Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond returns for 12th season, celebrating over a decade of winter memories

PORTSMOUTH—Celebrating over a decade of winter memories, Strawbery Banke Museum’s Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is ready to welcome skaters back for its 12th season. The rink opens on “Frozen Friday” on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m., weather permitting, inviting skaters of all ages to enjoy a scenic and family-friendly skating experience.

Managed by Rink Services Group, the rink’s professionally maintained ice surface is supported by a chilling system and a Zamboni. Haley Ward continues to generously provide services each year to locate underground utilities using GPS and site plans, ensuring the rink is ready for skaters. Over the past decade, Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond has become a cherished Portsmouth winter tradition—a place where generations of families and friends come together to make lasting memories. 

“Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is a wonderful opportunity to use the Museum’s campus in the winter months and connect with community members who may not visit during other times of the year,” said Linnea Grim, president and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. “It’s a chance for families and friends to create memories together while experiencing the Museum in a fun, dynamic way.”

Skaters can enjoy:

• Daily Public Skating with views of the Museum’s historic buildings and gardens

• Free Saturday Morning Sessions from 8–10 a.m.

• Learn to Skate Lessons for all ages and skill levels

• Drop-In Community Skating Classes are offered by Ice Dance International for adults

• Private Rink Rentals for birthdays, gatherings, and community events

• Adaptive Ice Time in partnership with UNH’s Northeast Passage

• Live Webcam Streaming thanks to Portsmouth Webcam for those who want to enjoy the rink from home

Rink hours for the 2025–2026 season are:

• Monday–Wednesday: noon–9 p.m.

• Thursday–Friday & Sunday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

• Saturday: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Public skating is $16 for ages 5+, with skate rentals for $6. Strawbery Banke members and active-duty military receive a 50% discount. Skate sharpening services and skating aids are available.

Weekly schedules are posted every Sunday at 5 p.m., with tickets available at StrawberyBanke.org/skate. Updates on ice conditions and special events are shared on the rink’s Facebook page.

Special Event: Seacoast Skating with the Stars

On Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, from 2–3 p.m. (weather date: Sunday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.–noon), Strawbery Banke Museum, in partnership with Ice Dance International, presents Seacoast Skating with the Stars (SSWTS). Local “stars” team up with IDI professionals in a skate-off for audience votes, judged on skill and expression, in a format inspired by Dancing with the Stars.

Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is made possible through the generous support of local sponsors, including Aland Realty, Ambrose Integrative Medicine, Atlantic Grill, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, The Gallery at Jimmy’s, Haley Ward, Hampshire Development Group General Contractors, Ice Dance International, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, Proulx Oil & Propane, The River House, Rink Services Group, Seacoast United, and the Water View Grill. 

For more details on schedules, lessons, or rink rentals, please contact Kayley Vavra at 603.422.0600 or kayley@rinkservicesgroup.com. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Tara Price at 603.422.7552 or tprice@sbmuseum.org.

About Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a 10-acre outdoor history museum in downtown Portsmouth, NH, interpreting more than 350 years of history—from Indigenous life to the present day. Visitors explore historic houses on their original foundations, heirloom gardens, traditional crafts, and costumed roleplayers who share the stories of the people who lived and worked in the waterfront neighborhood of Puddle Dock. The Museum welcomes guests year-round for daily programs, exhibits, skating, and special events. 

Strawbery Banke Museum is supported in part by grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom; and the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. For more information, visit StrawberyBanke.org.

Photo courtesy LaBrie Media.