Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park Opens in Midtown, NYC, With Free Skating and 180+ Shops

Bryant Park's annual Winter Village opened on October 28, marking its 25th season in Midtown Manhattan. The centerpiece is a 17,000-square-foot ice rink with free admission. Skaters who own their skates can get on the ice at no charge, but they need to reserve a time slot; own-skates tickets are released daily for dates one week ahead. The rink stays open through February 28, 2027.

The rink is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and until midnight from November 19 through January 3. Skate rentals run $18.72 to $64.48 before tax, with lower prices at off-peak times. An Express Lane ticket with rental skates costs $87.52, and the Premium Skate package, at $156 to $182, adds a skate concierge, snacks and a drink, and access to the Polar Lounge. Helmet rental is free. Bank of America cardholders get 10 percent off eligible rentals when they pay online.

At the northeast corner of the rink, The Lodge serves cocktails and bites at two full-service bars, with indoor and outdoor seating. It is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Holiday Shops, hosted by Urbanspace, form a European-style open-air market of more than 180 vendors selling gifts, home decor, jewelry and gourmet treats. They run through January 3, 2027, Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bank of America's Small Business Spotlight returns with four NYC businesses selling rent-free in turn: Queens' Rolly Poly Studios, Brooklyn's Pan De Arwah, Queens' SouveDeer and Manhattan's Lewis Cho.

Events include Club Santa on November 28, the Tree Lighting on December 1 at 5:30 p.m. and Live After Dark on December 19. Santa's Corner, a free outdoor photo spot with Santa that needs no ticket, runs December 14 through 18. Private igloos, seating up to eight guests for 90-minute sessions with seasonal food and drinks, return on November 5.