City Hall Plaza’s Getting a Holiday Market, Ice Rink, and More

Photo via iStock.com/Jorge Salcedo

Hey—remember all that talk about chalets?

Well, it looks like things worked out. Come December, City Hall Plaza will be transformed into a winter wonderland, and that includes a custom-designed ice skating rink.

In addition to the nearly 11,000-square-foot skating path ($10 per person, rentals available, and they’ll also host 30-minute lessons), other fun things headed to the plaza are Santa’s House, a holiday tree, and a holiday shopping market comprising 40 chalets. According to a press release, vendors will be 60 percent local (*slow clap*), including the Grommet, LovePop, Etsy Artists of Boston, and more.

Oh, and you can also look forward to “The Urban Lodge,” a hall serving beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages, because after gliding around in circles a few hundred times, you’ll probably need a drink.

The festive installation will be open seven days a week, with the market running through December and the ice skating path until the end of February. Discounts will be available for local educators, students, and veterans.

Dubbed “Boston Winter,” this is the first of a new event series sponsored by Berkshire Bank set to take over City Hall Plaza throughout the next three years. The various programs will take place year-round, and each season promises to bring new activities to the brick jungle.

“I thank Berkshire Bank for this generous community partnership, which will make activating City Hall Plaza for our residents and visitors to enjoy this winter a reality,” says Mayor Marty Walsh in the press release.

Free admission, opens December 2, hours vary, beginning daily at 11 a.m., City Hall Plaza, Boston, cityhallplazaboston.com.