New York gets an early start on winter joy on Wednesday, October 28, when Bank of America Winter Village returns to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan and its celebrated ice rink opens at noon.
The Rink is the centerpiece of the village: 17,000 square feet of ice in the heart of the city, framed by the New York Public Library and the Midtown skyline. Admission is free, which makes it the city’s only free-admission ice skating rink, and high-quality rental skates are available for anyone who does not bring their own. Skate aids for beginners, free helmet rentals and lessons help first-timers feel at home on the ice.
The rink stays open daily through February 28, 2027, weather permitting, with free skating shows and special events on the ice planned through the season. Visitors can reserve a skating time in advance, and Bank of America cardholders receive 10 percent off skate rentals.
Around the ice, the Holiday Shops by Urbanspace turn the park’s walkways, plazas and terraces into a European-inspired open-air market, with artisans from New York City and around the world selling local crafts, artisan foods and gifts from custom-designed jewel box kiosks. It is an easy, happy first taste of the holiday season, right behind the library’s famous stone lions.
Photo: Colin Miller / Bryant Park
