Family Activities
Where to Ice Skate in Oakland County with Kids This Winter
Three city-run rinks anchor winter skating in Oakland County: the outdoor Rink at Royal Oak, the refrigerated rink at Stine Community Park in Troy, and the indoor Birmingham Ice Sports Arena.
Winter skating season in Oakland County comes down to three city-run rinks, an outdoor rink in Royal Oak, an outdoor refrigerated rink in Troy, and an indoor arena in Birmingham, and all three publish their schedules and pricing on official city pages. This guide covers what is confirmed for the 2026-27 season and where to check as opening dates firm up.
The Rink at Royal Oak is the outdoor rink at Centennial Commons, 221 East Third Street, in the middle of the downtown's walkable district. The season typically runs from late November through mid-February, weather permitting, and the rink announces its exact opening date each fall on its official site at therinkatroyaloak.com. Skating costs $10 Monday through Friday before 5 p.m., $12 in the evenings and all day on weekends, and $5 for skate rentals, so the cost of a family outing stays predictable. The rink sits in the same park as the Royal Oak Holiday Markets, which return for three December weekends starting December 4.
The Rink at Stine Community Park in Troy, at 241 Town Center Drive, is a refrigerated outdoor rink, which means its schedule does not depend on a natural freeze. The City of Troy Recreation department has posted a tentative operating season of December 4, 2026 through February 28, 2027, and the city's official recreation calendar confirms the season opener on Friday, December 4, when the Christmas Tree Lighting brings free public skating from 5 to 9 p.m. Regular-season public skating hours are posted each November on the city's recreation pages at rec.troymi.gov, skating is free, and skate rentals cost extra.
The Birmingham Ice Sports Arena at 2300 East Lincoln Street is the indoor option, operated by the City of Birmingham, and it runs open public skate sessions for all ages through the winter alongside adult-only skate sessions for skaters 18 and older. City pricing is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and skaters 17 and under, with $3 skate rentals and helmets recommended. The arena confirms the 2026-27 season with its Learn to Skate program running November 9, 2026 through January 24, 2027, and the city posts each season's open skate hours on its official page at bhamgov.org.
For parents with young children, the three rinks cover different situations. Royal Oak and Troy reward a mild evening outside in a downtown or park setting, and the Birmingham arena is the dependable choice for the coldest or windiest days. The details above come from each city's official pages, and those same pages are where each rink posts daily hours and any weather or holiday closures as the season gets closer.
Sources: The Rink at Royal Oak official website (therinkatroyaloak.com), City of Troy Recreation (rec.troymi.gov), City of Birmingham (bhamgov.org). Information verified October 29, 2026.