported that the route started at Market and 20th streets and ended at Kiener Plaza. So the parade finished right where the rink and tree lighting were waiting.
If you're coming from outside walking range, the race organizer lists Stadium as the nearest MetroLink station. For parking, it points to street parking around the plaza and the Kiener West and East garages. Foundation members at the Supporter level and above get free or discounted parking in the Kiener East Garage.
The schedule has one long gap, from the end of the parade to the 5:30 ceremony. That's where most of the day's dinner and drink decisions happen. More on that below.
From Nov. 22, the plaza runs on a booking clock
After opening day, Winterfest keeps fixed hours: 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends. It's closed Dec. 25 and open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 3. The plaza doesn't operate Monday through Wednesday.
Inside those hours, the igloos and curling bays are sold in 90-minute sessions, and the foundation says plainly to reserve ahead. Skate rentals can be bought on site, but the foundation "strongly" encourages booking skating time in advance. It gives the same advice for the new curling bays.
The prices line up once you divide by group size:
- Skate rental: $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 3 to 15. Skating is free if you bring your own skates, and kids skate free every Friday, courtesy of the St. Louis Blues.
- Heated igloo: from $100 for 90 minutes, seating up to six. A full group pays about $17 a person.
- Curling Cafe, new this year: $65 for a 90-minute session for up to four people per lane, or about $16 a person with a full group.
- S'mores kit: $18 for enough to make four s'mores, plus access to one of four fire pits.
The Curling Cafe is the one confirmed addition to the plaza for 2026. It has two bays, each under a tent with seating around a synthetic-ice lane set up for "street curling," a looser version of the sport. With only two lanes, there are only so many sessions in a four-hour Thursday evening.
The igloos are just as tight on weeknights. Thursdays and Fridays have two slots each, 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Weekends have four slots, starting at noon. Igloos don't allow outside food or drink. The foundation suggests booking your igloo for after your skating session so the 90 minutes aren't cut short.
Food on the plaza comes from the Winterfest Cafe. Ed's Food Shop and Pour Decisions are back for their 11th season, serving fresh-cut fries, chicken strips, crab Rangoon and egg rolls.
The free dates still ask for an RSVP
Winterfest's special-events calendar is free with a few exceptions, but space is limited, and the foundation says a free ticket may be required through its Eventbrite collection. Even the no-cost dates work better with a reservation.
- Sunday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Jan. 3, 10 a.m. to noon: St. Louis Blues Try Hockey Free sessions for local children, with registration through the Blues.
- Friday, Nov. 27, 5 to 7 p.m.: KMOV Great Day host Paige Hulsey reads her new holiday book, "Not-So-Ordinary Ornaments," and signs copies.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 2 to 6 p.m.: Frizz Fest Winter Market, with local makers and holiday shopping.
- Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5: A fashion mixer and industry panel from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, then a winter fashion show from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 to 5 p.m.: A free, all-ages journaling meetup hosted by STL Journal Collective.
- Thursday, Dec. 10, 4 to 8 p.m.: Chanukah @ The Arch in Kiener Plaza.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 3 to 5 p.m.: Ice Carvings + Holiday Market, with carvers at work and local vendors.
- Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 to 7 p.m.: An art gallery showcase on the plaza.
The Spirits Tasting on Dec. 26 is the exception. It's a paid, ticketed event sold through Winterfest's own checkout.
After 8 p.m., the season moves indoors and riverside
Winterfest closes at 8 p.m. every night it's open. Most of downtown's holiday pop-ups keep later hours, so a full evening often starts at the rink and ends somewhere else.
| Pop-up | Location | Dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sleigh Shed | The Train Shed at Union Station | Nov. 7 to Dec. 31 | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. |
| Holiday Lodge | Four Seasons | Nov. 27 to Jan. 3 | Sun–Thu 5–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5–11 p.m. |
| Tinsel Tavern | Sports & Social, Ballpark Village | Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 | Check venue |
| The Floating Sleigh | Tom Sawyer riverboat, 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. | Dec. 5 to 27 | Select Thu–Sun, 5–10 p.m. or 5 p.m.–midnight |
The Sleigh Shed is back for 2026 and will already be open by the time you read this. The Floating Sleigh is a 21-and-over dockside bar on the riverboat, with $10 adult admission. Explore St. Louis lists both the Four Seasons lodge and the Ballpark Village tavern among this year's holiday pop-up bars.
Union Station's holiday events page runs on its own schedule. The Polar Express train rides run Nov. 13 to Dec. 30, and the Elfie Express starts Nov. 14. Pancakes with Santa runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 24, and the O-Tannen Bar opens Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 30. An igloo package is offered Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 13 to Dec. 30, and Scuba Claus is also on the list.
City Museum's Weirdly Wonderful Holidays opens two days before the plaza, on Nov. 19, and runs through Jan. 3. It includes indoor and outdoor lights, Santa's Workshop, storytime with Mrs. Claus, holiday shows and seasonal food.
Filling the gap between the parade and the tree lighting
The 2 p.m. parade and the 5:30 p.m. ceremony leave an afternoon to fill on Nov. 21, and three of downtown's newer spots fit around it.
Wash Ave Food Hall at 1122 Washington Ave. soft-opened Nov. 3, as St. Louis Magazine reported. It covers 14,000 square feet with two bars and eight concepts: Arzola's Tacos y Más, Steve's Smash, Macis' Prime BBQ, 787 Subs, Little BAO, Troit, Conefection and Pretzel Pop. It's a good fit for a group that can't agree on one restaurant.
In Ballpark Village, The Clydesdale, Kevin Nashan's American tavern at 651 Clark Ave., opens at 11 a.m., and its bar stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. You can eat early, go to the fireworks and come back for a late drink.
For a sit-down dinner after the fireworks, St. Louis Magazine reported that Lorenzoz Restaurant & Lounge opened in August at 2005 Locust in Downtown West. It's a modern steakhouse and cocktail lounge, open 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Sunday.
If you watch the Winterfest calendar from your own windows every year, you already know what a busy downtown weekend looks like from a condo or loft. If you're wondering what that kind of location is worth on today's market, Adam Briggs can give you a straight answer based on recent downtown condo sales. Request a personalized home valuation with Adam.
