Outdoor Ice Skating Around Boston, Winter 2026-27

MarketStreet opens Nov 13, the Tall Ship Nov 27. Frog Pond, Kendall and Kelly have not announced 2026-27 hours. Which to pick, and how to get there.

Boston Neighbor staffPublished November 9, 20266 min read

Boston
Cambridge
East Boston
Lynnfield
Jamaica Plain

Skaters on the Frog Pond rink on Boston Common in winter — Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

MarketStreet in Lynnfield opens this Friday, November 13, and it is the only outdoor rink around Boston with a confirmed 2026-27 start and a posted price. The Tall Ship in East Boston follows on November 27.

Which to pick: MarketStreet if you want the earliest ice, a posted $20 skates-included price and the shortest drive from Melrose, Wakefield, Reading or Saugus. The Tall Ship if you want a timed evening session on the water, open until 10 pm.

Frog Pond, Kendall and Kelly have not announced 2026-27 hours: check Frog Pond, Skate Kendall and DCR’s rink schedule before you plan around them. Details below are from each rink’s own site as of November 9.

At a glance

Rink	2026-27 opening	Price	Rentals
MarketStreet, Lynnfield	Fri, Nov 13	$13; $20 with skates	Included in the $20 price
The Rink at the Tall Ship, East Boston	Fri, Nov 27	See ticket page	Skates handled at check‑in

MarketStreet Lynnfield: the one that opens first

The SBLI Rink at MarketStreet, at 600 Market Street in Lynnfield, says it is back for its thirteenth season and will be open daily from November 13, 2026 through February 21, 2027.

Hours this year are Monday to Friday 3 to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 8 pm and Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and open 10 am to 3 pm on Christmas Eve. Admission is $13, or $20 with skate rentals, and children under 3 skate free. Conditions and hours depend on the weather, and the rink points skaters to its Instagram account, @marketstreetlynnfield, for updates. The mall’s phone number is 781-484-5400.

For anyone north of Boston, this is the closest outdoor rink to Melrose, Wakefield, Reading and Saugus. It is a car trip; MarketStreet is a shopping and dining center, so you can build a cocoa break into the outing.

The Rink at the Tall Ship, East Boston

The waterfront rink at 1 East Pier Drive returns on November 27, and the rink calls this its second year. It has 60-minute skating sessions on an outdoor rink, plus ice bumper cars and rink-side chalet lounges for groups of 8 to 12.

Hours are Monday to Thursday 3 to 10 pm and Friday to Sunday 11 am to 10 pm. The last skate session begins one hour before closing. Advance tickets are recommended because space is limited, and a limited number of day-of tickets are sold at the door depending on capacity. Check in 20 minutes before your session for skates, lacing up and a wristband sticker.

The rink lists valet parking through Boston Valet at $30 per vehicle. Ticket prices are on the rink’s ticket page. The phone number is (617) 307‑7714.

Frog Pond, Kendall and Kelly: dates to come

Boston Common Frog Pond. The winter skating page says: “The ice rink is not yet open for the 2026-27 season.” The skating season runs November to March. By transit, take the Green Line to Park Street or Boylston, the Red Line to Park Street, or Silver Line SL5 to Boylston; drivers are pointed to the Boston Common Garage. Phone (617) 635-2120. The Skating Club of Boston offers lessons there, but coaching is not allowed during public sessions unless approved ahead of time.

Canal District Kendall, Cambridge. 300 Athenaeum Street, open “mid-December through mid-March, weather permitting,” with figure and hockey skate rentals. Hours and prices are on skatekendall.com. Kendall/MIT on the Red Line is the nearest subway stop.

DCR Kelly Outdoor Rink, Jamaica Plain. DCR’s listing puts outdoor public skating in mid-December through mid-March, weather permitting. Hours are on the DCR schedule page; phone (617) 727‑7000.

Lowell. The John J. Janas Memorial Skating Rink at 382 Douglas Road is the city’s year-round rink, with rentals and sharpening. Call 978-454-6662 for public skating hours.

A snowy path through Boston Common in winter — Photo: Ethan Long / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

How to plan a skate

Go early in the season if you want fresh ice and smaller crowds. Opening weekends and school vacation weeks are the busiest.
Check the closings page the same day. Rain, wind and warm spells close outdoor rinks. MarketStreet posts updates on its Instagram account, @marketstreetlynnfield.
Bring gloves, and a second pair of socks if you are renting. Rental skates run snug on thick ones, so one thin pair is better.
Book ahead where you can. The Tall Ship recommends advance tickets.

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