Cold temps don’t have to get you down when there’s still plenty to do in Southeast Michigan. Get out your winter gear and head to one of these metro Detroit outdoor ice skating rinks.
Blake’s Skating Rink
Blake’s 2,000 square-foot rink is located at its Orchard Square in Armada, which has been made over into a Winter Wonderland for the season. After ice skating, guests can enjoy food and drink options like hard cider, craft beer, donuts, snacks, and the full lunch and dinner menu at Blake’s Tasting Room. The skating rink is open 2-7 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets — which are $10 for 50 minutes of skating and $5 for skate rentals — are available until 6 p.m. each day. Tickets can be purchased online, and a limited number of walk-in tickets are also available. The offer even more winter fun throughout the season, too. Read more about those offerings here. Blake’s Skating Rink, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada; blakefarms.com.
Buhr Park Ice Arena
This open-air ice arena is covered by a roof so you can enjoy a skate sesh outdoors without having to brave all the elements. Public open skate is available 3:15-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Wednesday, 7-8:45 p.m. Friday, and 2:45-4:30 p.m. and 7:15-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $6 for adults, and $5 for seniors and youth 17 and under. Skate rentals are $3, and sharpening is available for an additional cost. Buhr Park Ice Arena, 2751 Packard Road, Ann Arbor; a2gov.org.
Dodge Park Ice Rink
This covered, open-air ice rink officially opens for the season on Dec. 1, and is open noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Special hours run Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and the day before Valentine’s Day. The rink is closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free to residents of Sterling Heights, or $5 per person. Skate rental is $3 and skate sharpening is available for $5. Deebe’s Coffee will be on hand serving drinks every weekend. Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road, Sterling Heights; sterling-heights.net.
The Rink at Campus Martius Park presented by Visit Detroit
Some of the world’s best ice skaters have hit the ice at The Rink at Campus Martius Park. Pricing at this downtown Detroit attraction ranges from $9 for kids to $12 for adults. Discounts are available for seniors and military/first responders. Skate rentals are $6 each. The rink is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, and 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday through Dec. 11. Starting Dec. 12 through Jan. 1, there’s extended hours 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Jan. 2-March 5, the hours change again to 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Special hours Christmas Day and New Years Eve. The Rink at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; downtowndetroit.org.
Riley Park Ice Rink
This 60-foot by 80-foot rink in downtown Farmington is open — weather permitting — from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is no cost for admission, and skates are also available to borrow at no cost. Keep an eye on the rink’s Facebook page for fun events. Riley Park Ice Rink, 33113 Grand River Ave., Farmington; facebook.com/rileyparkicerink.
The Rink at Royal Oak
The 60-foot by 90-foot rink in Royal Oak can hold up to 250 skaters at a time, and is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 3, 2023. The rink will remain open until Feb. 19, 2023. The hours change after Jan. 3 and have yet to be announced. Admission is $10 a person and skate rental is $5. Fire pits and warming stations are open during open skate. The rink will be taken down at the end of the season for spring activities in the park. Centennial Commons, 221 E. 3rd St., Royal Oak; therinkatroyaloak.com.
This post was originally published in January 2022 and is updated regularly.
