Last November, Santa arrived in Market Square at 3 p.m. Then came reindeer, an ice sculptor, horse-drawn carriage rides through the square and a big red mailbox at the library for letters to the North Pole. Mayor Spalding didn't lead the countdown until about 5:40, and a holiday drone show lit the sky afterward.
This year the lighting is on Sunday, Nov. 22, ten days from now, and it looks different. The City of New Albany's holiday page lists a ceremony at Rose Run Park from 5 to 5:30 p.m. It has carols from a children's choir, a countdown with Santa and the Mayor, and free hot drinks and donuts. Santa photos and North Pole letters now happen a few hours earlier, on the ice, for $15. That rink stays open through the end of February, so the tree lighting is really the opening day of a whole winter season.
Three Hours in Market Square, Thirty Minutes at Rose Run
For both of the past two years the tree went up in Market Square. The 2024 listing put it in front of the New Albany Library at 200 Market Street. The 2025 event was billed as presented by the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, with food and drinks for sale from local restaurants and food trucks. The city's Oct. 13 announcement says that this year, "for the first time," the community's tree and lighting ceremony will be at Rose Run Park.
| Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 | Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the tree is lit | Market Square | Rose Run Park |
| Event window | 3 to 6 p.m. | Ceremony 5 to 5:30 p.m. |
| Santa | Grand arrival at 3 p.m. in Market Square | Santa Skate at Hinson Amphitheater, noon to 4:30 p.m., then the countdown |
| Letters to the North Pole | Big red mailbox at the library | Part of the Santa Skate |
| Cost | Free, with food for sale | Ceremony free; skate $15 per person |
| After the countdown | Drone light show | Rink open until 8 p.m. |
The table shows a schedule that got shorter and a day that got longer. The free part now fits in half an hour. The family activities that used to fill a free afternoon have moved to the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, and the day ends two hours later than it used to.
The Afternoon Now Comes With Skates
Santa Skate runs from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 22. The city lists festive music, photos with Santa, letters to the North Pole and jingle bell decorating. Admission is $15 per person and covers skate rental plus everything inside the amphitheater.
The rink in question is the city's first outdoor ice rink. According to the New Albany-Gahanna Beacon, it's real ice, and city officials told council in August that New Albany would be only the second suburban Central Ohio community with this kind of outdoor skating, after Dublin.
Santa Skate is opening day for the rink, with the holiday extras layered on top.
A Rink Planned for Fourteen Weeks
The rink runs from Nov. 22 through Feb. 28, and the regular hours show how the city expects people to use it.
- Monday through Wednesday: closed to public skating; the Beacon reports these days are available for private rentals
- Thursday and Friday: 5 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
On weekdays, that means skating after work or school on Thursday and Friday evenings, plus long weekend afternoons. The city says hours will expand during winter break and on holidays.
The Beacon's reporting on the August council meeting fills in the rest. City Council approved the project 6-0 on Aug. 18 under Resolution R-34-2026. Abbey Brooks, the city's Director of Strategic Initiatives, told council the capital cost was $167,000, and confirmed that figure covers only the rink itself, not separate changes to the amphitheater. The city's 2026 annual budget lists "Community Ice Rink & Related Equipment" at $200,000 as a new purchase.
The operator is Outdoor Ice Rinks, which the Beacon describes as a family-run company whose seven-person team has more than 80 years of combined rink experience. After operating expenses, the city and the operator split admission and rental revenue 50-50. Brooks projected season revenue of $150,000 to $200,000 and called that figure "highly weather dependent."
Here are the details you'll want before you go, all from the Beacon's account of the meeting:
- Admission covers about one to 1.5 hours of skating, depending on the day.
- The $15 price will be reviewed after three years.
- The operator agreement runs one year, with two possible one-year renewals.
An outdoor rink that depends on the weather, with a revenue forecast tied to the weather, leans on cold Thursdays through Sundays in January and February. The tree lighting is the season's first and best-attended day.
Planning Nov. 22 Around a Construction Zone
The day runs in this order:
- Noon to 4:30 p.m.: Santa Skate at Hinson Amphitheater, $15
- 5 to 5:30 p.m.: Tree lighting at Rose Run Park, free
- Until 8 p.m.: Rink stays open for skating
Getting there takes a little more planning than in past years, because the new spot for the tree sits next to active construction. Rose Run Phase II is underway between Village Hall and the police department. Plans include a heroes walk, a contemplative plaza, a Gold Star Family sculpture and a water feature, and the city expects to finish in late fall 2027. The city's project page says the Village Hall and police department parking lots are closed to the public, with temporary parking south of Village Hall.
There's a road closure too. The city's Oct. 29 traffic update says the southbound lane of S. High St. and the turn lane on E. Dublin Granville Road stay closed through Wednesday, Nov. 25. That's three days after the lighting. Earlier restrictions on E. Dublin Granville Road, Main Street and Locust Alley are being lifted. The city asks drivers to use caution, allow extra time and follow posted signs.
If your family wants both the skate and the lighting, the simplest plan is to park once and walk between the amphitheater and the park. Driving between them puts you into the S. High St. lane closure at the busiest hour of the day.
Dec. 6 Repeats the Same Day
Two Sundays later, the city runs the same schedule again. A Hanukkah Skate is at Hinson Amphitheater from noon to 4:30 p.m., with a skating dreidel, dreidel decorating and traditional games played for chocolate coins. It's also $15 with skate rental included, and the rink stays open until 8 p.m.
At 5 p.m. the community menorah lighting begins at Rose Run Park. Rabbis lead the traditional blessings, a children's choir sings, and free hot drinks and kosher donuts are served during the ceremony.
On both Sundays, the rink is where the afternoon happens, and Rose Run Park is where the city gathers for a short ceremony at dusk.
The Rest of New Albany's December
A few more dates fill in the month around the rink:
| Date | Event | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Healthy New Albany Indoor Farmers Market | Philip Heit Center, 9 a.m. to noon |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Festive Family Fun, with winter games, Santa letters and a holiday craft | Columbus Metropolitan Library, New Albany branch, 10 a.m. to noon |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Holiday Harp Music | Columbus Metropolitan Library, New Albany branch, 2 to 3 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Santa & The Symphony, sensory-friendly | McCoy Center for the Arts, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | NASO Holiday Spectacular | McCoy Center for the Arts, 3 to 5 p.m. |
The farmers market comes back on the first Saturday of every month through April 3, 2027. The Dec. 19 dates fall on a Saturday, when the rink opens at noon, so a family could pair a morning at the McCoy with an evening session on the ice.
If you have family coming in for the holidays and want help planning a New Albany day around the new rink, or you're getting your home ready for guests this winter, I'm happy to help. You can reach me at Megan S Bell. Let's Connect.
