Get your skates on, because the world's most famous ice rink is open for the season! The Rink at Rockefeller Center officially opens today at 10am with a performance by Meryl Davis and Charlie White, Olympic gold medalists in ice dancing. The ceremony continues with young skaters from the Ice Theatre of New York and Figure Skating in Harlem taking the first public skate around the rink.
First opened on Christmas Day in 1936, the beautiful Rockefeller Center ice skating rink welcomes visitors of all skill levels—from beginner to Olympian—so here's everything you need to know:
General admission is on a first come, first serve basis, with daily sessions beginning at 8:30am and ending at midnight. See the full schedule here.
Going at off-peak hours is a great way to beat the lines, but you can also purchase special packages for VIP access. Find out more about entering through the VIP Igloo (complete with concierge service and hot chocolate) or getting unlimited skating for the 2015-2016 season with a season pass. Other packages include the First Skate (for a 7am skate, with an option for breakfast at Rock Center Café), Breakfast with Santa (beginning Thanksgiving weekend), and a VIP skate plus dining and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, beginning November 13.
New for 2015 is the Starlight Skate, in which you can reserve the last skate of the night, beginning at 10:30pm. Starting after the holidays is the Sky Skate pass, which combines tickets to The Rink and Top of the Rock. And most romantic of all is the Engagement on Ice—read on for details.
To find out about skates, lessons and birthday parties, head to the FAQ. Here are driving and subway directions too.
Now you're almost ready to get skating, so check out some of our tips from an Olympian. ("Keep your eyes up!") Don't forget to grab a hot chocolate at Cucina & Co., and keep all your brunch options in mind to make a full day of it.
Skating season runs till April 2016. See you on the ice!
