New Albany Adds a Winter Ice Rink at Hinson Amphitheater
A new outdoor rink opens Nov. 22 in the village center and runs four days a week through Feb. 28. Status: Opens Nov. 22.
New Albany is putting ice in its outdoor amphitheater this winter. In a city announcement, New Albany says a public skating rink will open on Sunday, November 22, in the village center, inside the amphitheater named for Charleen and Charles Hinson, and stay up through Saturday, February 28. The city is billing it as a new winter tradition for the community.
The rink keeps a weekend-heavy schedule. It is closed Monday through Wednesday, open 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The city says hours will stretch during school winter break and on holidays, but it has not posted that expanded calendar yet.
Opening day is built around the holiday tree, which moves this year from its old spot to Rose Run Park. A themed Santa Skate takes over the ice between noon and 4:30 p.m., then the free lighting ceremony fills the half hour after 5 p.m. at Rose Run. Two weeks later, on Sunday, December 6, the amphitheater hosts a Hanukkah Skate with a skating dreidel and dreidel decorating ahead of the Menorah Lighting, which also starts at 5 p.m. in Rose Run Park. Both themed days keep public skating going until 8 p.m.
The only price the city has published is for those two themed afternoons: $15 per person, which covers skate rental and the activities set up inside the amphitheater. It has not said what a regular Thursday night or Saturday session will cost, whether skates can be rented on ordinary days, or whether tickets are sold ahead or at the gate. We will add those details when New Albany posts them.
For families on the northeast side, it means a season of skating without a drive Downtown. Our winter activities for toddlers list has indoor options for the smallest skaters, the New Albany page has places to warm up nearby, and more local government updates land in City.
