Winterfest

Bookings are available on the following times/dates:

November 19 – January 1: 

• Fridays from 4 – 8 p.m.
  Reservations available:
  • 4-5:30 p.m.
  • 6-7:30 p.m.
     
• Saturdays and Sundays from 2 – 8 p.m.
  Reservations available:
  • 2-3:30 p.m.
  • 4-5:30 p.m.
  • 6-7:30 p.m.

CLOSED: December 25

Extended Hours

• December 26 – January 1:
  • Igloos open daily from 2 – 8 p.m.

Igloos are thoroughly cleaned between each visit.

Igloos cost $250 for one reservation (up to four people).

Upgrade your igloo experience with one or more of the following packages:

Birthday Celebration, $50

• Banner that reads "Happy Birthday"
• Three noise makers
• Three party blowouts
• Three party hats 
• Six cookies

Deluxe Package, $75 (perfect for an anniversary or special occasion)

• One bottle of champagne
• Four Winterfest logo glasses to take home
• Streamers hanging in igloo
• Six gourmet cookies (include Dave's double chip, lemon heaven, cocoa blss, sweet Sally's sugar, oatmeal crannie, and chocolate chip chookie dipped in white chocolate and topped with red Holly berry leaves)

Holiday Package, $50

• Four pairs of 3-D holiday eyeglasses
• Four plush Santa hats 
• Six chocolate chip cookies dipped in white chocolate and topped with red and green Holly berry leaves

Gateway Arch Park Foundation is excited to welcome you to Winterfest’s Igloo Village!

I'm having issues making my reservation. Whom should I call?

Please call our ticketing partner at GatewayArch.com at (877) 982-1410.

Where do I check in for my igloo?

There will be an igloo check-in station next to the Skate Shack (box office) in Kiener Plaza, near the ice rink entrance and the bright green Visitor Services Building. Look for the green and white Gateway Arch Park Foundation tent. Please arrive to check in no earlier than 10 minutes before your reservation begins.

At check in, you’ll receive up to four wristbands, which are required to enter the Igloo Village (at your reserved time) and the ice rink. The wristbands, however, do allow you to skate any time the same day as your igloo rental. Wristbands are not transferable and cannot be resold.

You’ll also receive access to a Winterfest locker if you choose, where you are welcome to store personal items throughout the day of your reservation.

When does my igloo rental begin/end?

Your 1.5-hour igloo rental begins at your selected reservation time, which can be found on your confirmation email or electronic ticket. Our igloos are very popular, and time cannot be extended beyond your time slot. Please allow for extra time to accommodate parking accordingly.

Your rental ends promptly at the end of 1.5 hours following the reservation time (i.e., for a 2 p.m. reservation, it will end promptly at 3:30 p.m., no matter what time guests first arrived), in order to allow for a thorough cleaning before the next rental begins.

What is included in my igloo rental?

Igloos feature comfortable seating for up to four people in a heated, LED-lit cozy enclosure for 1.5 hours. The igloos are situated in the center of Kiener Plaza overlooking the holiday festivities and will have holiday music playing inside. Your igloo rental includes:

• $50 food and beverage credit to use at the Winterfest Café featuring JR’s Gourmet, with a VIP service area especially for igloo guests. Please do tip your server as the credit does not include a tip, and no change can be given for any unused portion of your credit.
• A parking pass for one (1) vehicle at Kiener West Garage. To access this garage, enter on 7th Street between Chestnut and Pine. Please allow enough time to get to your igloo on time. If your igloo party has more than one vehicle, find general Winterfest parking at both Kiener East and Kiener West Garages; more info at archpark.org/winterfest.
• Up to four Winterfest ice skate rentals that can be used anytime during the day of your igloo reservation. (Note: Children skate free on Fridays, courtesy of the St. Louis Blues. A wristband is still required for all skaters.)

How can we upgrade our igloo experience?

All upgrades must be done in advance when you make your reservation. We are excited to offer the following upgrades:

• Winterfest blanket, $20 (may also be purchased on-site at Skate Shack or at check-in depending on availability)
• Birthday Celebration, $50 (includes banner that reads "Happy Birthday", three noise makers, three party blowouts, three party hats, six gourmet cookies)
• Deluxe Package, $75 (includes one bottle of champagne, four Winterfest logo glasses to take home, streamers hanging in igloo, six gourmet cookies (include Dave's double chip, lemon heaven, cocoa bliss, sweet Sally's sugar, oatmeal crannie, and chocolate chip cookie dipped in white chocolate and topped with red Holly berry leaves)
• Holiday Package, $50 (includes four pairs of 3-D holiday eyeglasses, four plush Santa hats , six gourmet chocolate chip cookies dipped in white chocolate and topped with red and green Holly berry leaves)

Can the music system be adjusted?

Unfortunately, the music system playing holiday favorites cannot be adjusted.

Can I order food and drinks from my igloo?

Yes! A catering staff member will serve as your host/waiter. Each igloo has a call button inside for service.

Juwan Rice (JR) is chef and owner of JR’s Gourmet, a private dining and catering company.

A St. Louis native, Rice started cooking when he was just 6 years old. By age 12 he had begun selling his baked goods and distributing his own business cards and at age 14 founded JR’s Gourmet as a licensed catering business. From there, he gained experience working in the kitchens of country clubs, casinos and prominent restaurants and received mentoring from chefs around the region, cultivating his passion for culinary arts and creative, high-end dining.

