Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens Nov. 13

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The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park will kick of the winter season on Nov. 13, weather permitting. (Photo by Jeffrey Jung)

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park will kick of the winter season on Nov. 13, weather permitting. (Photo by Jeffrey Jung)

Opening Day will feature skating performance by non-profit organization Ice Reach

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park will kick of the winter season on Nov. 13 (weather permitting), with a festive opening ceremony at 11 a.m. featuring ice skaters from Ice Reach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting participation and involvement in all ice sports. The rink will open to the public at 11:35 a.m. and remain open through March 6, 2016 (weather permitting.)

For more than a decade, the ice rink has become a Chicago winter tradition drawing over 100,000 skaters annually. Once again this year, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will present Winter Workouts with free skating lessons on Fridays–Sundays, one hour before the rink opens. Additionally, lessons and special programming (including speed skating demos, Noodle Hockey and ice dance demos) will be offered during Chicago Public School’s Winter Break, December 21 – December 31, one hour before the rink opens, except December 25.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is located in Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison streets. Skating is free and open to the public, with skate rentals available for $12. Grant support for Winter Workouts was provided by McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment, managed by the Millennium Park Foundation.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink will operate under the following hours:

  • Mondays–Thursdays, noon–8 p.m.
  • Fridays, noon-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 11 a.m.)
  • Saturdays (Nov. 14-Jan. 2), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • Saturdays (Jan. 9-March 5), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)

Special holiday hours:

  • Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Christmas Eve 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • Christmas Day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (no ice skating lesson)
  • Dec. 26-30, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • New Year’s Eve 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • New Year’s Day 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (no ice skating lesson)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Chicago Public Schools Closed (School Improvement Day) Feb. 5, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)
  • President’s Day, Feb. 15, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

For more information about events in Millennium Park, visit millenniumpark.org or call 312.742.1168, like Millennium Park on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @Millennium_Park.

–Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens Nov. 13–