The ice is already down at 251 N. Narcissus Ave. The Ben's outdoor rink opened on November 1 and runs every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through January 3, 2027. Admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 4 to 10. This is the rink's third season. According to The Palm Beach Post's 2026-27 events guide, this year's rink is larger than last year's, which drew more than 30,000 skaters.
The city's sand tree won't light for another three weeks. The season starts away from the Great Lawn: at a hotel rink, at a Saturday market, at the zoo on Summit Boulevard and on Northwood Road on Black Friday. By the time Sandi lights on Thursday, December 3, the season is about halfway through. The rest of December follows a set weekly pattern on the waterfront, with a few nights spent elsewhere in the city.
The rink opened November 1, a block off the waterfront
The Ben's Winter Wonderland is more than a rink. The Post describes holiday cocktails, seasonal treats and holiday shopping set up around the hotel's waterfront grounds, and says the rink can be booked for private events. General manager Bernardo Neto told the Post that "what began as a new holiday experience has become a tradition that brings families, friends and visitors together at The Ben during one of the most special times of the year." Its run is longer than the city's own program. The rink opens four weeks before Holiday in Paradise begins and stays open three days after it ends.
Downtown also has a new place to stay this season. The Nora Hotel opened October 19 in the Nora District, which takes its name from North Railroad Avenue. It has 201 rooms behind a facade inspired by Addison Mizner. The rooftop pool bar is Lilly's, the ground-floor bar is Jack's Bar, and the spa is the first Sisley Spa in Florida. AFAR reported that hotelier Sean MacPherson wants the Nora to serve as the city's living room, as his New York hotels do. He also named the West Palm Beach GreenMarket as one of the things he recommends in town.
Saturdays at 100 N. Clematis come before the tree does
Sandi's future spot is already busy every week. The GreenMarket's 32nd season opened October 3 at 100 N. Clematis St. It runs Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through May 22, 2027, except February 6 and March 20. The city's season announcement lists five new vendors: Ba Café, Arya Tea Bar, Macaroner, Sayblee Products and Truffle Smiles. It also scheduled the market's Master Chef Showcase to start this Saturday, November 14.
For a Saturday morning downtown, parking at the market is the easiest of the season. The City Center, Clematis and Sapodilla garages are free during market hours. Banyan and Evernia charge the $5 all-day weekend rate. Banyan and Evernia matter again in December, because the city lists them as the closest garages to the holiday events on the waterfront.
Summit Boulevard lights up a week before Black Friday
Zoo Lights: Magic in the Wild returns to the Palm Beach Zoo at 1301 Summit Blvd. from November 20 through January 3, 2027. This is its eighth year. The Post describes three parts. The Holiday Wonderland has traditional light displays and a visit with Santa. The Polar Wonderland projects images of the Arctic, the Antarctic and the aurora borealis. A bioluminescent Glowing Farewell closes the walk. Times and prices are on the Palm Beach Zoo's website.
When Zoo Lights opens on November 20, West Palm Beach will already have a skating rink and seven Saturday markets behind it. The city's official holiday program won't start for another week.
Black Friday belongs to Northwood Road
Holiday in Paradise runs November 27 through December 31 under the theme "The Art of the Holidays." It begins on Northwood Road, not on the waterfront. Nights in Northwood Village runs Friday, November 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. on the 400 block of Northwood Road. It is free, Jam-X The Band is playing, and the city says more than 50 vendors and local merchants will sell gifts, handmade goods, fashion, art and vintage finds. Nights in Northwood happens four times a year. This edition falls on the year's biggest shopping night and serves as the opening event of the holiday program.
The Black Friday crowd will be walking past the neighborhood's permanent businesses. The Historic Northwood Village directory lists shops such as Wendell Gallery at 411 24th Street, ArtWorks of Northwood at 575 25th Street, Soulmates Music Record Store, Northwood Glass Art, Nowlin Flower Shop and Northwood Antiques & Design Palm Beach. For dinner, the district's dining list includes Celona Restaurant & Gin Lounge, Malakor Thai Café, Grilled Cheese Gallery, Mestizo Fusion Cuisine, Souvlaki Grill and Palm Beach Lobsters & Seafood.
You can get from Northwood to downtown without driving. The city's West Palm Move fixed route costs $1, runs every 10 minutes between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village, and passes the downtown waterfront along the way. On-demand rides cost $2.
