From Nov. 2 to Dec. 1, 2026, the rink calendar for the Southgate Civic Center Ice Arena on Reaume Parkway lists six public skate sessions. The same 30 days carry 108 freestyle sessions. The city's arena at 14700 Reaume Parkway is first a training building for figure skaters, youth hockey players and a varsity team that draws from six high schools. Public skate fills the gaps between them.
That changes how a Southgate family should plan winter on the ice. The easiest way on usually goes through one of the groups that already hold the time.
One Month of Ice, Counted
The arena has two sheets, Rink A and Rink B. The city's DaySmart booking calendar can run separate freestyle and skating-skills sessions on both at the same hour. On Sunday, Nov. 1, for example, both sheets were booked from 3 to 3:50 p.m. Here is how the Everyrink listing for Southgate Arena split the ice for Nov. 2 through Dec. 1, 2026:
| Session type | Sessions, Nov. 2 to Dec. 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Freestyle | 108 |
| Public skate | 6 |
| Open hockey | 4 |
| Stick and puck | 3 |
Freestyle ice is time set aside for figure skaters working on jumps and programs. More than 17 freestyle sessions are scheduled for every public skate, which explains why the building runs the way it does.
The Figure Skating Club Sets the Calendar
Freestyle ice serves figure skaters, and the Southgate Figure Skating Club is the arena's figure skating club. The club offers U.S. Figure Skating Learn to Skate basic-skills classes and ISI freestyle classes. Its year follows a fixed pattern: a basic-skills competition in October, an ISI freestyle competition in February and an annual ice show in April. This fall's competition, called Skate the Gate, was scheduled at the Southgate arena for Oct. 11, 2026.
Those three events come every year, so the busy stretches are easy to predict. A February weekend or an April weekend at the arena may belong to the club. The April ice show is its spring public event.
The Hockey Side Runs on Two Teams of Teams
Hockey takes the rest of the evenings. The Downriver Hockey Club, which uses the Otters name online, has posted 2026–2027 house-season practices and games for its 6U, 8U and 10U teams at Southgate Arena on Reaume Parkway. The club says its goal is youth hockey development built on teamwork, integrity and sportsmanship.
The high school team at the arena isn't just Southgate's. The MHSAA's 2026–27 page for Southgate Anderson varsity hockey lists Southgate Anderson as the primary school in a co-op. The other members are New Boston Huron, Dearborn Edsel Ford, Carleton Airport, Dearborn and Garden City. The schedule calls the combined team Downriver Unified, and Garret Presnell is the head coach. So a home game on Reaume Parkway brings in families from Dearborn to Carleton, and Southgate is the host.
Home games remaining after Nov. 12 are at Southgate Civic Arena, per the MHSAA schedule:
| Date | Time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 14 | 6:05 p.m. | Howell |
| Wed., Nov. 25 | 7:20 p.m. | Orchard Lake St. Mary's White |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | 5:05 p.m. | Cabrini/Riverview United |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | 7:20 p.m. | Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | 5:00 p.m. | Lenawee United |
| Wed., Dec. 30 | 7:20 p.m. | Brownstown Woodhaven, league game |
| Wed., Jan. 6 | 7:20 p.m. | Ann Arbor Skyline co-op |
| Sat., Jan. 9 | 5:05 p.m. | Walled Lake United |
| Fri., Jan. 22 | 7:20 p.m. | Cheboygan co-op |
| Sat., Jan. 23 | 5:00 p.m. | Grand Blanc/Holly/Lapeer co-op |
| Sat., Jan. 30 | 5:05 p.m. | Port Huron Unified |
| Wed., Feb. 3 | 7:20 p.m. | Sylvania Southview |
Woodhaven on Dec. 30 is the only Downriver League game on that home list. Southgate Anderson is listed in the league alongside Allen Park, Woodhaven, Gibraltar Carlson, Trenton and Wyandotte Roosevelt. It falls during winter break, a good night to bring visiting relatives to a game in town.
Where Public Skate Fits Between Them
With all of that booked, public skate gets two regular windows. The first is Wednesday from noon to 1:20 p.m. The second is Saturday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and through November it runs every other week, not weekly. The next listed sessions after Nov. 12 are Wednesday, Nov. 18 at noon and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14 shows how the schedule works. The November calendar lists no public skate that evening, and Downriver Unified hosts Howell at 6:05 p.m. Game nights and public skate nights don't overlap.
Figure and hockey skate rentals are available. For younger children, the smallest rental sizes come in hockey skates. Times shift as teams book ice, and the September calendar image on the city's site is out of date. Call the arena line at 734-258-3035 and press 3 to confirm the current public skate schedule, price and check-in steps.
Adult hockey players have their own short windows. These are November's listings, set at $10 a session, prepaid online through the city's DaySmart page:
- Wednesday stick and puck, noon to 1:20 p.m. on Rink A, listed for Nov. 18 and 25
- Thursday women's drop-in, 8:30 to 9:50 p.m., listed for Nov. 12 and 19
- Friday adult drop-in, noon to 1:20 p.m. on Rink A, weekly through Nov. 27
Youth stick and puck ran Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. in September. It isn't on the calendar from late October through November.
Learn to Skate Is the Most Dependable Way On
A family that wants regular ice time can sign up for a class. Southgate Parks and Recreation runs Learn to Skate on Fridays and Sundays. Levels run from Snowplow Sam 1 through 4 for the youngest skaters, then Basic 1 through 6 and Pre-Free Skate.
Session 2 is already underway. Sundays run 2 to 3 p.m. through Dec. 13, and Fridays run 6 to 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 18. Session 3 is the next one to register for:
- Dates. Session 3 runs Fridays from Jan. 8 through Feb. 12, or Sundays from Jan. 10 through Feb. 14.
- Cost. It costs $70 per session. This fall's sessions also offered a $170 bundle for three sessions.
- Deadline. Register by Dec. 28 to avoid a $25 late fee.
- Requirements. Skaters need a Learn to Skate USA membership for July 2026 through June 2027 and proper skating clothes, with no bare legs.
- Progress. Classes are half an hour within the listed window. Skaters are tested in week six and receive a badge or a progress report.
Registration is on the city's DaySmart Learn to Skate page. The Dec. 28 deadline falls in the middle of the holidays, so it's easy to miss.
The Building Behind the Schedule
City records show steady upkeep on the building. In its Oct. 15, 2025 meeting, City Council approved a $4,975 replacement of the ice arena's locker-room heater from Flo-Aire Heating & Cooling and waived the bid process, according to the council minutes.
The larger item is the roof. Southgate's 2026–2032 Capital Improvement Plan projects a $1.3 million arena roof replacement for budget year 2027/28, paid for with Recreation Millage money and general funds. The plan calls it a projection by city administration. The same Recreation Millage also funds the Miracle League Field entrance building, park and pavilion and the South Winds Clubhouse, all listed for 2026/27. The arena roof draws on the same fund as the city's other park projects.
For a Southgate household, the arena is easiest to use through its regulars. That means a Learn to Skate session on Friday nights, a seat at a Downriver Unified game or the club's April ice show. Public skate on a Wednesday or an alternate Saturday is there when the schedule allows.
If your winter already runs on Reaume Parkway ice times and you're starting to think about a move, near the rink or away from it, I can help you plan around the calendar you already know. Lisa Sobell offers a free, no-pressure look at where your home stands today. Request a Free Home Valuation and we'll start there.
