Baltimore News 

Ice rink returns to Inner Harbor with new name, location

Press Release

(Baltimore, MD) – Waterfront Partnership’s It’s a Waterfront Life campaign marks the start of the holiday season! This year’s festivities will officially begin on Friday, November 13 with the opening of the newly named PANDORA Ice Rink at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. PANDORA has pledged financial support of the rink through the 2016-17 season. New for 2015, the rink will relocate to the top of the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and will be bigger than last year at 6,000 square feet. Other It’s a Waterfront Life highlights will include holiday-themed special events, discounts and deals for all to enjoy.

“After seeing such a strong response from Baltimoreans to having an ice rink back at the Inner Harbor after a 10-year absence, we worked hard with partners like PANDORA to not only bring back, but also expand the rink this year,” said Laurie Schwartz, president of Waterfront Partnership. “In 2014, we welcomed over 20,000 people and saw marriage proposals, appearances from Santa and Navy midshipmen, Special Olympics activities and lots more. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Waterfront this year.”

Open hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 3:00-8:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. through Monday, January 18. Throughout the season, special programs such as Costume Skates, Frozen Fridays, expanded Holiday Hours and Specials, and the Second Annual SkateFest, benefitting Special Olympics Maryland will be offered.

The rink is made possible through the generous support of PANDORA as well as Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation, Constellation Energy, The Can Company, The Pearlstone Family Foundation, BGE, Marriott Waterfront, KPMG, Beatty Development, DSL Sound, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Baltimore Development Corporation and Department of Transportation. For full program details, visit www.innerharboricerink.org.

In addition to the Ice Rink, other It’s a Waterfront Life activities include:

  • Take in the magic and wonder of The Polar Express in 4-D at the National Aquarium! From Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, feel the gentle snowfall, smell hot cocoa in the air and see images leap from the screen as you experience a skeptical young boy’s extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.
  • Visit Santa and have your photos taken at his new home inside Harborplace’s Light Street Pavilion beginning Nov. 20 until Christmas Eve.
  • Enjoy free parking in Harbor East, while you complete your holiday shopping from Nov. 25 through Dec. 27. Available at participating garages with combined purchases of over $100 and a parking voucher from any Harbor East restaurant or retailer.
  • Lace up for Harbor East’s Gobble Cobble Turkey Trot 7k on Thanksgiving Day, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • West Shore Park transforms into a traditional German Christmas Village, complete with more than 40 vendors selling traditional European crafts, arts, jewelry, gifts, food, sweets & drinks. Open Nov. 26 until Dec. 27, with special holiday-themed programming each weekend.
  • Listen to the Sounds of the Seasons as carolers and merry-music makers stroll the Inner Harbor Waterfront on Saturdays Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
  • Bring your pets to the 3rd Annual Pet Photos with Santa event, hosted by Harbor East and the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) on Nov. 29, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. BARCS staff will be on hand to collect donated pet food and toys.
  • NEW! Grab your friends and join 12 Bars of Charity, a pub-crawl benefiting local Baltimore charities, on Dec. 5 at Power Plant Live!
  • Visit the Science Center, National Aquarium, Top of the World Observation Level, Historic Ships and the Christmas Village for just $1, during Dollar or Less Days on Dec. 5 and 6.
  • NEW! Get into the spirit with starlight performances from Baltimore’s brightest choral groups, street entertainment, complimentary sweets and shopping events during Merriment & Melodies in Harbor East. The event takes place Wednesdays in December from 5:30-9:00 p.m. A special Milk & Cookies Social takes place on Dec. 9, following a performance from the Children’s Chorus of Maryland.
  • The free Rock the Dock Family Holiday Bash returns on Dec. 12 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. with live music, holiday stories, photos with Santa, seasonal arts & crafts, food & beverage, giveaways and more!
  • Hear the festive sounds of over 200 festively dressed tuba and euphonium players marching as they perform the 31st Annual Merry Tuba Christmas on Dec. 19 starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Harborplace Amphitheater.
  • The holiday season is a wonderland of curiosity throughout the 12 Days of Science at the Maryland Science Center, starting Dec. 20.
  • Ring in the “Noon Year” at the Maryland Science Center! Featuring festive crafts, fun activities & popular kids band Milkshake – Midnight Noon allows children to enjoy the ball drop before bedtime on New Year’s Eve from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Welcome 2016 at Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor with live music, an official countdown and a colorful fireworks display at midnight. Or head to Power Plant Live! for premium top shelf open bar, gourmet foods, all access to bars and nightclubs and a huge midnight celebration. Both events start at 9:00 p.m.

Waterfront Partnership’s It’s a Waterfront Life holiday campaign launched in 2011 in an effort to attract Baltimoreans to the Waterfront to celebrate the holiday season with special events, attractions, as well as parking, dining and shopping specials offered by local businesses. For more information on It’s a Waterfront Life, visit www.itsawaterfrontlife.org.

Waterfront Partnership is the proud steward of Baltimore’s crown jewel, its Inner Harbor and Waterfront. We’re lean, nimble and effective; the only organization that wakes up every day, rolls its sleeves up and gets to work on new ways we can make Baltimore’s Waterfront even more active, attractive and appealing. We’re the hosts who greet visitors, the creators of programs and promotions and managers of our beautiful parks. We encourage investment in Baltimore’s most celebrated asset so it can continue to grow, to serves as a place of pride and the place where Baltimoreans come together to recreate and to celebrate. For more information, visit www.waterfrontpartnership.org.