"Highly weather dependent." That's how Abbey Brooks, New Albany's Director of Strategic Initiatives, described the money the city expects from its new outdoor ice rink when she presented the plan to City Council in August, according to the New Albany-Gahanna Beacon. She projected $150,000 to $200,000 in total season revenue. The rink opens on Sunday, November 22, at the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater. Its first season runs on a one-year contract, and February will have a lot to say about how it does.
The same Sunday, the city's Holiday Tree Lighting leaves Market Square, where it was held every year from 2022 through 2025, and moves to Rose Run Park for the first time. Together, the two changes shift the center of New Albany's holiday season east along Dublin-Granville Road to the stretch of town that's still under construction.
A Concert Stage Gets a Second Season
The amphitheater at 170 E. Dublin-Granville Road already has a summer identity. It hosts the city's free summer concert series, which drew more than 4,000 attendees in 2025, the Beacon reported ahead of the council vote. Until now, it had no winter use.
The rink uses real ice. It's built and run by Strongsville-based Outdoor Ice Rinks, a family-run company that sets up the equipment, operates the rink and takes it down at the end of the season. City officials told council that this makes New Albany only the second suburb in Central Ohio with outdoor real-ice skating. Dublin is the other.
Skating runs from November 22 through February 28. The regular weekly schedule:
- Monday through Wednesday: closed
- Thursday and Friday: 5 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
The city says hours will expand during winter break and on holidays. Admission is $15 per person and includes skate rentals and everything happening inside the amphitheater. Brooks told council the fee covers about one to 1.5 hours of skating, depending on the day. With rentals included, a family of four pays $60 per session no matter who brings their own skates.
The Deal Behind the Ice
Council approved the rink 6-0 on August 18 under Resolution R-34-2026. The Beacon's coverage of that meeting lays out the terms:
| Term | What council heard |
|---|---|
| City capital cost | $167,000, for the rink only, not separate amphitheater modifications |
| Revenue split | 50-50 between the city and the operator, after operating expenses |
| Projected season revenue | $150,000 to $200,000 |
| Contract length | One year, with two possible one-year renewals |
| Admission price | $15, to be revisited after three years |
The math shows why the weather matters so much. Even at the top of the projection, the city's half of $200,000 is $100,000, and that's before operating expenses come out. That's well short of the $167,000 the city spent on the rink. The structure works over several winters, which is why the contract allows two renewals and the price stays fixed for three years. A warm, slushy first season would leave the city with less to judge the rink on when the first one-year term is up.
The rink's operating hours point the same way. It's closed three days a week and open evenings on Thursday and Friday, so most of its hours fall on weekends. A rainy Saturday in January costs the rink more than a rainy Tuesday ever could.
November 22 Now Spans Two Places
In past years, the tree lighting was a single stop at Market Square. This year the day is split between two venues on either side of downtown, and the times are set up so families can do both.
- Noon to 4:30 p.m., Santa Skate at the Hinson Amphitheater. Festive music, photos with Santa, letters to the North Pole and jingle bell decorating, all included in the $15 admission.
- 5 p.m., Holiday Tree Lighting at Rose Run Park. A children's choir leads carols, Santa and the Mayor lead the countdown, and hot drinks and donuts are free. The ceremony is free and runs until 5:30.
- Until 8 p.m., the rink stays open after the themed session ends.
December 6 follows the same pattern. The Hanukkah Skate runs noon to 4:30 p.m. with a skating dreidel, dreidel decorating and traditional games played for chocolate coins. Then the community Menorah Lighting begins at Rose Run Park at 5 p.m., with rabbis leading traditional blessings, a children's choir, and free hot drinks and kosher donuts. Admission is again $15 at the rink, the lighting is free, and the ice stays open until 8 p.m.
The New Tree Stands in a Park Still Under Construction
Rose Run Park is getting its holiday debut while Phase Two is still underway. According to the city's latest construction update, the southbound lane of S. High St. and the turn lane on E. Dublin Granville Road stay closed within the work zone through Wednesday, November 25. That's three days after the tree lighting. The city is asking drivers to use caution, allow extra travel time and follow posted signs. The city's Phase Two project page also lists the Village Hall and Police Department parking lots as closed to the public, with temporary Village Hall and police parking set up south of Village Hall Road.
The construction explains the move. Phase Two sits between Village Hall and the Police Department. At a City Council meeting, the project was described as adding a public parking lot, bridges over Rose Run Creek, a plaza, a pavilion with public restrooms, an enhanced stream corridor, walking paths, roadway improvements and a Veterans Memorial. The memorial will include a heroes walk, a contemplative plaza, a life-size tribute to Gold Star mothers and a water feature. Once it's finished, the area around the new tree will have most of what a winter crowd needs, from restrooms and parking to a plaza to gather in. This year, people at the lighting will be standing next to an active work zone.
That's the larger change behind both announcements. Market Square was New Albany's holiday gathering spot for at least four straight years. Now the city's two biggest winter traditions sit on the amphitheater and Rose Run corridor, and one of them depends on a contract with renewals still undecided.
The Rest of the Season Within a Few Blocks
The city's two Sundays at the rink and the park are the anchors. Other venues in town fill in the weeks around them:
- November 24, 7 to 10 p.m.: McCoy Center for the Arts shows Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas for free. No ticket is required.
- December 5, 9 a.m. to noon: Healthy New Albany holds its indoor farmers market at the Philip Heit Center on the first Saturday of each month, and December 5 is the first Saturday of December.
- December 11 to 13: New Albany Children's Ballet Theatre performs The Nutcracker at McCoy Center, with shows from Friday evening through Sunday evening.
- December 19, 11:30 a.m.: The New Albany Symphony plays its sensory-friendly Santa & the Symphony at McCoy Center.
- December 19 and 20, 3 p.m.: The New Albany Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform Holiday Spectacular at McCoy Center with trumpeter Benny Benack.
December 19 is a Saturday, so the rink opens at noon. The morning symphony show, the 3 p.m. Holiday Spectacular and an evening skate before the rink closes at 9 p.m. all fit in one day. Schedules can change during a first season, especially for weather, so check the City of New Albany's holiday events page before you head out.
Changes like a new park phase and a new winter tradition affect how a neighborhood lives, and over time they show up in how its homes are valued. If you'd like to know how New Albany's growing downtown corridor fits into your own home's value, Luxe Home Team would be glad to put that together for you. Request a complimentary market report, and we'll show you what's selling near Rose Run and Market Square this season.
