Winter Festivities Expanding Across Fountain District

Ice Rink Moving to Elm Street Plaza, Fountain Square Announces New Winterhaus Installation

CINCINNATI (August 14, 2025) – Downtown Cincinnati’s winter festivities are expanding this year, bringing even more holiday cheer to the Fountain District along 5th Street. One of the most notable changes is the relocation of the UC Health Ice Rink presented by Fifth Third Bank. The beloved winter tradition is moving from Fountain Square to the new Elm Street Plaza, located adjacent to the Convention Center, which is currently undergoing a $264 million renovation.

Made possible through a partnership between 3CDC, Fifth Third Bank, and UC Health, the region’s only adult academic health system, the ice rink is one example of a commitment to our region’s vibrancy and health through outdoor recreational experiences that support connection and wellness.

Elm Street Plaza is a two-and-a-half-acre outdoor park and venue that will transform a long-underutilized space into a dynamic urban destination for recreation, celebration, and cultural experiences in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. The modern park will be a city escape for locals and visitors alike, featuring lush greenspace and gardens, a dog park, an outdoor Pavilion Bar, public art, an interactive water feature in warm months, and an outdoor ice-skating rink through the winter. The space will become an extension of the convention center, serving as outdoor space that can be utilized by large events and meetings. When not in use by the convention center for events, the space will be programmed by 3CDC.

Opening in mid-November, the new ice rink at Elm Street Plaza will offer a bigger and better experience with more skating space, an upgraded WGU Warming Tent, cozy igloos and firepits. The rink and surrounding areas will be available for rentals, perfect for birthday parties and corporate events, and will remain open into February with a variety of programming.

Fountain Square will continue to be a hub of winter fun, hosting a new oversized tent called Winterhaus from mid-November through end of February. Winterhaus will offer daily programming, including both ticketed and free events, and can be rented for holiday parties, happy hours and even serve as a co-working space during the day. Notable events like Duke Energy’s Light Up The Square and YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Downtown Dazzle will continue to be held on Fountain Square, alongside the Duke Energy Tree. The Square will also feature enhanced holiday décor and lighting.

To connect these festive locations, Fifth Street from Elm to Vine Streets will be beautifully decorated and lit up, creating a magical winter corridor between Elm Street Plaza and Fountain Square. This vibrant stretch is home to a dozen restaurants and bars, including The Davidson, Marigold, Mita’s, and Vintage on Race. New establishments like Salazar and a soon-to-be-named bar will also be opening this winter, making the Fountain District the ultimate destination for celebrations and Uniquely Cincinnati dining this holiday season.

“This winter, we’re taking the magic of the holidays to a new level by expanding our celebrations across the Fountain District. The move of the UC Health Ice Rink presented by Fifth Third Bank to Elm Street Plaza allows us to create a bigger, better rink, truly enhancing the skating experience for our guests” said Christy Samad, Executive Vice President, Civic & Commercial Space Activation at 3CDC. “Meanwhile, Fountain Square will continue to sparkle as a holiday hot spot, featuring the Duke Energy Tree and our new Winterhaus tent. We’re excited to welcome the community downtown to make new memories while enjoying their favorite holiday traditions with a new twist.”

More information: ElmStreetPlazaCincy.com and MyFountainSquare.com.

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