Indoor Ice Skating Rinks Around Chicago
Indoor ice skating is a fun year-round activity in Chicago for families and kids. Our favorite ice rinks are those that offer frequent and accommodating public open skate times, well-reviewed early childhood skate lessons, and exciting youth sports leagues like hockey or figure skating. Drop in, get laced up, and have an ice day!
Johnny's Ice House
Kristy Pepping: Johnny's does not rent ice skates nor does it host any public ice skating, but they do host open hockey times, offer figure skating and hockey lessons for kids, and can be a venue for birthday parties. During open "Stick and Puck," guests are invited to work on their hockey skills and conditioning on the open ice. They offer two Chicago locations, East and West.
Fifth Third Arena
Shila: First and foremost, Fifth Third Arena is the practice home for the Chicago Blackhawks. The NHL-sized indoor ice rink is also home to other elite adult and youth hockey leagues, hockey camps, and clinics. Almost daily, too, they offer public skate times. Check the calendar to drop-in during a themed skate, which can include Blackhawk-related giveaways! From princesses to super heroes to cosmic skating, these open skate times are geared for family fun.
Oak Lawn Park District Ice Arena
Lisa R: This year-round arena has an international-sized ice surface and a concession stand serving lunch and dinner. The arena hosts all forms of classes and sports. 90-minute Open Skate sessions are typically offered 2-4 times a week. Kids particularly enjoy camps and special events here that include DJs, raffles, mini-lessons & more. Kids enrolled in classes receive free admission to Open Skate and some special events.
Southwest Ice Arena
Kristy Pepping: Southwest Ice Arena is a family-owned and operated business since 1975. They offer programs for learning to skate where each level is designed to teach a specific skill set toward basic movement, coordination and balance on the ice. Southwest offers ice skating and hockey classes focusing on the integral skating skills necessary for development of beginning figure skaters and hockey players of all ages. Plus, birthday parties too!
McFetridge Sports Center
Kristy Pepping: "All things ICE," is McFetridge Sports Center's claim because they have so many winter activities going on at once! They offer general skating lessons, hockey leagues, speed skating, figure skating, synchronized ice skating, a daily public skate schedule, rat hockey times and more.
Robert Crown Community Center and Ice Complex
Open skate is $7 - $9 per person, $3 for kids under 6, and $3 skate rental
Kristy Pepping: The Robert Crown Ice Complex provides ice skating, figure skating, hockey, speed skating and broomball. If your children do not have their own skates, they can rent them from the facility during their lesson times. There is also a weekly drop-in adult hockey event.
American Heartland Ice Arena
Kristy Pepping: American Heartland Ice Arena earns credit for housing a winning hockey and figure skating program. They also offer a unique on-ice fitness program that can help with balance and agility for all sports on and off the ice. Public open skate times and freestyle time take place regularly; visit calendar to confirm hours.
Skatium Ice Arena
Skatium Ice Arena offers hockey, figure skating and recreational skating for all levels and ages. Programs are taught by ice arena and affiliate organization professionals who provide comprehensive ice skating programs and leagues. There is a full-size rink as well as a smaller rink that can be used for private parties such as birthdays. They also offer public skate times for both honing hockey skills or figure skating fun.
Ice Land Skate
Kristy Pepping: Ice Land Skate offers learn-to-skate as well as competitive programs, hockey leagues and instruction. They also offer birthday parties with skate packages and a party room for use during your party.
Franklin Park Ice Arena
Kristy Pepping: Franklin Park Ice Arena offers both youth and adult hockey, They also have ice skating lessons and even speed skating! As they state on their site, "if you love to skate, but want something other than figure skating or hockey, you can race!" Their club, The Franklin Park Speed Skating Club, trains skaters to compete locally, regionally and nationally in this exciting Winter Olympic Sport. Plus, they also offer birthday parties, have an onsite pro shop and a concession stand.
Glenview Ice Center
As of January 2020, the Glenview Ice Center is closed for rennovations
Alexandra F.: The Glenview Ice Center offers fun on ice for all age groups and skill levels! Enjoy open skate, figure skating classes, ice hockey, and even broomball. Facility features include both a main rink and a smaller instructional rink, skate rental, concessions, vending machines, two multi-purpose rooms, and free wi-fi. Party and meeting rooms also available for rent.
Centennial Ice Arena
Shila: Centennial Ice Arena offers open skate times plus a variety of ice skating lessons for ages 3 ½ to adult, from the very beginner to the advanced skater in basic skating, hockey, and freestyle. The facility is also adjacent to a sledding hill (when conditions present), a well-kept playground, trails, and a disc golf course.
Mount Prospect Ice Arena
Yoli B: The Mount Prospect Ice Arena is a state of the art facility that has it all! The arena offers programs including lunch break skate, public skate, camps, lessons, practices, tournaments, and much more. Even the tiniest skaters can take lessons or learn to play hockey at this facility. The facility has 2 NHL sized sheets of ice, and one is ADA accessible! The arena also has an on-site restaurant that has views of both ice rinks from the second floor.
Rocket Ice Skating Rink
Kristy Pepping: Rocket Ice is a premier ice rink for hockey and figure skating. The instructors have collegiate, elite, semi-professional, and professional experience. They are committed to helping and sharing their knowledge with each player. Rocket Ice Skating Rink offers a wide variety of hockey classes and programs. Figure skating lessons at Rocket Ice are fun and safe for all ages and abilities. Plus, they offer exciting birthday packages perfect for that winter birthday.
Skate Room
Shila: It's always 70 degrees at Skate Room. Located inside Hawthorn Mall, this indoor rink uses ecofriendly synthetic ice that feels near the same as traditional ice. Drop in to enjoy public skating, take a lesson, play bumper cars or throw a birthday party. General admission covers unlimited ice skating.
Primary photo: VanveenJF on Unsplash
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