Chicago: The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium park will kick off the winter season on November 18

CHICAGO, 2016-Oct-13 — /Travel PR News/ — The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium park will kick off the winter season on Friday, November 18 (weather permitting), on the same day as the 103rd Annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. The rink will open to the public at noon and remain open through Sunday, March 5, 2017.

Now in its 16th season, the ice rink has become a Chicago winter tradition drawing over 100,000 skaters annually. Once again this year, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will present Winter Workouts with free skating lessons on Fridays – Sundays, on hour before the rink opens. Additionally, lessons and special programming (including speed skating demons, Noodle Hockey and ice dance demos) will be offered during Chicago Public School’s Winter Break, December 24 – January 8, one hour before the rink opens, except for December 25.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is located in Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Street. Skating is FREE and open to the public, with skate rentals available for $12. Grant support for Winter Workouts is provided by McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment, managed by the Millennium Park Foundation.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink will operate under the following hours:

  • Mondays–Thursday, noon–8pm
  • Fridays, noon–10pm (ice skating lesson at 11am)
  • Saturdays (November 19–January 7), 10am–10pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • Saturdays (January 14–March 4), 10am–9pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • Sundays, 10am–9pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)

Special holiday hours

  • Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, 10am–4pm (no ice skating lesson)
  • Friday, November 25, 10am–10pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 10am–6pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 10am–4pm (no ice skating lesson)
  • Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30, 10am–10pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 10am–8pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 10am–10pm (no ice skating lesson)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16, 10am–8pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • Chicago Public School Improvement Day, Friday, February 3, 10am–10pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)
  • President’s Day, Monday, February 20,10am–8pm (ice skating lesson at 9am)

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink was the first element of Millennium Park to open to the public. A special ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 20, 2001, featured performers and skaters including two gold-medal winning hockey players from the USA women’s team, the Radio City Rockettes and actress Bonnie Hunt. The rink is 200 ft. long, 80 ft. wide and has 15,910 sq. ft. of skating surface.

For more information about events in Millennium Park, visit millennumpark.org or call 312.742.1168, like Millennium Park on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @Millennium_Park.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

Contact:

Christine Carrino
christine.carrino@cityofchicago.org
312.744.0573

Jamey Lundblad
jamey.lundblad@cityofchicago.org
312.744.2493

Source: City of Chicago