In 2020, Rice founded Feeding the Frontline STL, a crowd-funded project that provided more than 2,000 healthcare workers around the St. Louis area with hearty and home-cooked meals. Rice has been featured on the Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Flavortown” hosted by Guy Fieri, and he has been profiled in Feast Magazine, Sauce Magazine and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, among other publications. He's also competed in the World Food Championships in Dallas.

In 2021, Rice launced another company, JRice Spice, a creative spice company that sells blends to make cooking fun and easy. As if that weren’t enough, Rice also is a food/freelance photographer, content creator and “just overall creative.” 

Learn more about the partnership between Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Rice in our fall newsletter.

We can't wait for our Winterfest guests to experience the Winterfest Cafe featuring JR's Gourmet for themselves!

Every aspect of the Winterfest Café featuring JR’s Gourmet has been thoughtfully curated by Chef Juwan Rice.

Natural Tableware: In keeping with Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s mission pillar of environmental conservation, Rice has engaged Natural Tableware to supply the cutlery and other tableware items for guests. This company’s North American operations is based right here in St. Louis. The company utilizes high design, professional grade, disposable plates, bowls, cups, straws and cutlery that are compostable and biodegradable.

Pour Decisions STL: Pour Decisions STL is teaming up with JR’s Gourmet to offer Winterfest guests an exceptional cocktail experience. Helmed by Javia Gilliam-Sanford and Kaje Sanford, Pour Decisions STL is a mobile bar that offers elevated alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails throughout the St. Louis area. The Black-owned business began in 2020 after Gilliam-Sanford lost her job during the pandemic and the couple wanted to create more positive educational cocktail experiences for the public and engage the community in a meaningful way.

Work & Leisure: Located in Midtown St. Louis, Work & Leisure is a non-traditional, 5,000 sq. ft. event venue offering a customizable floor layout, three bar areas, bocce ball, shuffle board, staging and much more. The small business is consistently in front of trends and focused on craft and healthful offerings. For the Winterfest Cafe, Work & Leisure is supplying staffing support to make the ordering process a seamless experience for our guests.

Delish Emporium: Delish Emporium is partnering with JR’s Gourmet to offer Winterfest guests exquisite, handcrafted desserts. Led by Jay Sweets and Bri Delights, the business is a Benton Park staple with an emphasis on connecting to traditional desserts from the past updated to today’s world.

Larson’s Medical Supply: This woman-owned business run by Nicole Larson is teaming up with JR’s Gourmet to provide first aid and Covid-19 testing to the food and beverage team, ensuring kitchen safety is a no. 1 priority every day of the Winterfest season. Larson’s Medical Supply sets the gold standard for the hospitality industry and in St. Louis also works with YMCAs, Bi-State Development, and dozens of other businesses.

UnLtd Ventures: Founded by Timothy Christian, president, UnLtd Ventures is a brand and culinary product development and go-to-market business that has teamed up with JR’s Gourmet to produce this year’s Winterfest Café lineup. It is a state partner with the World Food Championships (WFC) and organizer of the WFC Show Me Series in St. Louis, Springfield and Waynesville.

DJ: 4-8 p.m.
MegaLux Photo 360 Booth: 4-8 p.m.
Tiana and Mirabel: 6-7 p.m.
Fire Dancers: 6-8 p.m. 
Figure Skating Showcase: 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks: 8 p.m.

Party decorations, 3-D glasses, and glow products handed out 4-8 p.m. while supplies last.

Ice rink will be closed to public at 7:30 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 2: Ugly Holiday Sweater Night
• Friday, Dec. 9: Holiday "Carol-oke"
• Friday, Dec. 16: College Night
• Friday, Dec. 23: Merry Mixology (featuring holiday-themed cocktail flights)

Sunday, Nov. 20

Lesson Times:
Session 1: 10 a.m.
Session 2: 11 a.m. at capacity

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Lesson Times:
Session 1: 10 a.m.
Session 2: 11 a.m.
Register here.

Sports

Wear your favorite team's paraphernalia for $1 off skate rentals! 

Be on the lookout for Cardinals ticket giveaways throughout the day, and visit the official merchandise truck of the St. Louis Blues for the most up-to-date hockey goods!

We'll also have booths and activities by St. Louis CITY SC and St. Louis Surge Women's Basketball!

Enjoy cameos from:

• Louie (2-3 p.m.)
• Fredbird (3-4 p.m.)
• Cardinals alumni Kerry Robinson and Danny Cox

Culture

Visit the International Institute booth to learn more about their work and the various immigrant communities that make St. Louis unique. Look for goods from STL Art Works featuring paintings of the African diaspora.

Retail

Learn more about the Winter Market, also happening on One Nation Day in partnership with Greater St. Louis, Inc.!

Experience our hometown national park in a new way! The route includes magnificent views, with a journey past Kiener Plaza and the Old Courthouse and through the beautiful grounds of Gateway Arch National Park. It doesn't get more "St. Louis" than this!

This race is the only official race through Gateway Arch National Park and the only one to also support the park! Proceeds benefit Gateway Arch Park Foundation's mission of conservation, preservation, education, and community programs at and around our hometown national park.

The Winterfest 5K is produced in partnership with Big River Running.