Town Square Ice Rink to Open This Weekend

Barring any unforeseen weather delays, a long-awaited skating rink—with real ice—is scheduled to open this weekend at Rockville Town Square, Federal Realty Investment Trust announced this week.

Dasher boards are up and construction of the rink is nearing completion on the plaza of the retail center, at 131 Gibbs Street, in Town Center.

The rink is scheduled to open on Saturday—Christmas Eve—and will be open Christmas Day with extended hours.

Holiday hours are:

• Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): noon to 11p.m.
• Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve): 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Jan. 1 (New Year's Day): 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The rink will be open daily for recreational skating and skate rentals until mid-March.

A two-hour skating session will cost $8 for adults and $7 for children age 12 and under and for seniors age 55 and older. Hockey and figure skates will be available for $3 in the rental shop located in the converted Town Square pavilion.

Season passes and group rates will be available with extended hours of operation on holidays and school closing days. The rink also will offer group and private skating lessons for all ages, private ice rentals, birthday parties and fundraising opportunities for nonprofit groups.

Rockville Town Square Ice Skating on Facebook and a Skating Hotline at 301-545-1999 will provide more information and bookings. A call to the hotline on Thursday afternoon was answered by a voice mail system.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, the owner and operator of the Town Square retail and residential district, will hold a grand opening celebration for the rink at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday with a special appearance by former U.S. Olympian Kimmie Meissner.

Meissner will officially open the rink with a special performance and autograph signing.

The celebration also will include live music, hot chocolate, fireworks and appearances by local dignitaries.

Admission is free.

At 7,200 square feet, the rink is the largest outdoor ice skating rink between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and is the largest in Montgomery County, according to a news release from Federal Realty.

Town Square hosted a rink with a plastic skating surface in 2008. The city’s Planning Commission , but Federal Realty was .

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The Grand Opening of The Rink at Town Square

Wednesday, Dec. 28

6 p.m.: Live music.

6:45 p.m.: Opening ceremony.

7 p.m.: Performance by Kimmie Meissner.

7:15 p.m.: Grand opening.

7:30-8:30 p.m.: Meet and greet with Kimmie Meissner.

7:30-10 p.m.: Live music and skating.