Winter Skate Spectacular Glides Back Into the National Building Museum

The National Building Museum is once again trading marble floors for frosty fun. The Winter Skate Spectacular returns this season, transforming the Museum’s Great Hall into an indoor skating escape where visitors can glide, spin, and shuffle beneath its towering Corinthian columns.

Now in its second year, the event is bigger and brighter, turning synthetic ice into a centerpiece of winter play. The indoor rink offers a weather-proof way to skate through the season, with programming designed for everyone from first-time wobblers to confident cruisers. Expect early hours geared toward toddlers, members-only sessions, themed nights, and a rotating mix of festive snacks and drinks.

Families can take advantage of daytime skating sessions, while adults can lace up for after-hours events that lean more social than serious. It’s an experience that keeps the holiday energy humming well into the new year… without the chill.

Winter Skate Spectacular runs from Saturday, December 27, 2025, through Sunday, February 8, 2026. (The Museum is open Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.) Daytime skate sessions run every 45 minutes between noon and 5 pm, while after-hours skating takes place Thursdays and Fridays from 6 to 8 pm. Early hours include Toddler Time on Thursdays and members-only skates on weekend mornings.

Tickets range from $17 to $20 for general admission, with discounted pricing for Museum members. Daytime admission includes skating and access to Museum exhibitions, while after-hours tickets cover two hours on the ice. A signed waiver is required, and skate sizes are available on a first-come basis.

Whether you’re chasing winter cheer, planning a family outing, or just looking for an excuse to move a little during the colder months, the Winter Skate Spectacular offers a rare chance to skate inside one of DCs most striking spaces — no mittens required.