• Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Christmas Eve
    December 24, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Merry Christmas – RINK CLOSED TODAY!
    December 25
  • New Years Eve Open Skate
    December 31, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • New Years Day – RINK IS CLOSED TODAY!
    January 1, 2013
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day Skate
    January 21, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Grand Opening Celebration

November 24, 2012

Presented by Visit Saint Paul, this year’s festivities will begin by opening the Wells Fargo WinterSkate ice rink at 4:30 p.m. Ellen McNamara & Eric Kahnert, 5 Eyewitness News, will emcee the grand opening ceremony. Featured live entertainment for the ceremony will include a performance by the Wells Fargo Choir, a demonstration by Plymouth Wayzata Speed Skating Club and exhibition skating by the St. Paul Figure Skating Club.

Rice Park powered by Xcel Energy tree lighting ceremony will follow at 5 p.m. This year’s tree was donated by John and Leah Labbe of Saint Paul. The tree will feature a brilliantly lit six-foot star at the top sponsored by Gerten’s.

Once the gigantic Xcel Energy switch is flipped, a four-minute fireworks display will switch on the majestic Christmas tree, which will be on display and lit through the holiday season until Jan. 1, 2013.  During the tree lighting ceremony, cast members from Ordway’s production of Elf the Broadway Musical will delight guests with holiday music. Visitors can also enjoy music from Saint Paul Hotel’s It’s A Wonderful Life ~ A Live Radio Play. Rice Park, one of the oldest parks in the country, will feature special holiday décor including two 10-foot-tall classic Nutcrackers and two 12-foot-tall angel sculptures, several large wrapped gifts and glittering lit archways and trees.  Kids can take their picture with Santa and stop by the Macy’s booth to write a letter to Santa!

Photos will be provided by Venture Photography, Minnesota’s Premier Family Photographer.

  • Cost: Free
  • Time: 4:30pm – 7pm
  • Location: Landmark Plaza, adjacent to Rice Park in Downtown Saint Paul. View Map.
  • Parking: visit Smart Trips for updated parking information.
  • Onsite Amenities: Warming house with hot chocolate and snacks.

New This Year!

Wells Fargo WinterSkate Brew is available at Great Waters Brewing:  Sip on an original microbrew created by local brewers at Great Waters Brewing.

Rock the Ice presented by McNally Smith College of Music: Live bands playing on the ice (yes, physically standing on the ice) from 7 pm – 10 pm on Friday nights in December and the Friday and Saturday before Christmas.  Skate around the artificially-chilled rink while local bands play from the center of the ice!  Rock the Ice is December 7, 14, 21, 22, 23 and 28.

Comcast Holiday Movies on Wells Fargo WinterSkate:  A chance to skate on the rink while watching movies on a huge jumbotron!  Skaters can twirl around on the ice while watching some of their favorite holiday classics on December 29 and 30 from 4 pm—9 pm.  No tickets needed!  No extra charges!

Movie Schedule

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm      A Christmas Story

4:30 pm –6:00 pm       Elf

6:00 pm -7:30 pm        National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm      It’s a Wonderful Life

Macy’s Winter Weather Fashion Show:  A Fashion Show on Ice!  The “coolest” fashions in the Twin Cities will be shown as models strut the icy runway on December 14 from 6:30 pm -7:00 pm.  Event is free and open to the public.

Wells Fargo WinterSkate Commemorate Poster:  Big Table Studio in downtown St. Paul created an original screen print that celebrates the 9th year of Wells Fargo WinterSkate.  Prints will be sold at the Wells Fargo WinterSkate warming house and the Landmark Center gift shop for only $10.

Download the press release HERE for more info!