Ice Skating in Highlands NC 2026–27: Hours & Prices
By Lee Burrell · October 29, 2026
highlands ncice skatingwinterfamily activities
By Lee Burrell · October 29, 2026By Lee Burrell · October 29, 2026Highlands, NC runs an outdoor ice rink at Kelsey‑Hutchinson Founders Park each winter, and for 2026–27 it operates from Thursday, November 19 through February 28, with $8 admission and a New Year’s Eve skate from 1 pm to 1 am, according to Visit Highlands, NC’s official listings on the Ice Skating page and the Holidays in Highlands guide. This one‑page plan is for couples, families and small groups mapping out Thanksgiving through late‑winter stays.
Key takeaways
Kelsey‑Hutchinson Founders Park is Highlands’ seasonal rink, and opening day for 2026–27 is Thursday, November 19, with the season running through February 28, weather permitting, per Visit Highlands, NC’s Holidays in Highlands page and the Chamber’s Ice Skating page.
Visit Highlands notes extended hours around Thanksgiving week and Christmas break, and it confirms the special New Year’s Eve session from 1 pm to 1 am (see Holidays in Highlands and the Ice Skating page). Because the rink is outdoors and weather dependent, specific holiday week hours can shift; check the Chamber’s listings and call Highlands Parks & Recreation at 828‑526‑3556 if conditions change.
Skating is outdoors and weather‑permitting for the 2026–27 season (per Holidays in Highlands), so dress in layers and pack a dry pair of socks and gloves. Hot beverages are sold at the rink (per the Chamber’s Ice Skating page). Admission is a flat $8 per person, the same whether or not you bring skates (per the Ice Skating page). From a host’s perspective, a late‑afternoon Thursday or a relaxed Sunday session is easy to pair with a simple dinner back at the house.
If you need a different day or a longer session, Visit Highlands points to Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain as a nearby option. Per the Chamber’s Ice Skating page, Highlands Outpost offers ice skating Thanksgiving through March 1 at 7420 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain; skates are included, and pricing is $15 per person for one hour or $12 per hour for groups of 20+.
I host guests at Elevation 4118, a 3‑bedroom, 3‑full‑bath plus 1‑half‑bath home that sleeps up to 6 in Highlands. It’s set within Wildcat Country Club. Quick details you can count on:
If you’re timing an early‑season skate with leaf‑peeping, this roundup can help: Peak Fall Color in Highlands, NC 2026: When and Where.
Operations are weather‑permitting and hours may adjust (per Holidays in Highlands). For the most current details on the day you skate, refer to the Chamber’s Ice Skating page and call Highlands Parks & Recreation at 828‑526‑3556. For a simple home base in Highlands during the skating season, Elevation 4118 | Highlands-Cashiers w/ Golf Cart is a 3‑bedroom option with Wi‑Fi, a dedicated workspace and an EV charger.
Opening day is Thursday, November 19, and the season runs through February 28, weather permitting, per Visit Highlands’ Holidays in Highlands guide.
The Chamber’s Ice Skating page lists: Thu 3:30–8 pm; Fri 3:30–10 pm; Sat 1–10 pm; Sun 1–5 pm.
Admission is $8 per person, the same with or without skates, and hot drinks are sold on site (per the Ice Skating page).
Yes—look for extended hours during Thanksgiving week and Christmas break, plus a New Year’s Eve skate from 1 pm to 1 am (per Holidays in Highlands and the Ice Skating page).
Yes. Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain offers ice skating Thanksgiving–March 1; it’s $15 per hour per person, or $12 per hour for groups of 20+, with skates included (per the Ice Skating page).
Yes. Operations are weather‑permitting, so check day‑of conditions via the Chamber listings and call Highlands Parks & Recreation at 828‑526‑3556 (per the Ice Skating page).
Photos: Seth Sorano, Highlands Outpost via Google Maps.