Brunswick Mall Ice Skating Rink

Maine Street, Brunswick

When the conditions are just right for outdoor skating, this community rink on the lawn in downtown Brunswick is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Hockey is not permitted weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. or weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring your own skates. Call the Parks & Recreation Department to confirm the rink is open, (207) 725-6656.

Falmouth Family Ice

20 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth

The pond-shaped man-made rink at Falmouth Family Ice is southern Maine’s only outdoor ice surface that is open to the elements, refrigerated and regularly resurfaced by a Zamboni. The “pond” is open from December through February, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for public skating (free for Falmouth residents; otherwise $5 per person). Skate rentals are available inside for $2 a pair. Significant precipitation – or melting – causes the outdoor surface to close; call ahead to be sure the surface is cleared for skating, (207) 781-4200. If it’s too wet or too bitingly cold outside, check the public skating hours for the indoor rink at familyice.org.

Orland H. Blake Skating Pond

188 Main St. (parking behind Key Bank), Yarmouth

This old-fashioned skating pond behind the log cabin on Main Street is maintained by Yarmouth Community Services, which keeps the pond lit until 11 p.m. There’s also a cute little warming hut thanks to the Orland H. Blake Skating Pond & Village Improvement Society. Pucks and sticks are restricted to the rear section of the pond when figure skaters or children are present. Bring your own skates. The pond is open for skating free of charge when conditions are deemed safe, and the best place to check the status is on the Facebook page.

Sophie Routhier and Jessica Skwire Routhier skate together at The Rink at Thompson’s Point in 2017. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The Rink at Thompson’s Point

10 Thompson’s Point, Portland

This rink overlooking the Fore River is under a pavilion, and the sunset views are spectacular. It’s windy, though. Dress for biting cold, or you’ll end up huddled in the warming hut or bent over local craft beer in the yurt bar. For young beginning skaters, there’s a Polar Bear Skate Pond. The rink opens in November – the date depends on the weather – and closes Feb. 23. Skating hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3-9 p.m., Friday from 3-10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 ($5 for kids age 5 and under), $3 for rental skates. Admission is buy one, get one free on Wednesday nights, and on Thursdays, is $7 including skate rental with a college ID. For more info, go to therinkatthompsonspoint.com or call (207) 222-3031.

Skaters in a pick-up hockey game at Riverside Municipal Golf Course. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Riverside Golf Course Rinks

1158 Riverside St., Portland

At the city-owned Riverside Golf Course in Portland, you’ll find a pair of side-by-side rinks totaling 20,000 square feet of ice. The smaller of the two rinks is lit at night, and they’re both free and open to the public for skating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no rentals are available. For more info, go to riversidegolfcourseme.com.

Scarborough Ice Rink

20 Municipal Drive, Scarborough

This rink stays open as long as the weather cooperates. There are actually two rinks here; an upper rink for hockey and a lower one for skating and both are open from dawn to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from dawn until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays . Rink lights are on  on from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  There is no charge to use the rink and be sure to bring your own skates as rentals are not available.  Call the rink hotline for status updates at (207) 883-7645, and find additional info at scarboroughmaine.org.

Troubh Ice Arena

225 Park Ave., Portland

Portland’s indoor municipal rink offers public skating year-round, typically Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Saturday from 2:30-4 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m. Public skating is $6 for adults, $4 for youth and seniors, plus $3 for skate rentals. The rink also offers public freestyle sessions (noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday) and public pick-up hockey (1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday from November to February). It never hurts to call ahead, (207) 774-8553. You can also find info online at portlandmaine.gov.

The skating rink at Wainwright Recreation Complex in South Portland. Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer

Wainwright Recreation Complex

125 Gary L. Maietta Way, South Portland

The rink measures 108 feet wide and 212 feet along, so there’s plenty of room for figure skating and non-contact pond hockey. Keep an eye out for special nighttime skating events, as the outdoor rink has lights.  It’s free to skate at this rink and be sure to bring your own skates. Find additional info at southportland.org.

People skate at the Waterhouse Center in downtown Kennebunk. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

The Waterhouse Center

51 Main St., Kennebunk

Skating is free at this pavilion in downtown Kennebunk, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily November through March, weather permitting. Ice is regularly resurfaced. Bring your own skates, but don’t bring pucks or sticks. Find more info about the rink at kennebunkmaine.us.

— AMY PARADYSZ AND AIMSEL PONTI