ST. LOUIS — Winterfest, the holiday festival held at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis, booked its biggest year yet in its just-completed eighth year, officials said.
This season's six-week festival, held Nov. 18 through Dec. 31, was attended by 65,672, a 70% increase from 2022's event and 153% more attendees than 2021, according to the presenting Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Officials didn't immediately respond to a request for information about the count methodology.
The 2023 festival operated for 23 days, presenting 35 local vendors including seven food trucks, according to a release this week. Winterfest's ice rink entertained 11,535 ice skaters.
In addition to ice skating and s'mores stations, where officials said attendees consumed 567 s’mores packages, Winterfest offered private "igloo" rentals, a 5K run, hockey activities and a New Year's Eve fireworks display.
The event also hosted three marriage proposals, officials said.
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