The City's 12,000-square-foot rink, which opened in 2012, is 4,000 square feet larger than the rink at New York City's Rockefeller Center. The Oval Ice Skating Rink, powered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, has piped-in music, skate rentals, concessions, holiday lights and more, making it a fun and affordable family-friendly activity. The rink is professionally managed by Legends Global, the DCU Center's talented management team.
Festival of Lights
The municipality's annual Festival of Lights event will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 from 4:30 - 9 p.m. on the Worcester Common Oval and adjacent streets. This free, family-friendly event will host a number of lighting features, ice skating, food vendors, community organizations, and performances. A highlight for Festival of Lights visitors is the lighting of the tree, which will take place at 6 p.m.
- Headline performance by two dynamic Worcester-rooted acts: Ricky Duran, NBC's "The Voice" Season 17 Runner-Up, and the Blue Light Bandits, a rock group with 5 million+ streams. Soulful and electrifying, they will engage the audience with festive music, lively rhythms, and the joyful spirit of the season.
- Performances by the Burncoat High School Quadrivium Chorus, Jo Ann Warren Studio, Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers, Midland Street Elementary Youth Choir, and North High School.
- Tree and large-scale light sculpture lighting, including:
- “Kinetic Perspective” - Inspired by the Optical Art illusions of the 1960s and designed by Studio JF Creative, this activation features a row of 16 abstract, immersive geometric shapes, playing with the perspective of visitors by giving the impression of movement.
- "Waves" - An immersive light art installation inspired by the energetic beauty and geometry of the sea. Innovative movement and light produced by designer Studio JF Creative generates new shapes and perspectives for viewers.
- "Allium" - A light-art sculpture, designed by Everything Good Studio, made of recycled bottles inspired by allium flowers, produces a larger than life, 10-foot-tall glowing cluster. Two interaction points allow participants to activate a unique light show by interacting with the artwork.
- "The Snowglobe" - This larger-than-life inflatable 3D projection snow globe, by performance-based artists of Fractaltribe, provides 360 degrees of festive fun on the festival night.
- Glow Park and Amusements: An illuminated playscape for youth and adults on Worcester Common and a variety of amusements and carnival games on Franklin Street for the night of the festival.
- Youth-designed public art activations and a craft making station managed by Create 508.
- The Worcester Public Library, at 3 Salem Sq., will be open for Festival of Lights on Friday, Dec. 5 until 8:30 p.m. with a hot cocoa station, small family crafts, giveaways, a family picture-taking area and a Friends of the Library pop-up holiday sale.
- Complimentary ice skating for all attendees during the Festival of Lights will be made possible by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Skaters may bring their own skates or rent for $6 per pair.
- FREE parking at the Pearl-Elm Garage (24 Pearl St. - located within a five-minute walk from the Common) and McGrath Parking Lot (located at the Worcester Public Library) beginning at 2 p.m.
- Interactive roving circus performers and fire performances by Cirque de Light.
- Santa Claus meet & greet
- Community organizations
- 15+ food vendors, Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company beer garden, face painting and more!
Note: Area road closures for Franklin Street and Front Street will begin at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Parking at all other municipal lots, garages, and metered spaces will maintain standard and event rates.
Partners: AC Hotels Marriot, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, College of the Holy Cross, Cumulus Radio Station Group, Discover Central Massachusetts, Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, DCU Center/Legends Global, Fiesta Shows, Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company, Kelleher & Sadowsky, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Rockland Trust, WeCare 365 AFC, Worcester Cultural Coalition, and Worcester Railers Hockey Club.
2025-26 Hours of Operation
Please note the ice skating rink is expected to officially open on Friday, Dec. 5.
Regular Operational Hours
- Fridays:5 - 9 p.m.
- Saturdays:1 - 6 p.m.
- Sundays:1 - 6 p.m.
School Vacation & Holiday Hours
- Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve):1 - 6 p.m.
- Thursday, December 25 (Christmas):Closed
- Friday, December 26 (School Vacation):1 - 9 p.m.
