Winter in the Plaza at Albany's Empire State Plaza

The Winter in the Plaza schedule was announced on Wednesday. In this, the Empire State Plaza's ice rink will open Sat. Dec. 7, weather permitting (this was changed from the original opening date of Nov. 29 due to possible bad weather). Rentals will also be free every Friday during the season and skating clinics will be offered (those dates, along with the complete schedule, are listed below).

(photo of rink from All Over Albany)

Rink Events: 

• Hannaford Supermarkets Free Skate Rental Fridays – No charge for skates from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., every Friday starting opening day November 29. 
• Saturday, November 30, 9 - 11 a.m. — Learn-to-Skate Clinic presented by BlueShield of 
• Northeastern New York. Visit ogs.ny.gov to register. 
• Sunday, December 8, 3 – 8 p.m. — New York State Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival presented by SEFCU. Tree lighting, staged program and fireworks 5:15 – 6 p.m. The rink will be closed during the fireworks and will re-open afterward with live music playing for skaters. All festival events will take place outside this year. 
• Friday, December 13, 6 – 8 p.m. — Holiday Rock and Skate. 
• Friday, December 20, 6 – 8 p.m. — Holiday Rock and Skate. 
• Saturday, December 28, 9 – 11a.m. — Learn-to-Skate Clinic presented by BlueShield of Northeastern New York. Visit ogs.ny.gov to register. 
• Saturday, January 25, 9 – 11a.m. — Learn-to-Skate Clinic presented by BlueShield of Northeastern New York. Visit ogs.ny.gov to register. 
• Friday, February 14, 6 – 8 p.m. — Valentine’s Day Rock and Skate. 
• Saturday, February 22, 9 – 11a.m. — Learn-to-Skate Clinic presented by BlueShield of Northeastern New York. Visit ogs.ny.gov to register. 
• Saturday, March 8 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Hannaford Kidz Expo, on the concourse. 

General Rink Information:
Hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather dependent. Closed Christmas Day.
Cost to Skate: Free
Skate Rental: $3 for children under 12 and $4 for adults. Skate rentals will be available
whenever the rink is open.
Amenities: Full-service snack bar open Friday nights, weekends, and school holidays; skate
lounge with lockers for personal items now located at the Plaza level; and music.