Cone Health Winterfest Ice Skating Returns to LeBauer Park, Anchoring Downtown Greensboro’s Holiday Season
Outdoor ice skating runs mid-November through January 31, joined by the Festival of Lights, Holiday Parade, Jingle Jog, Santa visits and shop-local weekends in the heart of Greensboro
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Cone Health Winterfest Ice Skating, downtown Greensboro’s outdoor ice rink, returns to LeBauer Park in mid-November for an 11-week season that anchors more than two months of holiday events in the center city. Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) today announced the full lineup for Downtown in December, presented by Allegacy Financial, which pairs Winterfest with the Festival of Lights, the Greensboro Holiday Parade, the Jingle Jog, Santa visits at The Book Nook at Unfettered Books, and Small Business Saturday – a season-long invitation to skate, shop, dine and celebrate downtown.
Cone Health Winterfest Ice Skating opens the season and stays open through January 31, long after the other events wrap, with daily public skating, group outings, private rink rentals and themed nights. The season peaks December 4–6, when the Festival of Lights, the Holiday Parade and the Jingle Jog fall on three consecutive days. This year’s parade moves to a new 11 a.m. start on Saturday, December 5, giving families a full afternoon downtown and time to skate afterward.
“There is no better place to spend the holidays than downtown Greensboro,” said Rob Overman, Interim Executive Director of Downtown Greensboro Inc. “From the first skate at Winterfest to the last Santa visit before Christmas, we have something happening nearly every week. We want families to make downtown a habit this season. Come for the parade or the lights, stay for lunch, pick up a gift from a local shop and discover something new in our center city.”
Signature Events
Cone Health Winterfest Ice Skating – November 20 through January 31, LeBauer Park (208 N. Davie St.). Downtown’s outdoor ice rink runs longer than any other event of the season and is the easiest to build a visit around. Public skating is offered daily, with extended hours on weekends and school breaks. Admission is $15 per person including skate rental; season passes, group rates for 10 or more and private rink rentals for parties, teams and corporate outings are available. Themed skate nights and curling nights return on select evenings. Winterfest is presented by Cone Health in partnership with Greensboro Ice House and DGI. Opening day, hours and ticketing details will be announced in the coming days.
Festival of Lights – Friday, December 4, 5:30 p.m., Center City Park. Greensboro’s favorite holiday tradition brings the community together for the lighting of the community tree, live music and carolers, Santa and an evening of holiday shopping and dining along Elm Street.
Greensboro Holiday Parade – Saturday, December 5, 11 a.m. (new time). The parade kicks off downtown an hour earlier than in past years with its signature giant balloons, marching bands, floats and community groups. The earlier start leaves the afternoon open for lunch, shopping and skating downtown.
Ice Age Management Jingle Jog 5K and Fun Run – Sunday, December 6, 1:30 p.m. Runners and walkers of all ages close out the weekend with a festive 5K and one-mile fun run through downtown, presented with Junction 311 Endurance Sports. Registration is open at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Greensboro/DowntownJingleJog5K.
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books
Santa has a new downtown home this year. After a long run at the Biltmore Greensboro Hotel, Santa moves to Unfettered Books on Davie Street for seven visits across three December weekends, giving families an easy, no-cost way to see him while shopping downtown. Visits are Sunday, December 6, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Friday, December 11, 5–8 p.m.; Saturday, December 12, 2–5 p.m.; Sunday, December 13, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Friday, December 18, 5–8 p.m.; Saturday, December 19, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; and Sunday, December 20, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Shop, Dine and Support Downtown Businesses
Small Business Saturday – Saturday, November 28. Downtown’s locally owned shops and restaurants kick off the shopping season with specials and extended hours, and the City of Greensboro is providing free parking downtown for the day. Shoppers can also stretch their budgets with Boro Bucks, the downtown gift card accepted at participating businesses – and this year, buying them pays extra.
Boro Bucks Holiday BOGO, presented by Skyla Credit Union – Friday, November 20 through Thursday, December 31. Every Boro Bucks gift card purchased during the promotion comes with a 50% bonus gift card, courtesy of Skyla Credit Union. Buy $50 in Boro Bucks and receive an additional $25 to spend at participating downtown shops and restaurants. Purchase details will be shared at downtowngreensboro.org and on DGI’s social channels.
Holiday wrapping and windows along Elm Street. Downtown merchants will be dressing their storefronts for the season as part of a holiday window decorating contest, with details on how to vote shared on DGI’s social channels. Shoppers can also stop by gift wrapping stations at several locations along Elm Street to have their downtown purchases wrapped for free. Tips are encouraged, and station locations and hours will be announced on DGI’s social channels.
Holiday Season at a Glance
|
Date |
Event |
Time |
Location |
|
Nov. 20 – Jan. 31 |
Cone Health Winterfest Ice Skating |
Daily; hours to be announced |
LeBauer Park |
|
Nov. 20 – Dec. 31 |
Boro Bucks Holiday BOGO – 50% bonus gift card, presented by Skyla Credit Union |
Ongoing |
downtowngreensboro.org |
|
Sat., Nov. 28 |
Small Business Saturday – free downtown parking |
All day |
Downtown shops and restaurants |
|
Fri., Dec. 4 |
Festival of Lights |
5:30 p.m. (tree lighting at 6:56 p.m.) |
Center City Park |
|
Sat., Dec. 5 |
Greensboro Holiday Parade |
11 a.m. (new time) |
Downtown |
|
Sun., Dec. 6 |
Ice Age Management Jingle Jog 5K and Fun Run |
1:30 p.m. |
Downtown |
|
Sun., Dec. 6 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Fri., Dec. 11 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
5 – 8 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Sat., Dec. 12 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
2 – 5 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Sun., Dec. 13 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Fri., Dec. 18 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
5 – 8 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Sat., Dec. 19 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
|
Sun., Dec. 20 |
Santa’s Book Nook at Unfettered Books |
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
337 S. Davie St. |
Additional details on each event will be announced throughout the season. For the latest schedule, visit downtowngreensboro.org and follow Downtown Greensboro on social media. Downtown in December is made possible by presenting sponsor Allegacy Financial, ice skating presenting sponsor Cone Health, Boro Bucks Holiday BOGO sponsor Skyla Credit Union, Jingle Jog sponsor Ice Age Management, and the downtown businesses and partners who host events throughout the season.