We checked three places to ice skate with little kids in and around Providence: one holiday or outdoor rink and two indoor rinks with public skating. One posts skate aids for beginners, like The Providence Rink. They’re spread over three areas, from Downtown to Kingston, URI campus, about 30 miles south.
Season at a glance
Every rink on one timeline, so you can see what’s open the weekend you want to go. Tap a rink for prices and hours.
Holiday season
Seasonal and pop-up rinks, soonest first. The four boxes are what parents ask first: season, price, skate rental and skate aids.
2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903
The 2026–27 season runs late November to early March, weather permitting, with public skating 10am–10pm daily. Admission covers three hours on the ice. Weekend bumper-car sessions run 10am–2pm.
Outdoor rinks close for warm or wet weather. Check the rink’s page the morning you go.
Any season
Public skate sessions open to families. Session times change week to week, so each card links to the rink’s own page.
Town of Smithfield
Town-run indoor rink with low prices.
Kingston, URI campus, about 30 miles south
The University of Rhode Island's rink runs public skate for all ages. Lessons and hockey drills are not allowed during these sessions, so the ice stays relaxed for beginners.
Before you go
SafetyBring a helmetFalls are part of learning. A bike or hockey helmet protects little heads, and some rinks ask for one.Skate aidsAsk about skate aidsA walker-style aid lets new skaters push and glide on their own. Each card says whether the rink posts them.
FitThin socks, warm mittensOne pair of thin socks fits rental skates best. Waterproof mittens keep hands dry after a tumble.Keep planning
November: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ProvidenceFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in ProvidenceIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ProvidenceBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in ProvidenceParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ProvidenceKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in ProvidenceParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in ProvidencePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ProvidenceBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ProvidenceChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ProvidenceWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in ProvidenceStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in ProvidenceDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
The Providence Rink (Downtown); Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink (Town of Smithfield); Boss Ice Arena (Kingston, URI campus, about 30 miles south). The holiday or outdoor rink is listed first; indoor rinks with public skating follow.
The Providence Rink: dates not posted yet. We add the 2026–27 dates as soon as the rink posts them.
The Providence Rink: Skate aid $9 plus tax. Rinks that don’t mention aids say Not listed on their card.
The Providence Rink: $9 adults; skate rental Skates $8.41 plus tax. Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink: $5; skate rental $5. Boss Ice Arena: $10; skate rental $5. Prices are the rink’s own and can change on holidays.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week from October through February. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Providence that weekend, rinks included.
