Season Highlights

The 15th season of Winterfest Hartford opened on Friday, November 28, 2025. Over 39 days of free skating, Winterfest Hartford welcomed nearly 31,000 ice skaters to the Capital City. Winterfest Hartford goes beyond free ice skating, hosting 92 free activations ranging from performances and family events to civic celebrations, school partnerships, and sponsor-supported programming across the city. The rink was open for 302 hours and created 45 seasonal jobs, with half filled by Hartford residents, reinforcing Winterfest’s role as both a beloved seasonal destination and an important source of local employment, and 129 volunteers helped to make magic happen.

Santa welcomed 388 families — 1,007 people, two dogs, and one cat — to the Pump House in just 12 hours. In that time, 3,500 photos were taken and 897 Santa letters were sent, including one all the way to Costa Rica. Connecticut residents received 803 letters, including 192 sent to Hartford children. In addition, 12 schools brought 918 students to the rink for group outings, expanding access to free winter recreation for youth across the region.

Winterfest Hartford was made possible through the support of more than a dozen volunteer groups and corporate partners, who assisted with skate sharpening, Santa’s Workshop, letter writing, rink operations, and special events throughout the season. Volunteer teams and partners, including community organizations, local businesses, and corporate groups, played a critical role in bringing Winterfest to life and ensuring a welcoming, well-run experience for all visitors.

More than 13,000 lights brightened the park throughout the season, with over 500 pairs of skates kept in circulation. Four learn-to-skate classes further expanded access, ensuring that Winterfest Hartford remained welcoming and accessible to first-time and returning skaters alike.