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Winter Skate at the National Building Museum!
From December 27, 2025, through February 8, 2026, the National Building Museum invites visitors to enjoy the Winter Skate Spectacular, a unique Glice skating experience in the Museum’s Great Hall.
This season, visitors can enjoy skating opportunities throughout the week with early hours, daytime, and after-hours skate sessions, each offering a different way to experience the rink.
Early Hours
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Fridays – Toddler Time, 11–11:45 am (following Storytime)
- Thursdays - Members-Only Skate, 5 pm - 6 pm
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Saturdays – Members-Only Skate, 10:30–11:30 am
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Sundays – Members-Only Skate, 10:30–11:30 am
Members who need assistance reserving a Members-Only skating session can call 202-272-2448.
Daytime Hours
- Fridays through Sundays, 12–5 pm
Each session includes 45 minutes of skating.
After-Hours Sessions
- Thursdays and Fridays, 6–8 pm.
Each session includes 2 hours of skating.
Daytime (including Toddler and Member hours):
Includes access to Museum exhibitions, a 45-minute skating session, and skate rental.
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Adults: $20
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Youth and seniors: $17
Evening (After-Hours):
Includes two hours of skate rental.
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Adults: $20
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Youth and seniors: $17
A signed waiver is required to participate and will be available on-site. Skate sizes and availability may vary.
Unique Experiences at the Skate Spectacular
Themed Skate Nights
Glide into your favorite eras, genres, and iconic artists every Thursday and Friday night. Enjoy special after-hours access to the Museum as the rink comes alive with themed playlists and DJ-powered nights. Each session offers a new vibe, whether you’re gliding to Motown classics, Y2K throwbacks, or high-energy K-pop hits. Skaters can also explore select exhibitions during their visit, making these evenings the perfect blend of culture, music, and movement.
Special Programming and Events
This skating season, the National Building Museum will offer a full slate of programs for all ages, including weekly Storytime, our returning Great Movies in the Great Hall series, and a variety of adult-focused lecture events.
From youth activities to family experiences and plenty of adult programming, there will be something for everyone to enjoy before or after time on the rink.
The Wave
The Wave is a research project led by Catholic University of America professor Tonya Ohnstad in collaboration with architecture students and industry partners. The project makes visible the iterative, rarely explored relationship between scholarship, construction, materiality, and design. The future of space frame technology—seen in the full-scale structure overhead and in the elements displayed at ground level—is investigated through months of design studies, structural modeling, materials testing, and collaboration among students, faculty, engineers, fabricators, and museum staff.
The Wave will be open until February 9, 2026.
Bites & Beverages
After skating in the Great Hall and exploring the Museum’s exhibitions, refuel with Japanese comfort food from Konbini by Daikaya, the Museum’s café. Warm up with hot chocolate or coffee, or enjoy seasonal favorites like yakiimo, roasted sweet potatoes with a golden, creamy interior. The menu also features mochi (chewy rice cakes served warm or frozen), nikuman (fluffy steamed buns filled with savory pork and vegetables), curry udon (thick wheat noodles in a rich curry broth), and ochazuke, a comforting rice dish finished with hot tea or broth. In the evening, unwind with beer, wine, sake, or a specialty cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Winter Skate Spectacular is supported by the generous contributions of
