Governors Island's Winter Village Offers Holiday Fun to Families

With winter approaching, the Governors Island Winter Village is opening for its second annual season on November 17th. The island's historic Colonels Row will transform into a holiday destination for seasonal amenities, including a huge ice skating rink, games, and food and drinks alongside warming fire pits. 

“We are so excit­ed to invite New York­ers and vis­i­tors to Gov­er­nors Island for the return of Win­ter Vil­lage,” said May­or Eric Adams. ?“Cold weath­er doesn’t have to mean being stuck inside. It can mean ice skat­ing and sled­ding with your friends or sit­ting around a fire with your fam­i­ly.”

“From ice skat­ing to Jen­ga to toasty drinks, there’s some­thing for every­one in the fam­i­ly at the Win­ter Vil­lage and I encour­age all New York­ers to take advan­tage of Gov­er­nors Island year-round,” said Maria Tor­res-Springer, Deputy May­or for Eco­nom­ic and Work­force Devel­op­ment.

What to See and Do at Governors Island Winter Village 

The centerpiece of the village is the 7,500-square-foot outdoor ice-skating rink, which is expanding its hours to four days a week, Thursday through Sunday. Rink admission is free every Thursday.

Just like during the summer months on Governors Island, there's plenty of other winter-time fun to enjoy, too. In addition to the rink, the village will offer:

• bike and sled rentals

• cornhole

• can jam

• giant Jenga 

• winter arts and cultural programming

• dazzling holiday lights at Colonels Row

• firepits

• a historic Coast Guard-era fire truck, providing a photo opportunity for both kids and adults

Foodies of all ages will love the array of festive food offerings at the village. After spending time in the brisk winter air, visitors can warm up by fire pits and enjoy a new seasonal menu from Little Eva's, which caters retreats and celebrations throughout Governors Island. Options will include warm drinks and comfort foods such as brats, vegan chili, fish and chips and more. An eclectic array of food trucks will be open on weekends, and Joe Coffee will be on-site daily inside the island's LMCC's Arts Center and in the Battery Maritime Building.