The holidays will be here before we know it, and South Florida’s first outdoor ice-skating rink is making its return to West Palm Beach, transforming The Ben Hotel grounds into a dreamland of twinkling lights and festive displays!
From November 1 through January 4, 2026, you can expect heaps of fun like live curling, Aspen-style chalets, pop-up shops, a holiday bar and weekly themed events like Live Music Saturdays and Santa Sundays. But at the center of it all is a 50-by-66-foot skating rink complete with real ice. How exactly does one achieve that in an ultra sunny region, you may ask? Well, the rink is powered by Ice America’s cutting-edge refrigeration system, which uses a series of aluminum coils to continuously keep the ice frozen.
A holiday tradition returns to downtown West Palm Beach
This is the second season the hotel hosts the beloved Winter Wonderland, following an impressive 30,000-skater turnout last year. There’s tons in store to make this year’s celebration even bigger and brighter, such as the debut of the Holiday Tree Forest, a grove of decorated trees in partnership with local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
On opening day, there will be a curling match on the ice featuring athletes from the Loggerhead Curling Club, alongside a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Keith James.
Aspen-inspired chalets and festive eats
Once you’re done gliding around the rink, you can make your way to a chalet vendor stand or the full-service holiday bar for a post-skate boost in the form of hot chocolate, s’mores and other seasonal treats.
It all goes down daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at The Ben Hotel in downtown West Palm Beach, located at 251 N Narcissus Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The all-ages experience will be free for non-skaters, with ticketed access for those who want to hit the ice. Skate rentals will also be available on site.
So lace up and get ready to experience a true taste of winter this Christmas! Learn more on their website.