Worcester Common Oval outdoor ice rink reopens to enthusiastic skaters

WORCESTER — On a freezing but sunny Saturday afternoon, the Worcester Common was abuzz with excitement as the Common Oval outdoor skating rink reopened after a year-plus shutdown due to the pandemic.

Well before Saturday's 1 p.m. soft opening, people were already in line to rent ice skates, including Kyle Moore and his daughter, Kasey, of Worcester.

Kasey, 8, said she was excited to be finally on the Oval ice, as it had been at least three years since she last strapped on a pair of skates here.

"It was a fun experience," Kasey said. "I'm very excited."

Ajayi Harris, development director of the city-based Regional Environmental Council, arrived at the rink with his 9-year-old son, Moses, who is a member of the Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Team.

It had been roughly 2½ years since they skated on the Oval, Ajayi Harris said. Last winter, they skated at Coes Pond.

"I'm excited to be here (again)," Ajayi Harris said. "I like the public events, I like skating outside, and I like that this is accessible to everyone in Worcester and also anyone who likes to come out of town.

"I really like this because you meet a lot of your neighbors and you meet a lot of people you know and you also get to meet other families that comes to this event that you may not necessarily run into. It's really good that city of Worcester puts this on."

The Worcester Railers Hockey Club of the ECHL is back as an Oval ice rink sponsor this year, according to Paul Harris, Railers community relations coordinator.

"When I saw it was opening at 1 p.m. today, I grabbed our mascot Trax," said Harris, who joined Trax on the ice Saturday. "Also, the Festival of Lights is coming up soon too, so we'll be there. It's just super exciting (after we) missed out last year."

Indeed, the Oval rink's official opening ceremony is slated for Dec. 3 during the city's Festival of Lights celebration.

The free, family-friendly event will be held from 4:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, and include the lighting of the Common Christmas tree at 6 p.m., as well as ice skating, food vendors, community organizations and live performances.

The Railers are also running a learn-to-skate program for kids at the Oval rink this winter.

Rink hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. There will be extended hours during Christmas and winter school vacations. Admission is $5, and skate rentals are available.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: A welcome sight: Worcester Common Oval ice rink reopens