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Dale Frens, left, and Susan Frens, both of Westchester, Pa., put on their ice skates at the Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. <\/p>\n
Vincent Alban\/For the Sun-Times<\/p>\n
Chicago Blackhawks Community Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 1801 W. Jackson Blvd.; 312-455-7600 You don\u2019t need to be an avid Blackhawks fan to enjoy the year-round facility where the team practices. Located in the Fifth Third Arena on the Near West Side, the Blackhawks Community Ice Rink offers regular public skates, freestyle skating drop-ins for the more advanced and hockey programs for kids and adults. Starting Jan. 5, the freshly renovated arena will have two new ice rinks, complete with a restaurant and cafe, and showcase the Blackhawks Hall of Fame. According to Donald Cervenka, who has been skating there recreationally for more than three years, the venue has \u201cthe best ice.\u201d \u201cWhen you\u2019re a skater, there\u2019s a perfect temperature of ice where you can do tricks and spins and things like that,\u201d he said. \u201cThey keep their ring immaculate, and the ice is just pristine.\u201d Blackhawks practices are also open to the public, so check the schedule<\/a> to line up your viewing in the same excursion.<\/p>\n Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Parkway Bank Park<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 5501 Park Place, Rosemont; 847-349-5008 Skating is fun, but sometimes you want more. Enter the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink, just one attraction in a 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex. Once you\u2019ve taken a spin around the festive outdoor rink transition to dinner or catch a new release at the AMC Rosemont 12. On Nov. 22, attend the grand opening<\/a>, at which 80,000 holiday lights will be turned on for the Christmas kickoff. Also on offer: Santa, horse-drawn sleighs and artists carving sculptures out of ice. Parkway Bank Park is accessible via the Blue Line; parking is free with validation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People skate around the ice skating ribbon in Maggie Daley Park, in the Loop. <\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 337 E. Randolph St.; 312-552-3000 Stretching for a quarter mile, the Ribbon forms a long trail with gentle inclines and dips. The path is surrounded by pine trees, and yet skaters may marvel at the city\u2019s skyscrapers as their backdrop. The Ribbon seems to be the spot for couples so brace yourself for hand-holding pairs who must be navigated around. The Rink Cafe is good for hot apple cider and cocoa, as well as belly-filling fare, including Chicago-style dogs, nachos and mozzarella sticks. Reservations for public skating at the Ribbon are highly recommended, and walk-up tickets aren\u2019t guaranteed if a session is full.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People ice skate around the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink ahead of the 111th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Millennium Park in 2024.<\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n McCormick Tribune Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 1 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-742-5222 Reserve your spot to skate at the rink in Millennium Park because, well, it\u2019s crowded for good reason: The 16,000-square-foot oval is Chicago\u2019s Rockefeller Center, within sight of the Bean and the city\u2019s official Christmas tree. Admission is free with your own skates, but reservations are still required. Nearby, Momentum Coffee sells hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and coffee. Millennium Hall, the Italian-themed food hall that replaced Park Grill in 2022, has pizzas, pasta and craft beer on the menu. Before the rink closes for the season, try to catch free skating lessons from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; reservations<\/a> are required.<\/p>\n McFetridge Sports Center Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 3843 N. California Ave.; 773-478-2609 The skating rink at McFetridge Sports Center is one of only two indoor rinks owned by the Chicago Park District (the district is operating eight skating locations<\/a> this season). The draw is affordable prices, adult-only skating from noon to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays and ample free parking in the adjacent lot. The popular all-ages public skate \u2014 from 3:30-5 p.m. Saturdays and from 4:30-6 p.m. Sundays \u2014 is first come, first served so get there early to avoid being at the end of a long line; online reservations<\/a> through the Chicago Park District activities portal are required for adult-only skating. Eat before you skate because there are scant snack options on site.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People skate around the Midway Plaisance Skating Rink, in Hyde Park, on first day of operations in 2024. <\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times file<\/p>\n Midway Plaisance Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 1130 Midway Plaisance; 312-745-2470 Run by the park district, the Midway Plaisance Ice Rink sits amid the dramatic Gothic architecture of the University of Chicago in Hyde Park and on the former grounds of Chicago\u2019s 1893 World Fair. Skating is free with your own equipment, but online registration<\/a> is recommended for all sessions. Offerings include dedicated hockey time; for example, Stick & Puck ($8 for adults, $10 for adult and child), which lets players practice stickhandling and shooting, and Pond Hockey ($8 for adults, $10 for adult and child), five-on-five no-contact games. There are also senior skate hours at all five outdoor park district rinks this year for those 50 and older who prefer their own company.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Skaters at Paul Hruby Ice Rink, located inside the Ridgeland Common Recreation Park in Oak Park.