By Autumn Vasquez
Ann Arbor, MI:
Natural Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Ann Arbor
Enjoy skating in three of Ann Arbor’s beautiful parks: Allmendinger, Burns, and Northside. Bring your own skates, no rentals available, and be sure to check the city’s Facebook page for ice updates. The rinks are open weather permitting.
Allmendinger Park: 655 Pauline Blvd
Burns Park: 1300 Baldwin Ave
Northside Park: 815 Taylor St
734-794-6230
Cost: Free
Public Skating: Regular park hours, 6am-10pm. Weather permitting.
The Cube is a traditional indoor skating rink—open year-round. Sign up for lessons or drop in for pick-up hockey or an open skate.
2121 Oak Valley Dr
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 | 734-213-1600
Cost: $4/adults, $3/kids (ages 12 and under), $3/skate rental
Public Skating: Check website for updates
This is an outdoor covered, open-air skating rink (chilly!). The rink sometimes has themed parties like Funky Frosty Fridays, where skaters dress in costume (bell bottoms on ’70s night or cowboy hats at the Hoedown Skate).
All visitors are required wear a mask while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
2751 Packard Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 | 734-794-6234
Cost: $5/adults, $4/kids (age 17 and under), $3/skate rental
Public Skating: Sundays 3:15-5:30pm; Mondays 9:00-10:00pm; Tuesdays 3:30-4:30; Wednesdays 4:45-5:45pm (half price!) and 7:15-8:45pm; Thursdays 9:00-10:00pm; Fridays 7:15-8:45pm; Saturdays 3:15-4:30pm and 7:15-8:45pm
Located on the University of Michigan Athletic Campus, you can skate on the same ice that the U-M hockey team plays on.
1116 South State St
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 | 734-764-4600
Cost: $6/adults, $4/kids, $3/noon skate, $3/skate rental, $2/noon skate rental, $7 skate sharpening
Public Skating: Monday-Friday from Noon to 12:50pm; check website for regular Public Skate dates and times as they are subject to change.
Chelsea, MI:
Chelsea’s indoor ice skating rink provides fun for everyone including hockey leagues, learn to skate opportunities, DJ skates, and a restaurant upstairs in the rink.
501 Coliseum Dr
Chelsea, MI 48118| 734-433-4444
Cost: Call for pricing.
Public Skating: Contact for hours. They also host monthly DJ skates on select Saturdays.
Detroit, MI:
The ice skating rink at Campus Martius is now open daily through March. You can skate during the day or at night surrounded by holiday lights and skyscrapers.
800 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48226 | 313-963-9393
Cost: Adults $11 | Child (12 & Under) $9 | Seniors (59 & Older) $9 | Military / First Responder: $8 | Skate Rental $5
Public Skating December 13 – January 2: Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m. – midnight; Saturday: 10 a.m. – midnight; Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; New Years Eve:
11 a.m. – midnight. See website for more dates and times.
Dexter, MI:
Enjoy skating outdoors in downtown Dexter’s iconic Monument Park. No equipment rental so be sure to bring your own!
Downtown Dexter, Baker Road and Main Street | 734-426-8303
Cost: Free
Public Skating: Open daily 8am-9pm. Check their website for updates. The rink will open and close based on weather.
Festive Holiday Events:
Spread the holiday spirit by enjoying these festive holiday events with family and friends!
December 17th, 2021
Visit with Santa and receive a FREE toy
A jolly time with Santa and his Boost Mobile elves! Take pictures with St. Nick and each child will receive a free wrapped toy.
When: Friday, December 17th, 2021, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where: Ypsilanti Boost Mobile
1483 Washtenaw Rd, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197
Cost: Free while supplies last
Pop Up Holiday Market
The Chelsea Farmers Market will be hosting a pop up Holiday Market at the Chelsea Depot! Thank you to the Hometown Holidays Presenting Sponsor – Rick Taylor Real Estate.
When: Friday, December 17th, 2021, 11:00am-5:00pm
Where: Chelsea Train Depot
125 Jackson St, Chelsea, MI, 48118
Cost: Free Admission
December 18th, 2021
Ypsilanti Holiday Extravaganza
There will be craft vendors and makers with completely homemade items, holiday cookie bakers, and more!
When: Saturday, December 18th, 2021, 11:00am-6:00pm
Where: Ypsilanti Freighthouse
100 Market Place, Ypsilanti MI, 18198
Cost: Free Admission
December 19th, 2021
It’s a Wonderful Life
This play is part of the FREE Holiday Classics Series. 1946. 129 mins. Drama/Comedy. PG.
After George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes he had never been born, an angel (Henry Travers) is sent to earth to make George’s wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.
When: Sunday, December 19th, 2021, 1:30pm
Where: Michigan Theater603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104 | 734-668-8397
Cost: Free Admission. Register here
December 23rd, 2021
P.O.P’S ANNUAL FEED THE HOMELESS HOLIDAY MEAL
P.O.P. Is partnering with Journey of Faith Christian Church for the annual Feed The Homeless Holiday Dinner. All meals will be prepared homemade and there will also be a free raffle for gift cards, and Journey of Faith will have a free Christmas store so the visitors can get gifts for their children and themselves.
When: Thursday, December 23rd, 2021, 2:30pm-5:00pm
Where: 900 Manchester Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Cost: Free Admission.
Christmas Eve Santa On The Huron
Come say Hi to Santa as he paddles on the Huron River for the annual Christmas Eve tradition. Santa and his doggie helper elves Jake and Boo will paddle their fully decorated vintage 1930’s Christmas canoe, complete with a lit Christmas tree as they paddle down the Huron River. Then, Santa will hook up his reindeer (dog team) to his magic flying voyageur canoe to drop presents to all the kids of the world.
When: Friday, December 24th, 2021, 4:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Bandemer Park
1352 Lake Shore Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Cost: Free Admission
