Outdoor Ice Skating Calgary: where to go ice skating this winter
The Olympic Plaza is a free outdoor ice skating rink located in downtown Calgary. This is one of the most beautiful outdoor rinks in the city and they offer ice skate rentals.
The 1988 Winter Olympic were hosted in Calgary and the Olympic Plaza was built specifically for the medal presentation ceremonies. Since then, the plaza is still a well-loved gathering spot, with many local events held there all year around.
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Outdoor Ice skating at the Olympic Plaza
In the wintertime, the plaza is lit up with festive and cheery lights for the holiday season. It’s a beautiful place to spend a couple hours outdoors and is a great photo spot. This outdoor rink is really well maintained, smooth to skate on and is typically open between mid-November to mid-March. Visit the City of Calgary site for the most up to date information on operating hours.
I arrived at the ice skating rink around 8:30 am on a weekend hoping to set up and start taking photos before it got too busy. However, it turns out that coming early was not really the move, as the Zamboni was on the ice doing its thing!
Sometimes, the best laid out plans don’t always work out, but you just make the most of it anyways. I took that as an opportunity to explore the surrounding area and got some great shots of the city. The Zamboni didn’t finish until about 9:30 am, but I had a completely fresh and smooth sheet of ice to skate on!
Outdoor Ice Skate Rentals in Calgary
The Olympic Plaza is free to enter, but you’ll have to rent your own ice skates. Their Skate Hut is easy to find and their rentals are reasonably priced. Children’s skates are $10 CND and adult skates are $15 CND and you can rent them for up to 2 hours. They also supply accessories such as helmets, skating aids and offer skate sharpening services. Note that they only take debit and credit. Visit Calgary Skate Rentals for the most up to date information on operating hours.
How to dress for outdoor ice skating in Calgary
For those who go want to go outdoor ice skating on a cold Calgary day, an important tip is to bring hand warmers to put into your socks or mittens! I grew up in one of Canada’s coldest climates and somehow I continue to under-estimate how cold it can be when you’re outdoors for a long period of time. Let’s just say my toes were definitely frozen by the end of this little ice skating adventure (and it was only -5 degrees C!).
Other winter gear you should be prepared to have include a warm toque or ear muffs, a warm jacket, thermal layers (doubling up on pants is a must), extra socks, mittens and a scarf. Extra layers are always nice, as it’s better to come having too many layers, than not enough. The weather can change quickly in Alberta, and you’ll want to protect yourself from frostbite.
Parking at the Olympic Plaza
The Olympic Plaza does not have it’s own parking lot, however there is lots of street parking. The Olympic Plaza is easily accessible and within walking distance from the train stations.
Other things to do around the Olympic Plaza
One very Canadian thing to do after an outdoor activity is warming up with a cup of hot chocolate. Head to Deville Coffee which is nearby the rink for a warm drink and bite after a fun day spent ice skating.
The Olympic Plaza is located within walking distance of other points of interest including the Arts Common, Stephen Ave walk and CORE shopping centre. One of my favourite restaurants nearby that I always recommend to first time visitors to Calgary is going to Major Tom Bar during sunset.
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I didn’t hold back on this list, so be sure to check it out! There are endless things to do in Calgary and I hope this helps you with your trip planning.
