Philadelphia Holiday Markets and Ice Rinks: The 2026 Season

Short version: Christmas Village opens Saturday, November 21, 2026 and runs through December 27 at LOVE Park and City Hall. It's free. The Dilworth Park rink beats it to the punch on November 13, and Blue Cross RiverRink on the waterfront opens the day after Thanksgiving, November 27. Every date, hour and price here comes from the official pages, checked in October 2026.

When Does Christmas Village Open in 2026?

Saturday, November 21. Christmas Village in Philadelphia then runs through December 27 on LOVE Park and around City Hall, with more than 120 vendors and no admission charge, per its official site in October 2026. You get noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mind the Closed Days

Here's the part that trips people up. The market goes dark November 23 through 25, the Monday through Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, and again on Christmas Day. So you get an opening weekend, three quiet days, then it's back. Thanksgiving runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Christmas Eve noon to 5 p.m. Plan the out of town cousins accordingly.

Getting There Without a Car

Take SEPTA. It's the market's official transportation partner (routes are in the FAQ below), and kids under 12 and riders 65 or older ride free. If you have to drive, the official page points you to SpotHero and a discount at the LOVE Park Garage, which sits right at the market.

When Does the Dilworth Park Ice Rink Open?

Friday, November 13, so it's the first ice of the season in Center City. The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink sits on the west side of City Hall at 1 S. 15th Street. Center City District's rink page, checked in October 2026, lists noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

You skate in 90 minute sessions with a 30 minute break between them. It's $10 if you're 11 or older and $7 if you're 10 or under. Rental skates are another $10.

Holiday Hours at Dilworth

Thanksgiving Day is 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Christmas Eve is 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Day is 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., which makes Dilworth your late skate on Christmas night (RiverRink shuts at 8:30). From December 18 to January 1, hours stretch on a schedule that varies.

When the Season Ends

Small mystery. The top of the rink page says the season ends January 21, 2027. The same page runs sled skating through February 21, 2027. And the Dilworth Park winter page says the rink stays open into late February. The sources disagree, so confirm with Center City District before planning a late-season skate.

When Does Blue Cross RiverRink Open?

Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest runs through February 28, 2027 at 101 South Columbus Boulevard, seven days a week including holidays unless noted, per the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation in October 2026. Walking in is free. Skating is $5 and rentals are $12. Reserve a skate time: the page calls reservations highly recommended, and tickets were listed as on sale soon.

The hours page lists 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. From December 19 through January 2 it's 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., except Christmas Eve (11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.) and Christmas Day (1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). New Year's Eve and New Year's Day don't have hours posted yet.

Dates to circle: opening weekend November 27 to 29 and the holiday tree lighting November 29. Last season's free skate day hasn't been scheduled for 2027 yet, so watch the RiverRink page. You can book a heated cabin or fire pit in 90 minute slots. Parking on site is limited, so the waterfront folks suggest the Delaware River Trail, rideshare or transit.

How to Plan Around All Three

Dilworth and Christmas Village sit on either side of City Hall. Skate, then shop, then eat something you'll regret a little. RiverRink is its own trip east to the river.

Timing matters more than distance in late November. From November 23 to 25, Christmas Village is closed and RiverRink hasn't opened, so Dilworth is your only option. On Thanksgiving, Christmas Village runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dilworth opens at 1:30 p.m. and RiverRink waits until the next day.

And the bill? As a hypothetical example at the posted prices, two adults who skate and rent at Dilworth pay 2 x ($10 + $10), or $40. The same two at RiverRink pay 2 x ($5 + $12), or $34. Walking Christmas Village and the Winterfest grounds costs nothing, unless you count whatever you end up carrying home.

What This Means for Owning or Renting Nearby

If a holiday season on your doorstep sounds good, here's the housing around it. The blocks by City Hall and LOVE Park are mostly high rise condo and rental towers plus converted office and loft buildings, with brick rowhouses on the smaller streets heading west toward Rittenhouse. Near RiverRink you're into Old City lofts, Society Hill rowhouses and the towers along Columbus Boulevard. The Center City, Rittenhouse and Society Hill pages go deeper.

For a price check: as of September 2026, Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical home in ZIP code 19102 at about $378,000. Zillow's Observed Rent Index put typical rent in the same ZIP at about $2,166 a month. Those are ZIP level numbers from Zillow Research, not a price on any one building.

The trade off is real, though. Living a few blocks from a 120 vendor market means fuller sidewalks and garages on December weekends. Some people love that. Others should ask about a deeded or leased parking space before they fall for the view.

When you're weighing a condo or rental near City Hall, Max maps your walk to Suburban Station and 15th Street, visits once on a weekday and once on a busy weekend evening and, for condos, reads the association documents for parking and move rules before an offer goes in. Buying? Start at Buy and read what to check before buying a Philadelphia condo. Renting? Start at Rent and the five questions to ask before renting in Center City.

Maximize Your Weekends.

Official Sources

• Christmas Village in Philadelphia: official site (dates, hours, transit)

• Center City District: Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

• Center City District: Dilworth Park winter

• Delaware River Waterfront Corporation: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

• Delaware River Waterfront Corporation: Winterfest Hours of Operation

• Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (September 2026)

FAQ

When does Christmas Village in Philadelphia open in 2026?

Christmas Village in Philadelphia opens Saturday, November 21, 2026 and runs through December 27 at LOVE Park and City Hall. It's free to walk in. Watch the gaps: the official site lists it closed November 23 through 25 and on Christmas Day, with short hours on Thanksgiving (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Christmas Eve.

How much does it cost to skate at Dilworth Park?

Skating at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink at Dilworth Park costs $10 if you're 11 or older and $7 if you're 10 or under. Skate rental is another $10. Center City District sells 90 minute sessions, and the rink opens for the season on November 13, 2026, a week before Christmas Village.

When does Blue Cross RiverRink open for the 2026 season?

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest opens November 27, 2026 (the day after Thanksgiving) and runs through February 28, 2027. Walking in is free. Skating is $5 and rentals are $12, which makes it the cheaper rink in town. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation strongly suggests reserving a skate time ahead.

How do you get to Christmas Village on SEPTA?

Christmas Village's official page sends SEPTA riders to Regional Rail at Suburban Station, the B, L or T to 15th St/City Hall Station or bus routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 and 125. SEPTA is the market's official transportation partner, and kids under 12 ride free. No circling for parking.