Bloomington outdoor skating rinks and warming houses, 2026-27
TLDR: Bloomington's nine outdoor rinks are set to open Dec. 14, 2026, weather permitting, and run through Feb. 28, 2027. Every park has a general skating rink and a hockey rink, lit 4:30 to 10 p.m. daily, and the warming houses open weekday afternoons and most of the weekend. For today's ice, call 952-563-8878, option 3.
The nine rinks
Each park has a general skating rink and a hockey rink, and Running and Westwood have two hockey rinks. All nine are lit from 4:30 to 10 p.m. every day.
- Brookside ParkSkating and hockey10000 Xerxes Ave. S.
- Bryant ParkSkating and hockey1001 W. 85th St.
- Kelly ParkSkating and hockey185 E. 102nd St.
- Poplar Bridge ParkSkating and hockey4600 W. 85th St.
- Ridgeview ParkSkating and hockey6001 W. 94th St.
- Running ParkSkating, 2 hockey rinks9501 12th Ave. S.
- Southwood ParkSkating and hockey4800 Terracewood Dr.
- Sunrise ParkSkating and hockey9401 Bloomington Ferry Rd.
- Westwood ParkSkating, 2 hockey rinks3490 W. 109th St.
When the season runs
The city plans to open the rinks Dec. 14, 2026, and keep them open through Feb. 28, 2027, both weather permitting. A rink needs at least 10 straight days of below-freezing weather, day and night, before crews can flood it, and floods go best between zero and 10 degrees, so a warm December pushes the opening back.
The season usually ends around mid-February no matter when it started: the stronger late-winter sun breaks the ice down at the edges even when it's near freezing. The city keeps a few rinks in each part of town open into early March, though it warns those aren't always in the best shape.
Warming house hours
- Monday to Thursday4 to 8 p.m.
- Friday4 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- SundayNoon to 8 p.m.
Warming houses are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They're open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 14. The hours depend on staff being available.
When a rink closes
The rinks and lights stay on as scheduled unless:
- the air temperature is 10 below zero or colder;
- the wind chill is 20 below or colder;
- warm weather has softened the ice; or
- more than 2 inches of snow fell, which can hold up clearing the ice and opening the building.
The crews who keep the rinks also plow the streets and sidewalks, so after a heavy snow a rink often isn't skateable that day. The weather line, 952-563-8878, option 3, has the day's status, and the city sends skating alerts by email or text from its rinks page.
On the ice
- Skate at a sensible speed, in the same direction as everyone else.
- No hockey sticks or pucks on the general skating rink.
- No sleds, strollers or cones on the ice, and no carrying children, babies in carriers included.
- Dogs stay leashed in the park and aren't allowed in the warming houses.
- No smoking, tobacco or alcohol anywhere in city parks.
Skating indoors
The Bloomington Ice Garden, 3600 W. 98th St., has open skate all season: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Sundays, $5 a person and $5 for skate rental. The schedule can change, so the city asks skaters to check the ice schedule first. More answers on parks and skating are in our FAQ.
Where this comes from
The city's outdoor skating rinks page for the 2026-27 season, and its Bloomington Ice Garden page. If the city changes a date or an hour, we'll update this page.