Roebling Rink is lacing back up for its third winter season beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, opening Saturday, Nov. 14, with two free public skating sessions and a full slate of holiday programming before settling into daily operation except Thanksgiving through Jan. 31, 2027.
The outdoor rink sits at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park, right under the bridge itself, according to Roebling Rink. As Brooklyn Paper reported, the rink offers skaters waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline while they circle the ice against the backdrop of one of the city's most photographed landmarks.
Opening day comes with a rare perk: free admission for the first two sessions, running 10:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., with a limited quantity of tickets already available online, per iloveny.com. After that, the rink shifts into its regular paid schedule for the rest of the season.
Holiday Activities and a Drag Skating Champion
The free skating isn't the only draw for opening day. Holiday movie screenings will run throughout the day, and Brooklyn Bridge Park educators will lead educational and craft activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the rink's website notes. The Brooklyn Museum's Museum on Wheels will also set up from noon to 4 p.m., bringing a taste of the museum's collection to the plaza.
As evening falls, the programming turns toward performance. Drag queen and figure skating champion Milk will perform and join skaters on the ice from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the same source reports, followed by a festive set from the New York City Gay Men's Chorus from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Season Hours and Ticket Pricing
Once the opening-day festivities wrap, Roebling Rink settles into its winter rhythm. Public skating runs 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, according to the same iloveny.com report.
Pricing stays consistent with past seasons: New York City residents pay $16 for admission and $8 for skate rentals, while nonresidents pay $20 for admission and $12 for rentals, with both figures inclusive of taxes and fees. Helmets and skate buddies are also available to rent for those who need them. Each ticket covers a 90-minute session window that includes 60 minutes of actual ice time, with the remaining time set aside for ice cleaning between sessions.
Lessons, Rescheduling and Entry Rules
For skaters looking to improve their form, Fireworks Skating Academy offers private and group lessons with professional instructors during select sessions on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Admission is included with a lesson purchase, though skate rentals run separately at the rink's standard pricing.
Tickets are nonrefundable, but reservations can be rescheduled up to five hours before the booked session, per the rink's posted policies. The rink has also said that cancellations due to weather, mechanical issues or similar causes will result in the reservation being rescheduled rather than refunded, and all patrons, whether skating or just watching, must complete and acknowledge a waiver before entering.
Getting to the rink is straightforward for subway riders: the F train stops at York Street, the A and C trains stop at High Street, and the 2 and 3 trains stop at Clark Street. The NYC Ferry to Dumbo and the B25 bus also serve the area, giving visitors several ways to reach Emily Warren Roebling Plaza before the ice opens for the season.
