'Boston Winter' Wonderland Opens on City Hall Plaza

BOSTON, MA — Curious people loitered around the entrance hour before "Boston Winter" made its soft debut Saturday, eagerly rushing in to snap photos and peruse the holiday gift shop once doors formally opened at 1 p.m.

While the shops, eats and drinks at the Winter Market opened Saturday, its ice-skating path and "Chocolate Story" patiently waited until the grand opening, which finally arrived Wednesday night.

"Boston Winter" features tents that tell the stories of wine and chocolate, an ice-skating path and bicycle-powered, light-up tree (pictured above), food and drink, and a tiny village of holiday shops — all now open, with the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon or, in this case, the evergreen garland (above).

Originally set for Friday, it turned out the warm December weather was just too darn nice for the ice-skating path, a prominent feature that snakes through the numerous holiday shops and snack stops.

In a tweet, organizers for Boston Winter explained Friday, "Due to unseasonably warm temperatures we've had to delay the grand opening."

Mayor Marty Walsh bemoaned the delay:

There was still lots to do and see in the meantime, despite the grand opening getting delayed by good weather. Long-term, the installation's idea is to invigorate Downtown Boston year-round.

The stretch of bricks around City Hall can be downright inhospitable, particularly during the hot summer months and cold winter days, but the mayor's administration is determined to make it a welcoming community gathering space.

The city in March first announced its selection of the TD Garden operator's subsidiary, Boston Garden Development Corporation, as the vendor tapped to enhance City Hall Plaza.

Its proposed year-round "activation" ideas include an observation wheel and urban beach for the summer. However, as The Boston Globe has reported, TD Gardens' president said some of those ideas (including the observation wheel) have been scrapped.

Slideshow: TD Garden Owners' Pitch Picked to Activate City Hall Plaza

In the winter, the group's plan for City Hall Plaza centers on an 11,000-gross- square-foot outdoor skating path, described in a city press release as a "new twist on the traditional ice rink." Also part of the plan is a European-style, outdoor holiday market.

Per the press release, "At the free outdoor holiday shopping market, visitors can experience seasonal delicacies and interactive attractions in a celebratory winter atmosphere... with a mix of local and international vendors and food and beverage offerings housed in individual chalets."

The market will run through New Year's Day, and the ice path will be open through February 2017, the city said.

The three-year contract with Boston Gardens began Sept. 1, the city said. The license agreement provides the City of Boston a percentage of the overall annual profitability of all programming, including an escalating sponsorship model, according to the city press release. Boston's chief of operations told the Globe the city pays nothing and is expected to receive a minimum of $50,000 from Delaware North for use of the plaza.

Photos courtesy the mayor's office and by Alison Bauter, Patch staff