Where to Find Outdoor Skating Rinks in Boston This Winter
The Boston Common Frog Pond at night. / Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Has the return of chilly weather, and the holiday season, got you in the mood to lace up those skates? Good news: The start of outdoor ice rink season is now. There is surely no shortage of fun and unconventional holiday-themed happenings in Boston to celebrate the winter season, from holiday markets to extravagant themed lunches and festive pop-ups at restaurants and bars around the city. But opportunities to twirl around in the sunshine also abound. Here’s the latest on the many options this season, and when you can expect to hit the ice (this being New England, all opening dates are weather dependent).
Updated December 2023.
Skating on the Frog Pond, Boston Common, Boston by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism on Flickr/Creative Commons
Boston Common Frog Pond (Opened November 25)
Who wouldn’t want to skate in the heart of Boston during the wintertime? Every year when the temperatures drop, the Common’s famed Frog Pond transforms into an ice rink. If you follow their social media, you and the whole family can plan to attend one of their skating shows or special events throughout the chilly winter season, weather permitting. Also, make sure to check out their snack bar for a hot chocolate to warm up your hands between skate sessions. Be sure to get a picturesque, seasonally appropriate pic for the ‘gram if you decide to go to this treasured Boston landmark.
$10 admission (for anyone over 58 inches tall), $15 skate rentals for adults, $10 skate rentals for kids. Open Mondays 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Tuesdays-Thursdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fridays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Boston Common Frog Pond, 617-635-2120, bostonfrogpond.com.
Courtesy photo by Mike Diskin
The Rink at 401 Park (Opened November 19)
The pavilion between Trillium Brewing Co. and Time Out Market—which hosts fitness activities and installations in the warmer months—first transformed into a 6,000-square-foot rink in the winter of 2019. It’s returned this year for a cheery winter season fit with a giant Christmas tree, an exclusive Trillium Brewing Rink IPA beer, and a vibey disco ball. On Sundays, they’re promising IceFlow yoga (yes, that’s yoga you do on the ice), but follow the Fenway’s social media for updates on this trendy spot, which has featured theme nights, live DJs, and other events.
$12 admission for adults; $6 for kids; $8 for students; $7 skate rentals; Monday-Friday 3-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; 401 Park Drive, Boston; 617-603-5600; thefenway.com.
See also: Our Wildly Comprehensive Guide to Eating and Drinking in the Fenway
Courtesy Skate @ Canal District
Skate @ Canal District in Kendall Square (Opened December 5)
The oddly-shaped skating rink, plunked right in the middle of the action in Kendall Square, will soon be back. Bask in the glow of the lit-up trees that run along its edges, and warm up on the heated pavilion with a hot beverage from the concession stands. Look out for the annual holiday ice show scheduled for December 9, where you can watch professional and international ice skaters perform and take advantage of free admission to the rink for the public. Open through mid-March, weather permitting.
$6 admission, $10 skate rentals, Mondays and Tuesdays, 12-5 p.m., Wednesdays-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, skatekendall.com.
Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Kirrane Rink at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline (Opened December 11)
The Kirrane Rink has been a staple of wintertime in Brookline since 1958, when it debuted atop what was once an Italianate Garden in Larz Anderson Park. This family-oriented spot is ideal for a day-time date or casual friend gathering—this rink is a hot spot for drop-in hockey, ice skating classes through the Bay State Skating School, and Friday public skating hours.
$9 admission ($7 for residents of Brookline), $7 skate rentals, Tuesday and Thursday 9 am to noon, Friday 12-3pm and 8-10pm, Saturday 12-5pm, and Sunday 12-6:45pm. Jack Kirrane Rink, 23 Newton St., Brookline, 617-879-4998, brooklinerec.com.
Globe Staff Photo/Michele McDonald via Getty Images
DCR Kelly Outdoor Rink, Jamaica Plain (Opened December 17)
A beloved JP institution returns this year. Conveniently located right behind the Stony Brook MBTA stop, this DCR rink has got to be one of the cheapest options out there, with skate rentals going for just $3 a pop. Kids five and up can also take part in weekly skating lessons on Saturday mornings, offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. It’s a volunteer-run, donor-supported operation, so if you can, toss them a few bucks once you’re done doing laps.
$3 skate rentals for kids and adults, Sunday through Friday: 12pm – 7:30pm, Saturday: 1pm – 7:30pm, 1 Marbury Terrace, Jamaica Plain, friendsofthekellyrink.org
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