Ice Skating on the Oval

The City's 12,000-square-foot rink, which opened in 2012, is 4,000 square feet larger than the rink at New York City's Rockefeller Center. The Oval Ice Skating Rink, powered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, has piped-in music, skate rentals, concessions, holiday lights and more, making it a fun and affordable family-friendly activity. The rink is professionally managed by ASM Global, the DCU Center's talented management team.

Festival of Lights

The City's annual Festival of Lights event will take place on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 4:30 - 9 p.m. on the Worcester Common Oval. This free, family-friendly event will host a number of lighting features, ice skating, food vendors, community organizations and performances. A highlight for Festival of Lights visitors is the lighting of the tree, which will take place at 6 p.m.

• Headline Performance by Clatta Bumboo, a soulful, rhythmic artist with deep roots in Jamaican music and culture
• Performances by the Worcester Poets Laureate, the Burncoat High School Quadrivium Chorus, Midland Street Elementary School, the Jo Ann Warren Studio and the Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers
• Tree and large-scale light sculpture lighting, including "Pillars of Monumental Truth," produced by Worcester performance-based artists of Fractaltribe showcasing positive seasonal messages and "Illuminaciones," an interactive light sculpture at the Mercantile Center Plaza (formerly displayed on the Worcester Common in 2023), designed by local artist Zebbler Studios.
• Glow Park: An illuminated playscape for youth and adults on Worcester Common and a 90-foot alpine slide positioned on Franklin Street
• Hot cocoa station, small family crafts, giveaways, a family picture-taking area and a Friends of the Library pop-up holiday sale at the Worcester Public Library
• Complimentary ice skating for all attendees during the Festival of Lights will be made possible by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Skaters may bring their own skates or rent for $6 per pair.
• FREE parking in Downtown Passport Zones all day and at Pearl-Elm Garage (24 Pearl Street) beginning at 2 p.m.
• Interactive roving circus performers, fire performances and carriage rides
• Santa Claus meet & greet
• Community organizations
• 15+ food vendors, heated beer tent, face painting and more!

Partners: Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, DCU Center/ASM Global, Worcester Cultural Coalition, Rockland Trust, Cumulus Radio, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the College of the Holy Cross, the Worcester Railers Hockey Club, Unity Radio, 96.1 WSRS, Cirque de Soleil: OVO, Exhibition Hub, stART on the Street, the Mercantile Center and the Canal District Business Alliance.

2024-25 Hours of Operation

Regular Operational Hours

• Fridays:

  5 - 9 p.m.
• Saturdays:

  1 - 9 p.m.
• Sundays:

  1 - 6 p.m.

School Vacation & Holiday Hours

• Monday, December 23 - Tuesday, December 24 (School Vacation):

  1 - 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas):

  Closed
• Thursday, December 26 - Friday, December 27 (School Vacation):

  1 - 9 p.m.
• Monday, December 30 - Friday, January 3 (School Vacation):

  1 - 9 p.m.
• Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day):

  1 - 6 p.m.
• Monday, February 17 - Thursday, February 20 (School Vacation):

  1 - 6 p.m.
• Friday, February 21 (School Vacation):

  1 - 9 p.m.
• Saturday, February 22 (School Vacation):

  1 - 9 p.m.
• Sunday, February 23 (School Vacation/Last Day to Skate):

  1 - 6 p.m.

The Oval Ice Skating Rink will be open as the weather allows and any weather-related delayed openings or closures may be found by visiting the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages or by calling the Oval Ice Skating Rink Weather Hotline sponsored by Cornerstone Bank at 508-929-0777.

Special Events

• Friday, December 6: Festival of Lights
• Saturday, December 14: Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
• Sunday, December 22: Skate with Santa Claus
• Sunday, December 29: Worcester Railers Takeover
• Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day): Free Skate Event Courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Saturday, February 1: Downtown Worcester BID Winter Fest
• Sunday, February 9: Super Bowl Sunday Skate
• Friday, February 14: Valentine's Day Skate

Please be sure to check back regularly for updated special events or visit the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages.

General Admission Pricing

• Admission:

  $6.00
• Children 5 and Under Skate Free
• Group Admission (10 or More):

  $5.00 - must be purchased in advance by calling 508-929-0162.
• Rentals (Available Until 30 Minutes Prior to Closing):

  $6.00
• UMass Chan Medical School Little Helper Skate Guide:

  $5.00 per hour

Private Rentals

Private rentals make for a great employee outing, birthday celebration, family gathering or other group activity. Restaurants in the area can provide refreshments or we can put you in contact with a variety of food trucks to select from for on-site options.

Private rentals are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, immediately before or after public skate times.

Rental Fee:

• $350.00 per hour with availability of rental skates* for your attendees.
• $300.00 per hour without access to rental skates.
  *Skate rentals are $6.00 per pair.

To rent the Oval Ice Skating Rink for your private event please contact 508-929-0162.

Skate Rentals

During public skating hours at the Worcester Common Oval, ice skate rentals will be available for $6. You will need valid identification in order to rent skates.

Accessibility at the Oval Ice Skating Rink

The comfort of our guests is essential; therefore, The Oval Ice Skating Rink recognizes the special needs of those guests with disabilities. The Oval Ice Skating Rink is accessible with ramps for guests to enter and exit off the ice. Guests who require adaptive skating equipment may obtain the following at no cost (subject to availability) at The Oval Ice Skating Rink: Skate Assistance Trainers or Bobby, the Seal Skate Aids (suitable for children; weight restrictions apply). Guests with disabilities may use The Oval Ice Skating Rink independently or with the help of a caregiver. Please note that caregivers are required to wear ice skates while on the ice. Everyone's safety and pleasure in utilizing The Oval Ice Skating Rink is important.

Individuals with personal assistive devices (adaptive ice sport sleds, adaptive wheelchairs (Typhoon), bar seat walkers or other similar devices) may be provided private access to the rink ½ hour before or ½ hour after public skate times for their use with guests. There will be no charge for the enjoyment of The Oval Ice Skating Rink during these times. Please contact 508-929-0162 to schedule this option. A minimum of a one-week advance reservation is requested.

If you have questions, concerns and/or additional suggestions, please feel free to contact 508-929-0162.

Plan Your Day

While at The Oval Ice Skating Rink, local Food Trucks will be on site on Saturdays and Sundays for access to refreshments during your visit. Food Trucks will be announced weekly via the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Before or after your time at The Oval Ice Skating Rink, explore the many other amenities near the Common. For a list of options, visit Discover Central Massachusetts.

When available, there is no charge to park in the City Hall underground garage adjacent to the Worcester Common Oval. Additionally, there is plenty of affordable parking available within walking distance of the Worcester Common Oval, including the underground Worcester Common Garage at 2 Eaton Place, Mercantile Center Parking Garage, Federal Plaza Parking Garage and the Pearl-Elm Parking Garage.

Rink Rules & Skating Safety

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