Photography courtesy of Gateway Arch Park Foundation
This weekend, the holidays officially arrive at Kiener Plaza with Winterfest, the seasonal extravaganza that shows our city dressed to the nines. Lights, skating, s’mores, and more will converge to build lasting St. Louis memories. It’s the seventh year in downtown park for the festival, which runs weekends (4–8 p.m. Fridays, noon–8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays) from November 19–January 1. Visitors can ice skate in the glow of 70,000 lights, rent heated igloos, roast s’mores, and enjoy treats from the Winterfest Café, as well as shop at the Winter Market. Superheroes, princesses, and the St. Louis Blues join in the fun, too. Here's just a sample of what's on tap:
- Winterfest 5K: Bright and early this Saturday morning, November 19, lace up your sneakers to kick off the whole thing. The Winterfest 5K starts between Kiener Plaza and Gateway Arch National Park at 7:30 a.m. “Part of our mission is to bring people back to the grounds over and over, and to experience it in new and different ways,” says Camille Brooks, director of programming and events at the Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “Having them come down for the run, seeing the sun rise over the Arch is a really cool experience.”
- Winterfest Café: While there will be plenty of events throughout the festival, one of the biggest highlights will be the Winterfest Café, which will feature a new menu from chef Juwan Rice of JR's Gourmet. It will include some fun delicacies, such as spare rib tacos, snow chicken, and bacon chocolate chip cookie sandwiches created by De’Lish Emporium. There will also be festive cocktails from Pour Decisions. The menu will also debut “The Weekend,” an open-faced breakfast sandwich with a smashed, crispy-edge sausage patty, American cheese, and fried egg, topped with micro greens, drizzled with hot honey, and a dollop of avocado aioli atop a waffle. The breakfast sandwich will be available on Saturday mornings.
- Winter Market: There will be up to 10 local makers on hand next weekend—December 3 and 4, from noon to 8 p.m. “We want to make sure we highlight the city and all we have to offer,” Brooks says. And on December 3, the Winter Market will partner with Greater St. Louis, inc. for One Nation Day, which will highlight different cultures that St. Louis has to offer.
- Hockey: The St. Louis Blues, a partner in producing the festival, host three-on-three hockey classic tournaments and lessons on the fundamentals for kids.
- Holiday Lights & Fireworks: The lights are better than ever, with more to glow and new vignettes in the splash pad area. “Lights are like the fireworks on the Fourth of July!” Brooks says. “It’s really the thing that helps you feel like the holiday season is here, winter is here.” And for those who prefer actual fireworks, there will be a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve as well.
- Photo Ops: If you’re looking for the ideal photo for your holiday shot, Brooks recommends standing by the oversized wreath for the perfect St. Louis skyline shot.
Photography courtesy of Gateway Arch Park Foundation
Check the website for details on all of the happenings throughout the holiday season.
The event is sponsored by Bank of America and Worldwide Technology, while Ameren and the St. Louis Area Foodbank are the philanthropic partners. Bring a canned good for a dollar off skate rental.