- Monday, December 29 - Thursday, January 1 (School Vacation):1 - 6 p.m.
- Friday, January 2 (School Vacation):1 - 9 p.m.
- Monday, January 19 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day):1 - 6 p.m.
- Monday, February 16 - Thursday, February 19 (School Vacation):1 - 6 p.m.
- Friday, February 20 (School Vacation):1 - 9 p.m.
- Sunday, February 22 (School Vacation/Last Day to Skate):1 - 6 p.m.
The Oval Ice Skating Rink will be open as the weather allows and any weather-related delayed openings or closures may be found by visiting the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages or by calling the Oval Ice Skating Rink Weather Hotline at 508-929-0777.
Special Events
- Friday, December 5: Festival of Lights
- Sunday, December 14: Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
- Saturday, December 20: Worcester Railers Takeover
- Sunday, December 21: Skate with Santa Claus
- Saturday, December 27: Worcester Railers Takeover
- Sunday, December 28: Worcester Railers Takeover
- Sunday, January 18: TRAX Birthday Celebration
- Monday, January 19 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day): Free Skate Event Courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- Sunday, February 8: Super Bowl Sunday Skate
- Saturday, February 14: Valentine Skate
Please be sure to check back regularly for updated special events or visit the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages.
General Admission Pricing
- Admission:$6.00
- Children 5 and Under Skate Free
- Group Admission (10 or More):$5.00 - must be purchased in advance by calling 508-929-0162.
- Rentals (Available Until 30 Minutes Prior to Closing):$6.00
- Little Helper Skate Guide:$5.00 per hour
Private Rentals
Private rentals make for a great employee outing, birthday celebration, family gathering or other group activity. Restaurants in the area can provide refreshments or we can put you in contact with a variety of food trucks to select from for on-site options.
Private rentals are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, immediately before or after public skate times.
Rental Fee:
- $350.00 per hour with availability of rental skates* for your attendees.
- $300.00 per hour without access to rental skates.
*Skate rentals are $6.00 per pair.
To rent the Oval Ice Skating Rink for your private event please contact 508-929-0162.
Skate Rentals
During public skating hours at the Worcester Common Oval, ice skate rentals will be available for $6. You will need valid identification in order to rent skates.
Accessibility at the Oval Ice Skating Rink
The comfort of our guests is essential; therefore, The Oval Ice Skating Rink recognizes the special needs of those guests with disabilities. The Oval Ice Skating Rink is accessible with ramps for guests to enter and exit off the ice. Guests who require adaptive skating equipment may obtain the following at no cost (subject to availability) at The Oval Ice Skating Rink: Skate Assistance Trainers or Bobby, the Seal Skate Aids (suitable for children; weight restrictions apply). Guests with disabilities may use The Oval Ice Skating Rink independently or with the help of a caregiver. Please note that caregivers are required to wear ice skates while on the ice. Everyone's safety and pleasure in utilizing The Oval Ice Skating Rink is important.
Individuals with personal assistive devices (adaptive ice sport sleds, adaptive wheelchairs (Typhoon), bar seat walkers or other similar devices) may be provided private access to the rink ½ hour before or ½ hour after public skate times for their use with guests. There will be no charge for the enjoyment of The Oval Ice Skating Rink during these times. Please contact 508-929-0162 to schedule this option. A minimum of a one-week advance reservation is requested.
If you have questions, concerns and/or additional suggestions, please feel free to contact 508-929-0162.
Plan Your Day
While at The Oval Ice Skating Rink, local Food Trucks will be on site on Saturdays and Sundays for access to refreshments during your visit. Food Trucks will be announced weekly via the Oval Ice Skating Rink's Facebook and Instagram pages.
Before or after your time at The Oval Ice Skating Rink, explore the many other amenities near the Common. For a list of options, visit Discover Central Massachusetts.
There is plenty of affordable parking available within walking distance of the Worcester Common Oval, including the underground Worcester Common Garage at 2 Eaton Place, Mercantile Center Parking Garage, Federal Plaza Parking Garage and the Pearl-Elm Parking Garage.
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