Ice Skating Boston - Outdoor Rinks
Where to Ice Skate in Boston with Kids
photo courtesy of Boston Common Frog Pond
Boston Common Frog Pond - Boston
Date: Opens 11/30
Cost: 58-inches and over: $10, under 58-inches: Free | $10-15 for skate rental
Hours: Sun: 10:00am – 9pm | Mon: 10:00am – 3:45pm | Tue: 10:00am – 9pm | Wed: 10:00am – 9pm | Thu: 10:00am – 9pm | Fri: 10:00am – 10pm | Sat: 10:00am – 10pm
Location: Downtown
Managed by the Boston Skating Club. The Boston Common’s Frog Pond transforms into an ice rink when temperatures start to drop. Surrounded by festively lit trees, Frog Pond has its own ice-making system and also offers skate rentals and hot cocoa at the Pond Cottage. Be sure to snap a photo if you decide to go to this treasured Boston landmark.
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photo credit: Boston Central
$10 admission, $15 skate rentals for adults, Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (except Monday when the rink closes at 3:45 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., New Year’s Eve 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and New Year's Day 12 noon to 5 p.m. bostonfrogpond.com.
Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing.
Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square - Cambridge
Date: Opens Sat, 12/3
Cost: $1-6 admission; $6-10 skate rental
Hours: Mon/Tue: 12-5pm | Wed/Thu: 12-8pm | Fri: 12-9pm | Sat: 11am-9pm | Sun: 11am-6pm
Location: Cambridge
A favorite Cambridge spot for ice skating, Kendall Square Community Ice Rink features uniquely shaped rink that is surrounded by artfully lit trees that make for a beautiful evening of ice skating.
The annual holiday ice show takes place in mid-December, where visitors are invited to watch professional and international ice skaters perform and take advantage of free admission to the rink for the public. Visitors can grab a hot beverage from the concession stands. This community rink also offers group sessions and ice skating lessons.
One-Day Admission Valid All Day Student and Senior Rate: $4, Child 13 & Under: $1, $10 for Adults | Skate Rental Quality figure or hockey skates $6 for Children under 13 | $2 Locker Rental | $10 Skate Sharpening
Admission: $6 adults, $4 Senior, Child 13 & under, $1 | Skate Rental $10 Adults, $6 Children, | $2 Locker Rental | $10 Skate Sharpening | Open Mondays 12-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Thursdays 12-8 p.m., Fridays 12-9 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge, 617-492-0941, paddleboston.com.
photo courtesy of Kendall Square Community Ice Rink
Kirrane Rink at Larz Anderson Park - Brookline
Date: Opens Mon, 12/11
Cost: $7-9 admission; $7 for skate rental
Hours: Weekday Public Skate: Tues & Thurs 9:30 am - 12:00 pm | Fri 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm and 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Weekend Public Skate: Sat 12:00pm - 5:00pm | Sun 12:00pm - 6:45pm
Location: Brookline
Brookline’s Jack Kirranne ice skating rink is open to the public for skating and hockey league practices. Register for an ice skating class with Bay State Skating School, get your skates sharpened, or consider joining a hockey team for the season. Concessions are available as well at this one-stop winter activity ice rink.
Public skating opens December 11, 2023; reservations are required; bathrooms available. View public skating hours. Jack Kirrane Rink, 23 Newton St., Brookline, 617-879-4998, brooklinerec.com.
photo courtesy of The Boston Calendar
The Ice Rink at 401 Park - Boston
Date: Opens Sun, 11/19
Cost: $6-12 admission; $7 for skate rental
Hours: Mon- Fri, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm | Sun, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Location: Fenway
The 401 Park area in the Fenway is also planning to open a new skating rink this year. Complete with Trillium brewing, Time Out Market, and green space for fitness activities and installations, during the winter it will transform into a 6,000-square-foot rink.
Check the program schedule featuring theme nights, live DJs, skating lessons, & more.
