Insiders Guide - Elmwood on Ice
Category: What’s New
Get ready to lace up those skates! This insider's guide will tell you everything you need to know about this family favorite outdoor festivity.
Event Information
What: WDBJ7's Elmwood on Ice is a 10 week, community-wide winter celebration with ice skating. The seventh season of downtown ice skating brings joyous fun for the whole family!
Where: Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke (706 S Jefferson St.)
When: November 24, 2023 - January 28, 2024
The rink is open on Fridays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. On Saturdays, you can skate between the hours of 11:00am and 10:00pm, giving you lots of time to enjoy the ice! The hours on Sundays are noon to 7:00pm and the rink is open several Thursdays in December.
We do have different hours for the holidays. On days that Roanoke City Schools are out, the rink is generally open 11:00am – 10:00pm (see full schedule to the right)!
We give staff the day off for Thanksgiving. We also have limited hours on Christmas Eve, and we are closed on Christmas Day. But don't worry— we reopen on the 26th!
Tickets and Pricing
You can purchase tickets at the ice rink anytime WDBJ7's Elmwood on Ice is open. Just walk up to the shed and one of our employees will get you ready to go.
Skating is UNLIMITED on the day of purchase, which means you can skate your heart out (or until you get too cold). Ice skating admission is just $10 and skate rentals are $2, making this an affordable outing.
Top Tips to Make the Most of Attending
Plan Your Parking Before You Arrive
Planning before you go will save you time and a headache.
Luckily, there’s plenty of parking around Elmwood Park, including the Elmwood Park Garage and Lot, which are FREE every weekday after 5:00pm and all weekend! The gates stay down 24/7 in the garage, however during free parking hours simply pull a ticket at the entry, then scan at exit and the gate will raise for no charge. The best part? You're so close to the rink. Once you've parked, just cross the street (using the crosswalk) and you'll be at Elmwood Park.
If you want to park somewhere else, we recommend PARK Roanoke lots and garages because they usually have lower rates than privately owned parking.
Bundle Up!
Before you leave the house, make sure you're ready for the outdoor winter weather. We recommend wearing a jacket, warm socks, gloves, and a hat. You might want to consider wearing jeans or another type of warm pants. There's nothing worse than falling on the ice in thin leggings!
Parents, if you're sending your kid to the rink with a group or on a field trip, make sure they packed appropriate attire for the ice.
Bring Your Own Skates
Not only are your personal skates likely more comfortable, but bringing your own will be better for your wallet. You can save money by not renting skates.
If you don't have your own— no worries. We offer rentals for just $2!
- Sizes start at Youth 9 and go up to Adult 14
- Figure skates available up to size 11
- Hockey skates available Adult size 8-14
Our employees will help you identify a skate size that’s right for you.
Use Skate Aids
There are no age restrictions at Elmwood on Ice since children vary in their abilities. That being said, we understand that not everyone knows how to skate (or not well). We offer a variety of skate aids to help those who are still in the early stages of their figure skating and ice hockey careers! Some are adjustable and our staff can help you get the skate aid to the right height.
Adults, we know you might not be able to skate, and that's perfectly fine! Just be gentle on our aids so they don't break.
Skate with Santa
Make the outing even more special by coming on one of our Skate with Santa dates. On December 9th and 16th you can skate with your favorite members from the North Pole, including Santa, Mrs. Claus, and special guests. Skate with Santa lasts from 1pm to 3pm. Don't forget to take a picture!
Additional Information
Accepted Payment
We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Downtown Roanoke Gift Cards.
Private Rentals
If you have a large group that wants to skate, like a classroom of students, you might want to consider booking a private rental. Private rentals are available on days when the ice rink is normally closed to the public (like Mondays). The cost is $250 an hour and skates are included. The rink can accommodate up to 75 people on the ice at a time.
Private rentals are perfect for field trips and birthday parties!
Book by emailing our Events Manager at TylerM@DowntownRoanoke.org.
FAQs
We can't fit all of our most frequently asked questions into this post, so we've created a special page just for that.
Now get out there and have some fun!
Mentioned in this Post
Elmwood Park
706 S Jefferson St