Howard Park’s 16,000 square foot ice trail and pond is a premier winter destination for the South Bend region. The ice trail features rolling hills and soft curves that provide skaters with a diverse terrain when making their way around the loop. The ice pond is attached to the ice trail but provides a more traditional skating experience with an isolated skating area that can be used for learning to skate or skating activities like broomball.
Ice skating is available throughout the cold-weather season, 7 days a week. Admission to the skate trail and pond and skate rentals are available at the support building located on the east side of the park.
Questions? Check out the frequently asked questions below.
Ice Skating Season: November 24, 2023 - March 2024
*all sessions 80-minutes in length
Monday
7:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 PM | 7:00 PM
Wednesday
3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 PM
Friday
3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM
Black Friday (Nov. 24)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM
Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
No open skate
Holiday Break (Dec. 26 – Jan. 6)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM
New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM
New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)
1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM
MLK Jr. Day (Jan. 15)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM* | 7:00 PM
*Access to ice trail only. Pond closed for learn to skate lessons.
President’s Day (Feb. 19)
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM* | 7:00 PM
*Access to ice trail only. Pond closed for learn to skate lessons.
RESERVE YOUR SKATING TIME ONLINE
Limited online reservations guarantee your time on the ice.
DRESS WARM
Make sure to layer up, dress warm and be prepared to be outside. During your visit you are welcome to change skates outside, and enjoy the use of the outdoor fire pits and heaters located throughout the park grounds.
OUTDOOR SKATE CHANGING
Change your skates outdoors near one of our additional heating elements! Additional seating and heating elements have been added outdoors to provide space for skate changing and warming up during Zamboni breaks. Still, your first plan of attack to stay warm should be to layer up and dress warm. As a backup plan, visit the South Bend Chocolate Café to Go stand for a warm cup of hot chocolate!
LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME
Lockers will be available to rent during your 90-minute skating session inside the Event Center, however, we encourage you to leave valuables at home.
CONSIDER VISITING DURING NON-PEAK HOURS
For those interested in a less crowded experience, consider visiting the Ice Trail during the week (Tuesday – Thursday, Friday afternoons for kids and families) to avoid the days and times with the highest volume of people.
MOVE THROUGH THE LINE FASTER BY BRINGING YOUR OWN SKATES & PURCHASING A SEASON PASS!
Though skate rental is included for free with all admission purchases, bringing your own skates provides another opportunity to get on the ice sooner.
Promotions & Events
Mondays & Thursdays: Learn To Skate Classes
A 4-week course offered three different times throughout the season. See page for more details and to register.
Tuesdays: $5 Skate Night
All admission (adult and youth) is just $5. Does not apply during the holiday week of Dec 26 – Jan 6
Fridays: DJ Skate Night
Regular rates apply
Yoga On Ice
Saturday, Jan. 20 & Feb. 17
9:30 – 10:15 AM on the Pond
Ice Rentals
School Field Trips
Available anytime during the work day, Monday – Thursday and must be scheduled one week in advance. See page for more details.
Private Event
Take advantage of an exclusive opportunity to have the entire Howard Park Ice Trail all to yourself. Available 7 days per week (excluding holidays). See page for more details.
Use code "EARLYBIRD10" for 10% off of season passes. Offer expires October 24, 2020.
SKATE ADMISSION
ages 3 - 17- Rental of skates included for free
SKATE ADMISSION
ages 18+- Rental of skates included for free
REDUCED-RATE ADMISSION
SKATE-IT-FORWARD- All ages. Rental of skates included for free.
Did You Know?
10% of all proceeds support our Skate-it-Forward program which covers the cost of skating for children and families who may not otherwise be able to afford it.
Please consider sharing your feedback about your time with VPA. We are 100% committed to providing the ultimate ice skating experience at Howard Park and look forward to hearing from you!
Skate sizes are available in children’s size 8 through men’s size 14. All skates are men’s hockey skate sizing. Sizing one size down from a normal men’s street shoe should get you the optimal, snug fit. For more information on finding your exact size, check out this sizing guide.
Locker space is available in the Centier Bank Commons. Lockers come in two sizes (19.7” deep x 12.8” wide x 14.4″ tall and 19.7” deep x 12.8” wide x 24” tall), with the largest size able to accommodate a family. Lockers are $4 for the regular size and $7 for the jumbo size (or free for season pass holders by scanning the back of their season pass). Cubbies under benches are also available, but items left here are unattended.
We offer private rentals of the ice pond or trail during non-public skate hours. Fill out our contact form here to request more information.
A skate assist sled is available for use by skaters with physical disabilities and their companion skater.
Unfortunately, skate sharpening is not available onsite.
If our website says we are sold out, we are unfortunately sold out. Due to the safety of our guests, we have a limited number of skaters that we can have on the ice for each session. If your desired skating session is sold out, please try to reserve another day!
If your skate session does not appear online or there is no message that we are sold out, please contact the Howard Park front desk at 574.299.4765.
If you need to make a change to your current reservation, you can log into your Customer Terminal from your confirmation email to make any changes or send our staff a note.
We would love for you to host your event with us at Howard Park. Event details can be found here or by calling our team at 574-299-4765.
The Zamboni will typically resurface the ice every 80 minutes (weather-dependent) and will take 40 minutes to complete.
Regular Zamboni Hours:
- Tue. 6:20 – 7 pm
- Wed. 4:20 – 5 pm, 6:20 – 7 pm
- Fri. 4:20 – 5 pm, 6:20 – 7 pm, 8:20 – 9 pm
- Sat. 12:20 – 1 pm, 2:20 – 3 pm, 4:20 – 5 pm, 6:20 – 7 pm, 8:20 – 9 pm
- Sun. 12:20 – 1 pm, 2:20 – 3 pm, 4:20 – 5 pm
Parking is available along the street or in the Zion Church parking lot.
Yes, we are excited to be able to offer introductory skating lessons for the public at no additional cost to the price of admission. All classes will take place on the Tire Rack Ice Pond and be offered in three different time blocks: 5:30 PM, 6 PM, 6:30 PM and 7 PM. After class, skaters are welcome to stay around and practice their newfound skills on the Ice Trail. Click here for more information.
We have a limited amount of skate assists for children. Ask any staff member for details.
If the weather isn’t looking great for your skating session you do have the option to reschedule for a different day and time in your Customer Terminal. If you want to wait it out, we will notify all guests via email at least one hour prior to your scheduled skating session if your session will be cancelled.
No. Only guests who are ice skating will need to make a reservation. Those who are not ice skating can enjoy the park.
The Family Season Pass is valid for 2 named adults living in the same household and up to 6 of their dependent children under the age of 18.
Yes. Private ice rental is available on specific days and times, outside of open skating hours. For pricing and availability, please fill out a reservation inquiry.