401 Park Drive, Boston, thefenway.com.
photo courtesy of The Rink at 401 Park
Winter Skate at Patriot Place - Foxborough
We are excited to see Winter Skate at Patriot Place return in November 2024 with a new and improved concept in Lot 12B in the South Marketplace. A fun and affordable activity for parents with children, and a perfect remedy for cabin fever, Winter Skate can also a romantic addition to a dinner date at Patriot Place.
Ice Skating season generally starts in mid to late November and runs through February.
photo courtesy of Patriot Place
Ice Skating on DCR Kelly Outdoor Ice Rink
Date: Opens Sat, 12/17
Cost: Free admission; $3 skate rental
Hours: Sunday - Friday: 12:00 pm-7:30 pm | Saturday: 1:00 pm-7:30 pm
Location: Jamaica Plain
An inviting, urban outdoor skating rink located right in the center of Jamaica Plain, one of Boston’s liveliest neighborhoods. Whirl, twirl, and spin around on the DCR Kelly Ice Rink; one of Massachusetts’ most affordable outdoor skating spots.
Stoneham Town Common Skating Rink
Date: Generally 11/18 - March 24 (weather dependent)
Cost: Free
Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm Daily
Location: Stoneham Town Common
The Town Common Skating Rink in Stoneham is usually frozen enough for ice skating the week of Christmas. Stay tuned on their Facebook page to learn more updates about the opening date.
In winter, residents and visitors can enjoy free public skating rink on the Stoneham Common on Main Street, open from 9 to 9 daily. Bring your own skates.
Ice Skating at MarketStreet Lynnfield
Date: Open Mon, 11/14
Cost: $12 admission, $5 skate rental
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Wed 1:00 pm | Sat 10:00 am - 8:00 pm | Sun 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Location: Lynnfield
At MarketStreet Lynnfield, you can easily combine holiday shopping with family fun in one place. Pick up a few of those perfect holiday gifts and/or grab a bite to eat before lacing up and gliding around the ice with the kids as a fun reward.
photo courtesy of Marketstreet Lynnfield
Generals Park Ice Rink: Outdoor Ice Skating - Quincy
Date: December 1 - February 24
Cost: Free
Location: Generals Park Ross Way Quincy, MA
Quincy's Outdoor Ice Skating Rink will be open for Free Public Ice Skating from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week beginning Friday, December 1st. The rink is located in Downtown Quincy next to General's Bridge. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own skates, however, skate rentals are available on site.
Children age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
John Tolland Memorial Skating Rick at Camp Sewataro - Sudbury
Date: Opens Saturday 1/20
Cost: Free
Location: Sudbury
The rink is located on the grounds of Camp Sewataro and will be open from 8am to 8pm. The surface is well lit, so skaters can also enjoy the ice under the lights.
Worcester Common Oval - Worcester
Date: Opens Fri, 12/1
Cost: $6 admission; $6 skate rental
Location: Worcester
The City's 12,000-square-foot rink, which first opened in 2012, is 4,000 square feet larger than the rink at New York City's Rockefeller Center.
The Worcester Common Oval has piped-in music, skate rentals, concessions, holiday lights and more, making it a fun and affordable family-friendly activity. The rink is professionally managed by SMG, the DCU Center's talented management team.
photo courtesy of the City of Worcester
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Indoor Ice Skating Rinks that are open Year Round
In addition to these fun, seasonal venues for outdoor ice skating in Boston, there are many indoor venues that are open all year, providing places for skating lessons, hockey practices and open skates. And if you like ice skating, you might be interested in finding a few places to roller skate near Boston to change things up a bit!
For year-round enthusiasts, here's a list of DCR Skating Rinks, with rink locations in the Greater Boston area. And, since it's winter, you might be looking for some festive holiday lights near Boston to enjoy with family & friends, or if it's snowy outside, one of many excellent sledding hills to enjoy.
For more information about things to do in the Boston Area in the Winter, visit our Winter Guide to Family Fun in Boston, a list of the best places to ski near Boston, cross-country skiing near boston, and our February Vacation Guide. For a full overview of ice skating rinks near Boston, we've compiled a list of popular places and hidden gems.
Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.