<\/p>\n Courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park<\/p>\n Paul Hruby Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 415 Lake St., Oak Park; 708-725-2000 Insiders report that the best time to visit the Paul Hruby Ice Rink, located inside the Ridgeland Common Recreation Park in Oak Park, is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. \u201cThe rink is super empty, which is rare for public skate,\u201d said one devotee of \u201cNoon Skate.\u201d Otherwise, you\u2019ll be battling throngs of teens, hockey kids and all manner of family unit at the evening sessions on Fridays and Saturdays (cosmic skate!) and during the day on Sundays. On Dec. 31, celebrate the New Year on the rink with giveaways and a balloon drop at noon. Fun perk: The rink offers free hockey gear rental for youth.<\/p>\n The Peninsula Sky Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 108 E. Superior St.; 312-337-2888 The Sky Rink at the Peninsula Hotel in downtown Chicago is exactly as it sounds: a rarefied spot on a terrace with views of the city\u2019s skyline. You pay the same admission fee whether you bring your own skates or rent them. But since the rink is synthetic ice, you should probably rent because the hard polymer surface can dull metal skates within just 30 minutes. Reservations are not required but check the rink\u2019s schedule before going (hours subject to change, according to the hotel). Getting there can be tricky: Take the elevator to the Peninsula\u2019s lobby, then find the stairs to the Shanghai Terrace\u2019s patio. If you get lost, ask for directions. Once there, you\u2019ll be rewarded with above-average fare at the Chalet, the hotel\u2019s cafe, which offers hot apple cider, hot cocoa and taffy apples.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Robert Crown Community Center Ice Rink in Evanston offers year-round public skating. <\/p>\n Robert Crown Community Center Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 1801 Main St., Evanston; 847-448-8258 Making an indoor ice rink in the suburbs exciting can be a challenge. But the programmers at the Robert Crown Community Center Ice Rink in Evanston are really trying. Once a month, DJ Skate Night spins new pop under cosmic lights and occasionally ups the ante; for Halloween this year, the rink hosted skating in costume. Tickets for DJ nights are only a dollar more than regular tickets.<\/p>\n Skatium Ice Arena<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 9340 Weber Park Place, Skokie; 847-929-7900 Michelle Cain, Skatium\u2019s customer service coordinator, says the predominant clientele at this large suburban rink is elementary-age kids and their parents. Skatium has an intriguing offering, but not for much longer: The on-site cafe sells Filipino food, including Spamsilog, Chicken Tocilog and Longsilog \u2014 which are grilled-meat variations of a breakfast plate that comes with garlic fried rice and an egg \u2014 but the vendor is leaving Dec. 1, says facility manager Kurt von Helms. French fries and sandwiches are also available. Vending machines stock the usual array of snacks.<\/p>\n Warren Park Ice Rink<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 6601 N. Western Ave.; 773-761-8663 Among the park district outdoor venues, Warren Park Ice Rink is arguably the most popular. Located in the West Ridge neighborhood, this Olympic-sized rink offers programs similar to others in the park system, including amateur hockey games called Rat Hockey (with a $10 fee). Jennifer Urbaszewski-Grono, a park district spokesperson, said Warren receives compliments on how similar the ice is to indoor rinks \u2014 smooth and well groomed. \u201cWarren is kind of our star facility,\u201d she said. On Jan. 11, the Winter Wonder Fest will offer free skating from 3:30-6 p.m., festive characters and games of ice bocce, which is like bowling on ice.<\/p>\n
$12 admission; $5 skate rental
Year-round<\/p>\n
Free admission; $8 skate rental
Nov. 22-Jan. 25, 2026<\/p>\n![\"LOOPHOLIDAY-121218-0003.JPG\"](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/31e05c2\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fff609d434dbea078430b963b6013%2Floopholiday-121218-0003.JPG\")
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$5 admission with own skates; $17 weekday skate rentals, $19 walk-in (holidays rates are $21 skate rentals online, $23 walk-in)
Nov. 14-March 8, 2026<\/p>\n![\"TREELIGHTING-112324-22.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f9cc37d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F40%2F8c%2Fa6ec1d64458c8c1f6f9682185d26%2Ftreelighting-112324-22.jpg\")
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Free admission with own skates, $5 for peak periods; $17 skate rental weekdays, $21 weekends and holidays
Nov. 21-Feb. 1, 2026; subject to weather <\/p>\n
$6 admission for skaters 13 and up, $5 for skaters 12 and under; $4 skate rentals
Year-round<\/p>\n![\"SKATING-113024-22.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e918c4d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F2d%2Fab4686d04900beedf6da26d6c2c4%2Fskating-113024-22.jpg\")
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Free admission; $7 skate rental
Nov. 28-Feb. 17, 2026; subject to weather<\/p>\n![\"IMG_0228.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/de01a07\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/840x630!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0e%2Fc7%2Fa4e5ce25477eb2ac908a8be74e21%2Fimg-0228.jpg\")
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$12 admission, skate rental included
Year-round<\/p>\n
$20 admission for adults including skates; $10 for kids 12 and under
Nov. 21-Feb. 16, 2026<\/p>\n![\"robert-crown-1-courtesy-of-vicki-revere.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c2f71f5\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/840x630!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2Fc0%2Fde205f874ec58c7d0a97c760006c%2Frobert-crown-1-courtesy-of-vicki-revere.jpeg\")
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$10 admission for 18+, $6 admission for under 17 and younger; $4 skate rental
Year-round<\/p>\n
$7 admission; $4 skate rental
Year-round<\/p>\n
Free admission; $7 skate rental
Nov. 28-Feb. 17, 2026 subject to weather<\/p>\n
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