With colder temperatures finally settling into Door County, outdoor recreation is getting a seasonal boost as ice rinks in both Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay are open for the first time this winter. Municipal crews in both communities spent recent days flooding, grooming, and monitoring the ice, and this week’s sustained cold snap is expected to keep the surfaces solid for skaters of all ages.

In Sister Bay, the sports complex rink on Autumn Court, offering free public skating along with a warming shelter for families looking to thaw out between laps and grab a snack, pizza, or hot cocoa. There is an alternate rink for hockey players with Monday designated for “pickup” games. The village will rent skates, sticks, and other equipment if needed. Volunteers will also be on hand during peak hours to assist beginners and help maintain the rink.  They also sharpen skates onsite.

Sturgeon Bay’s ice rink at Memorial Field is expected to follow a similar timeline, with city staff confident the freezing temperatures will keep the base layer firm. The village will again provide its popular skate-borrowing program, giving newcomers and occasional skaters a chance to enjoy the ice without the cost of equipment. The site offers open skating, allowing families, recreational skaters, and youth teams to share the space throughout the season with a portion of the ice relegated with nets for hockey players. Skate sharpening is available (approximately a 2 day waiting period), and loaner skates will be stocked in a range of sizes.

Both communities remind the public that rink conditions and hours of operation can change quickly and that updates will be posted on their municipal websites and social media pages.