TAMPA (November 2, 2017) – Tampa Downtown Partnership kicks off the holidays on November 17 with the ribbon cutting of Winter Village in Curtis Hixon Park, presented by USAmeriBank. Downtown Tampa’s only outdoor ice rink welcomes families and friends to share in this holiday tradition along the Tampa Riverwalk and Hillsborough River as Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is transformed with the sights, sounds, and activities of the holidays for children and adults of all ages.
“USAmeriBank is once again proud to be the presenting sponsor for Winter Village, bringing back a wonderful holiday experience to Tampa’s downtown,” says Joseph V. Chillura, CEO of USAmeriBank. “Being a part of something that brings joy to families and visitors, while showcasing Tampa, aligns well with our goal of providing meaningful, impactful support of our community.”
During its seven week installation, Winter Village will feature 10 boutiques from local craftspeople and purveyors as well as specialty drinks and treats to compliment the 5,000 square feet of real ice creating a holiday experience like no other. “Active and vibrant public spaces are an essential components to a thriving urban community. Winter Village Tampa is a premiere example of placemaking efforts at its best from the Tampa Downtown Partnership,” says Shaun Drinkard, Director of Placemaking for the Tampa Downtown Partnership. “The collective programming of recreation, food/beverage and retail staged in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park creates an impressive opportunity to showcase social and economic strengths in Downtown Tampa.” Tampa Downtown Partnership is also adding two new experiences to the installation this year through strategic partnerships with Tampa Theatre and TECO Line Streetcar. Presented in the Great Lawn of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa Theatre will present their Holiday Classic Series on Friday and Saturday evenings from November 17 through December 16.
“It is so exciting that Tampa Theatre is getting the restoration work it needs and deserves, but it wasn’t lost on us that shutting the building down for six weeks in November and December was going to displace a lot of our most popular programming, including our Holiday Classics Series,” says John Bell, president & CEO of Tampa Theatre. “Partnering with the Tampa Downtown Partnership to present the series as free family movies at Winter Village is the perfect way to keep this beloved holiday tradition uninterrupted, as well as introduce ourselves to a new audience that may never have ventured inside Tampa Theatre before.”
The TECO Line Streetcar has partnered with Tampa Downtown Partnership to offer a holiday experience aboard a themed Streetcar with the Winter Village Express. Riders can board the Winter Village Express at the Centro Ybor or Whiting Station during select Sundays between 3pm and 8pm to enjoy treats, music and activities during the non-stop ride.
“The Winter Village Express is a really creative opportunity to have holiday fun with kids on the streetcar, while connecting Downtown and Ybor City in meaningful ways is our goal,” says Michael English, TECO Line Streetcar Board President. Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park is also the site of the City of Tampa’s Tree Lighting on December 1, Santa Fest on December 2, Winter Wonder Ride presented by onbikes on December 9, a viewing spot for the Lighted Boat Parade on December 23, and many more holiday experiences.
“Winter Village brings an element of surprise with a real outdoor ice rink under palm trees and the pleasant temperatures of a winter Florida night,” says Drinkard.
Visit WinterVillageTampa.com for more information including hours of operation and ticketing. Follow @WinterVlgTampa on twitter and @WinterVillageTampa on Facebook for updates and alerts.
Link to article: https://www.tampabaynewswire.com/2017/11/02/tampa-downtown-partnership-announces-2017-2018-season-of-winter-village-in-curtis-hixon-park-62609