The December calendar, night by night
Starting December 3, the waterfront runs on a schedule you can plan around. Here is the whole calendar, including the early events above:
| Date | Event | Where | Time and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1 to Jan. 3 | The Ben's Winter Wonderland | 251 N. Narcissus Ave. | Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; $30 adults, $15 ages 4 to 10 |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | GreenMarket Master Chef Showcase starts | 100 N. Clematis St. | Market hours 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 20 to Jan. 3 | Zoo Lights: Magic in the Wild | 1301 Summit Blvd. | See palmbeachzoo.org |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Nights in Northwood Village | 400 block of Northwood Road | 6 to 9 p.m.; free |
| Thu., Dec. 3 | Clematis by Night Holiday Tree Lighting | Waterfront, 100 N. Clematis St. | 6 to 10 p.m.; free |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | 10th Annual Winter in Paradise | Heart & Soul Park, 825 N. Rosemary Ave. | 6 to 9 p.m.; free |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | Clematis by Night: Friday @5 | Waterfront | 6 to 9 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 17 | Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular | NewDay USA Stage, Waterfront Commons | 6 to 9 p.m.; free |
| Thu., Dec. 24 | No Clematis by Night concert | Waterfront | Sandi shows and Ferris on normal schedule |
| Sun., Dec. 27 | Sandi's Ice Cream Social | The Great Lawn | Free; ice cream for sale |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | Sandi's New Year's Eve with Ferris and Fireworks | The Great Lawn | 8 p.m. to midnight; free |
Sandi lights on a Thursday and then runs every night
The city's tree-lighting page lists Phoenix5 and Officers & Gentlemen with the Rhythm Chicks for December 3, along with Santa photos and a holiday gift boutique. Concerts, activities and the boutique end at 9 p.m. Sandi's light displays and Ferris the Ferris wheel run until 10. The Post calls Sandi the world's only 700-ton holiday sand tree. It also reports live painting by artist Laura Serna at the lighting.
After opening night, you can see the light show on almost any evening. Sandi's synchronized music-and-light shows run nightly December 3 through 30 from 6 to 10 p.m., starting on the quarter hour except during special events. Ferris keeps the same hours. Rides cost $5 per person per ride, with tickets sold on site. On New Year's Eve the wheel opens at 6 p.m. and runs until midnight. There is no concert on Christmas Eve, but the shows and the wheel run as usual. If you come by boat, the city's directions page lists free public docks along with the five downtown garages.
The night after the lighting, the program moves to Rosemary Avenue
On Friday, December 4, the city's program moves to Heart & Soul Park, 825 N. Rosemary Ave., in the Historic Northwest. The 10th annual Winter in Paradise is billed as "Rhythm on Rosemary." ReaXtion Band and DJ Scoobz are playing, school ensembles will perform, and there will be family activities from 6 to 9 p.m. The Post reports that West Palm Beach Fire Rescue will hand out free hamburgers and hot dogs and the police department will give out free popcorn while supplies last.
One show changes venues, and the season ends on the Great Lawn
The program's one listed change this year involves a long-running show. The city marks the Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular as "NEW VENUE THIS YEAR." It moves to Clematis by Night's NewDay USA Stage at Waterfront Commons on Thursday, December 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. The Post describes the show as a Polynesian revue that started in 1999, with drummers, hula dancers and Samoan fire knife dancers. The holiday version adds a tropical Santa and a conch-blowing contest.
Sandi's Ice Cream Social is Sunday, December 27, on the Great Lawn. The Post lists it from 6 to 9 p.m., with a silent disco in Centennial Square, inflatables, Ferris rides and a bubble artist. Ice cream will be for sale. New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday, the same night as Clematis by Night all month. From 8 p.m. to midnight the Great Lawn has DJ Reflex and Wonderama, and the year ends with a 15-minute fireworks show at midnight.
On January 3, the zoo turns off its lights and The Ben closes its rink. The GreenMarket keeps running every Saturday at 100 N. Clematis through May 22, 2027, except February 6 and March 20.
The holidays are when many families think about what their place in West Palm Beach means to them, whether it's a walk from Northwood Road or a view of the Great Lawn. If those conversations include what your home is worth this season, The Hyland Group will prepare a private assessment on your schedule. Request a Confidential Home Valuation.
