Ice-Skating Rinks Open Ice-skating is synonymous with winter in New York City. And luckily, you don't have to wait until the holidays roll around to enjoy this time-honored tradition. Many of the City's rinks open quite early in the fall—including Citi Pond at Bryant Park and The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, which both open in October—and others are open year-round, like the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, City Ice Pavilion and Aviator Sports & Events Center. Taking advantage of the early openings may be wise, as crowds tend to fill up the more popular rinks later in the year.