The Winter Village returns to Fed Square!

Apr 30, 2021

The Winter Village is returning to Federation Square this May. The alpine-inspired winter wonderland will be open daily and will run for three months, from 13th May – 29th August.

The Winter Village will transform The Skyline Terrace at Federation Square into a 1635m2 winter wonderland, complete with an ice skating rink, an igloo village, daily snow showers and food & drink pop ups serving the ultimate cosy comfort food.

After a blockbuster debut in 2019, The Winter Village is bringing back its greatest hits as well as some new additions, including a new Brunch & Skate package on weekends, a mega private party igloo and more frequent snow showers. For the first time, The Winter Village will also pop up in three new locations across Australia this winter: Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

The Winter Village is brought to life by Australian Venue Co, who operate nearby CBD pubs & bars The Duke, Imperial Hotel, Trinket and Crafty Squire and a number of other original Melbourne pop ups including The Exchange Beach Club in Port Melbourne, Yarra Kitchen & Bar in Southbank and Lake Club at Albert Park Lake. Activations Operations Manager Selena Majumdar is excited to bring an even bigger and better Winter Village back to Melbourne, in a year when many Melburnians are looking for a new adventure without crossing state lines or going overseas.

“Most of us aren’t ready to make overseas travel plans, so we’re thrilled to be able to create an escape close to home for Melburnians this winter. We’ve gone all out this year, we’re coming back with a bang!” she said. “It’s perfect for a novel night out with friends, a fun day in the city with the family or for a unique event with clients.”

For the ultimate The Winter Village experience, guests can pre-book private igloos and cabins. They are ideal for afternoon or evening sessions enjoying some drinks and bites. There are 25 standard igloos, which can accommodate 2-5 people and include the choice of two food & beverage packages. The mega igloo is 6m wide and perfect for groups and private parties of up to 14 guests.

All igloos must be pre-booked via The Winter Village website. The Standard Igloo Package is $49pp and includes a Grazing Plate of chips, dips, mini pretzels and cured meats, Fried Chicken Bites, Mac & Cheese Croquettes, Dirty Fries, Herbed Slaw, Mash, Gravy, a choice of wine or beer, and a Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich for dessert. Those looking to indulge can upgrade to the Premium Package for $69pp, which includes an additional espresso martiniflavoured chocolate fudge dipping sauce, berries, brownies, marshmallows & cookies and the choice of an Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martini, wine or beer. Vegetarian options are available for both packages.

The new Brunch & Skate package will let the weekend warriors work up an appetite with a 45-minute skate session, followed by a well-earned brunch in a private igloo. Brunch & Skate packages are available every Saturday and Sunday at 10am, for $35 per adult and $22 per child. Ice skating passes can be booked online, with 45-minute sessions available during opening hours. Passes are $26 for adults, $18 for children aged 6-14 and $10 for children aged 3-5.

Entry to The Winter Village is free, walk in customers can order food & beverage directly from the pop-up bars, with casual outdoor seating available. The Winter Village is operated by Australian Venue Co & sponsored by Emu Australia.