Skating classes, good value and clean facility-very friendly staff! Good selection at the…read moreconcession stand

Great place, feels super cozy... Great music, you can't…read moreskate? No problem they have coaches who are super friendly and make sure you enjoy it... After class you get to stay and practice!

This is my first time coming. It was for a event, Pilates and other fitness activations. The arena…read moreis beautiful. It's like on a rooftop and has fields; there's tons of different stands and you can get food at certain stands. I didn't know this place existed until my Sweatpals event happened to take place here and I'm so glad I had a chance to check it out. It is up north and because this was a outside event, I can't really comment on staff but facilities and the space was amazing.

I booked the Skyline Pitch for my birthday, and it honestly couldn't have been a better experience…read more First off, the setting is unreal. Playing up there with the Chicago skyline in the background makes it feel like a special event automatically -- especially around sunset and under the lights. It's easily one of the coolest places to host a game in the city. The field itself was in great condition -- clean turf, well marked lines, and plenty of space to play competitively without feeling crowded. Everything felt organized and ready when we arrived. Shoutout to Gabriel on the staff -- he was extremely helpful throughout the process. From booking to day-of coordination, he made everything smooth and stress-free. It made a big difference knowing someone was on top of the details so we could just enjoy the games. The teqball table was also a huge hit. It gave everyone something fun to do before and after matches, and not many places offer that. It added a unique touch to the whole experience. Between the skyline views, quality field, helpful staff, and fun extras like the teqball table, this was an awesome birthday setup. I'd definitely book it again.

Amazing!!!! Wow! I love ice skating and this was my first time on a ribbon and now I'm ruined for…read morelife and can never return to a tiny circular holiday rink again. This is way better! So freeing! So much more room and it's a fun course. I think the course is almost a half mile long. Beautiful downtown views and it's such a nice course in Maggie Daley Park. Friendly and helpful staff. Lockers available to rent. Refreshments available outside. I have my own skates so it's free if I skate during the first session, and only $5 any other time. I came here last week on my birthday and it was the perfect start to my special day. It brought me so much joy and I can't wait to return.

We went during Christmas break. You need to book your visit beforehand. When I book the only time…read moreavailable was from 8-10am. If you bring your own skate it's free. I like this place has railing all around and it is not the traditional round more like a trail. Feel quite iconic to skate here during our Chicago visit. I had been thinking about this since I cam in the summer.

Started taking cardio tennis classes here Winter 2025. I usually take classes with the city but…read morewanted to get a jumpstart this Winter and Spring before outdoor classes resume. Getting into a cardio class is extremely hard as there is limited about of spots. Additionally you have to have a verified 3.0 rating or above to get into the classes. I take the medium impact classes which has a capacity of 12 people. On average 8-10 people show up for class. It is a really good workout. There are 6 courts but 2 can be used for pickleball. I like this facility as there is ample parking. Also it is nice to see the ice skating classes and practices. The facility itself has lockers, water machines, vending machines and elevator lift for accessibility. I also had my racket re-strung by Carlos for a decent price. I was able to drop it off and pickup the next time that so was at the facility.

Pretty sure they have teenagers running this entire operation. Went for free skate on a Saturday,…read morewhich I assumed would be busy. I few things I also assumed is that they'd have a system for their line, which stupidly spiraled around the lobby confusing every single new person that came. By the time I got to the front (only an hour left in free skate at this point), they sold out of all but three sizes (that's including men/women/kids). No effort to proactively inform people wasting their time in line. The person I came with brought their own skates so they still went on the ice while I watched, but the rink was total chaos. They allowed way too many people on the ice and the teenage Skate Guards were completely useless, staring at their phones or just staring at the ground bored. Fire those guys for sure. Absolute bust of an afternoon. From what I hear this place wasn't always this bad. To management: Please offer some kind adult only skate time and find Skate Guards who give a damn. To prospective free skaters: Go somewhere else.

Though it was freezing that night, it was still a lot of fun! I do believe this Jack's pop-up is…read moremore intricate than their Halloween. Lot of detail went into every part of the space. They had ice-skating, ax throwing, bump cars, carnival games, stores to buy Christmas items, a sketch artist, Santa was even there and of course tons and tons of photo ops. They had a good selection of food, soups as well as warm and cold drinks. Mullet wine was delicious and strong. They had ice-skating shows every other hour and places to warm yourself; like log fire pits as well as cabin tents that had heaters. They have various packages you can buy that is inclusive of Games food and ice-skating. You could just go for a photo opportunities as well. Everyone was very helpful and kind and I do think you get a lot for your money. This is great for the family or for date night.

I'd never been before, so I didn't have many expectations to be honest! We went on a Wednesday…read morenight, which proved to be an excellent decision because it was actually pretty empty! It was really nice to enjoy all the attractions and the lights without having to fight people for space. It was quite easy to take photos of all the decorations too. I paid for entry and ice skating, and while I'm not much of a skater myself, I had a nice time on the rink! If you're a more distinguished skater, you might want to bring your own skates, but I have a feeling you'd be doing that anyway! The bumper cars were surprisingly funny and I had a good time figuring out the control configuration that would let me optimize rear-ending my sister as much as possible. The things they have on sale, nutcrackers, candies, hats and sweaters, were surprisingly well priced. The food and drinks were also well priced. In Fulton Market, at a pop-up, you become a little cynical and expect insane pricing but it actually was quite fair. I picked up some cute cookie tins as a last minute gift. All in all, the Jack Frost pop-up was a lovely surprise and with its excellent location in Fulton Market, you have plenty of dinner options for later! I do highly recommend a weeknight to avoid crowds!

