Winter in the City 2023: Real snow, a whiteout party, and oodles of date ideas.

Posted on 23 June, 2023

Hold on to your mittens, because Winter in the City is back to bring a slice of the slopes to the City Centre.

Winter in the City is back from 30 June until 16 July and this year, it’s levelling up—giving us the perfect excuse to get the gang together. We’re talking parties, we’re talking dancing—and yes – this year there will be actual snow. We just snow you’re going to love it!

That’s right—happening daily in Ainslie Place (the tree-lined walkway between London Circuit and the Canberra Times Fountain, as you walk between the Canberra Theatre Centre and Canberra Centre), Snow Play sessions (with real, real snow!) will give you 90 minutes of frosty, crunchy snow play goodness for all ages, and tickets are now available.

Naturally, everyone’s favourite ice-skating rink will be back—but this year it’s even bigger. It’s an unmissable opportunity to have a cute winter date night. After all, nothing says romance like having to hold hands because you’re atrocious at skating (…just me?) and you can even purchase tickets for a combined ice skating and snow play experience here.

Ready to get creative? Head along to the snow sculpture competitions, happening on Saturdays and Sundays at 10.45am. The weekly winners will be invited back for a grand final on 16 July to compete for major prizes from local businesses (hot tip: pre-book tickets so no one misses out).

After the sun goes down, the fun really begins with 18+ events held each weekend. Boogie Wonderland (Saturday 8 July) is your chance to channel your inner Xanadu or Stranger Things. Get your retro kit on for a zoom around the ice to some era-appropriate music and yes, there are prizes for best dressed. We can only imagine the colourful cocktails being served from the bar. You bring the spandex, they’ll supply the Spandau Ballet.

The weekend after, suit up in your best and brightest for the Whiteout Party (Saturday 15 July) where you’ll get the chance to live out your winter fantasy—roasting marshmallows, playing in the snow with your mates (or date) and sipping some specially-designed cocktails. It’s the perfect opportunity to dust off those dance moves.

Luckily, there’s also an all-ages party happening for those under 18, with the Jazida Pop-Up Party rolling into town on Friday 14 July for a quadruple-whammy of cabaret, DJ sets, circus and drag in Civic Square. The best part? It’s completely free.

Of course, no wintery excursion is complete without some fuel and this year’s festival has got you covered. There will be hot apple cider, mulled wine, hot chocolate, hot fudge brownies and other winter treats. Numerous local businesses have also partnered with the festival and are offering single-use deals and discounts (think: churros, burgers, frozen margaritas and $4 tacos!). Find the full range of deals and discounts here.

We promise it’ll be love at frost sight.