Ice Skating Comes to Georgetown in November

The Georgetown Washington Harbour fountain went dry on Oct. 1 to allow construction of the Washington Harbour outdoor ice rink on the Potomac River waterfront to commence. It should be ready just in time for the winter season.

“It’s essentially going to be the Rockefeller of Washington,” said Dean Cibel, joint owner of Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s Riverside Grill, in regards to the rink’s size, which is larger than the rinks at Rockefeller Center in New York City and National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden in Washington.

The newly renovated fountain at Washington Harbour was constructed to allow for conversion into an 11,800-square-foot ice rink from November to March, as a part of the Washington Harbour revitalization.

The rink should be completed “on or around the weekend before Thanksgiving,” said Joshua Lynsen, a Washington Harbour spokesman. “That’s as solid as we can get this far out.”

Cibel hopes both his restaurants will have new, outdoor bars that are heated by the time the rink is constructed.

Cibel said the ice rink will make Washington Harbour’s business go from “three seasons to four.”

Washington Harbour at 3000-3020 K St., NW, is home to cafes, restaurants, offices and condominiums.

Rink admission will be $9 for adults and $7 for children, seniors and military members.  College students will receive a $2 discount on certain days by showing their student identification card. Lynsen said a calendar with those dates will come out closer to the rink’s opening.

Skate rental will be $5. If visitors are as new to skating as the rink is to Georgetown, skating lessons will be available. 

A skate with Santa Claus event will be held around the Christmas season. 

Rink Hours:

Monday through Thursday: noon to 9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7p.m.