Not very big in sq ft, so come prepared to share with several other patrons, but the staff is nice…read moreand the COVID procedure of contactless appointment reservation times was appreciated to limit the number of people on the rink at once. There's safety personnel on the ice to make sure you don't break your fall too badly, in case you need it! A very jovial bunch. They advise the reserved appointment of 1:30hr is usually cut down to :30 by the time the average by the time folks get tired of trying their luck. Skate rental's included in the price of purchase. Fun to do for a date, for kids, or just to try out on your own!

I can't ice skate anymore since I have a bad ankle, but I love that Chicago has this free outdoor…read moreice rink every winter. Not sure why no one was being allowed to skate for quite a while when we visited, but there were lots of people waiting around to skate. I know people have a lotta fun here skating.

Since I was in town for business, I wanted to find some unique things to do while I was in town…read more When I first heard about Skate by the Lake, I laughed and laughed some more. How could there be an outdoor rink at the start of summer and be able to stay frozen?! I brought my skates cause I wanted to try out a couple different rinks but this one was far down on my list. Sure enough, the one Wednesday I was in town the weather was cool enough and the rink was open. The cashier sitting in the trailer (aka box office) was not happy. When I walked up, he played with his phone while attempting to help me. Very lethargic and indifferent. Listen kid, there are plenty people out there who would love your job or any for that matter so please quit and let someone who appreciates employment to better serve visitors coming to Chicago. On the other hand, I met a nice skate guard by the name of Gerald. A kid who recently learned to skate and might just be interested in playing hockey some day. This guy has a good head on his shoulders and deservingly five stars for service but also his willingness to learn. I've been playing hockey for many years so I wanted to give him a couple tips. Of course no one gets it on their first, second or third shot but as a witness, this guy came super close! The rink is square with a tent over it. A disco ball descends from the center of the tent and at night is when all the crazy lights go on. The ice itself is surprisingly good and rivals that of many indoor rinks across town. For $10 (if you have your own skates) is not a bad deal at all. I mean who can say they skated outside in the summer months next to Lake Michigan? Many families showed up as well as big groups of friends. It's definitely fun and comes highly recommended to go out and have fun!

Best arena I've ever skates in, and I grew up in Canada. I absolutely love this place. Stick&puck…read moreare filled with decent knowledgeable people. Picnic skate is so often empty, or next to. You can watch the Blackhawks practice here, for free! It is amazing. I feel lucky to live close to a place as awesome as this.

We've been here a few times now, with my son's travel hockey club. The facilities are great, the…read moreseating and walkways are ample, and the sound from the audio in between face-offs is energizing. I haven't skated on the surface, but my son says it's well maintained and much better than his home rink. The bar and food offerings are decent and the bathrooms and locker rooms are clean. The only reason for the 4 stars is that the adjacent parking lot is hit or miss, depending on what events are concurrently happening at the arena. One of the games happened to be on Blackhawk's Season Ticket holder appreciation night, so it was a challenge to find parking. Also, I appreciate it when security is consistent. Our last time there, there was no one at the door so everyone was walking around the metal detector. The staff in general has been helpful, but one other warning... the vending machines overcharge you (I think it's a $6 hold) for each transaction and it doesn't get released for a few days, but it's not very clear on the vending machine itself. We thought we got charged $12 for two bags of chips. We did get credited properly a few days later, however the arena manager was rude and unsympathetic to the situation, responding, "That's just how it is. We don't own those machines." We'll be back.

Just posted new hours and prices for 2016-17 winter season…read more Adults with skates: $5 Adults w/o skates: $9 Children with skates: FREE Children w/o skates: $6 Went skating today. Really fun. Ice in good shape.

Finding new Chicago gems is so much fun…read more This well designed, 5 year-old Olympic-size rink is located on the Midway Plaisance, a few blocks west of the Museum of Science and Industry. It's run by the Chicago Park District. While located on the South Side (often a prohibitive schlep for a Northsider like me), it's still delightful and well worth a trip down there. Since it was Sunday, venturing down there was no problem on Lake Shore Drive. It just took a few minutes. One of the kids who works here told me that when the City was doing the excavation for this place, they found the old timbers which had served as the foundation for George Ferris's first Ferris Wheel, which had been one of the most popular attractions at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Apparently, the rink now sits where the Ferris Wheel was located. The setting for this rink is part of what makes it special (the free, easy parking is a bonus, too). Set at the South end of the University of Chicago campus, at the division between Hyde Park and Woodlawn, the views of the historic campus buildings from virtually anywhere on the rink give the place a certain civility and historic sense which are quite appealing. Have a look: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C6yAUKJ8ka76KXzklCDCPg?select=1C-0hAjT_A_Wep8sZbvCeg The relative newness of the place has some advantages: the Field House doesn't have that decades old piss smell that many of the Chicago Park District Field houses have. The architecture of the Field house is modern yet plunked down in an historic setting, and it's very clean here (even the bathrooms). Here is a view of the Field House: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C6yAUKJ8ka76KXzklCDCPg?select=XM_OW0LoeM9pHmC_NYKU-Q And a few more bonuses for it's relative newness: it was not the least bit crowded (and is yet little known or used according to one employee), and most of the rental skates are virtually new if not brand new. The skates we used were brand new; no rickety side-to-side ankle wobbling like you experience in many worn out rental skates. Best of all, it's a place where life's precious, fortuitous moments like this one can happen: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C6yAUKJ8ka76KXzklCDCPg?select=oipqxlpxwLPLCvKm7hvkaA For you Northsiders like me, take the Drive south to 57th street; west past the Museum of Science and Industry to Stony Island, and then south to the Midway Plaisance; go a little west from there; you can't miss it. It's address (1130 N. Midway Plaisance) is deceptive, since the mile-long MP runs from the eastern edge of Washington Park on Cottage Grove Avenue, to the western edge of Jackson Park on Stony Island Avenue. How it got a "north" address in this town is beyond me.