Did you know that Halifax, back in 1863, was the location of the first indoor skating rink in British North America? In the Public Gardens, to be exact!
This winter, Halifax offers a ton of Public Skates and Family Skates in keeping with tradition. With the exception of the Halifax Oval, which opens in mid-December, the majority of public skate schedules start in late October and last through the end of March. This list covers every skate for children and families that we could locate, along with a few for adults (18 and over), so you can enjoy some well-deserved “me time.” Please verify the times again before you go because they are subject to change and do not include holidays or blackout dates.
The Emera Oval
The Emera Oval is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the largest outdoor artificially refrigerated ice surface in Atlantic Canada. The ice surface can accommodate up to 1500 skaters at a time. Every day of the week, the public is welcome to skate for FREE at the Emera Oval. Children 12 years of age and younger must wear helmets. Renting skates and helmets is possible with a valid ID from the government.
Centennial Arena
Since 1967, Centennial Arena has provided services to the neighborhood. It still serves as the community’s structural backbone today as it did for many years.
Many notable hockey players, most recently Steven Dixon, began their careers at Centennial Arena while playing with the Centennial Hawks, who are now known as the Halifax Hawks. The Halifax West High School Boys and Girls Hockey Team practices there as well. For information on game timings, see the Halifax West High website.
Zatzman Sportsplex
The Zatzman Sportsplex, which opened as an ice rink in 1982, has grown to be a popular destination for families with children who participate in figure skating, speed skating, hockey, and ringette. Our rink is available for rental all year long and has scheduled open skating events in the fall and winter. It was created to promote and maintain holistic wellness not only within their facility but also across Dartmouth and beyond.
HRM 4-Pad
The HRM 4-Pad, one of Atlantic Canada’s top sporting venues, provides a range of activities for the community to participate in. For people of all ages, their programs are designed to lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle. They are located at 61 Gary Martin Drive, Bedford, NS
Looking for more locations for public skating? Visit https://www.familyfuncanada.com/halifax/halifax-public-skates-and-free-family-skates/
References:
http://www.halifaxoval.com
https://www.centennialarena.ca/
https://zatzmansportsplex.com/
https://hrm4pad.com/
https://www.familyfuncanada.com/
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-ice-skating-6712129/
