It's official — the oval skating rink on the Halifax Common is opening Christmas Day at 2 p.m.

Skaters have been waiting to get on the ice while crews coped with mild weather.

As in the past, if people don't have skates or a helmet they can borrow them at the outside rink.

Facility manager John Henry said, if all goes well, they have a special plan for New Year's Eve.

"If weather allows us to pull that off it's a combination of live entertainment, music, fireworks and just a great time for the family, it's going to be earlier on in the evening," he said.

Henry said skating enthusiasts can check with the Skate HRM website to see if the weather will permit the event to go ahead as planned.

In 2011 Council agreed to spend $4 million to build the oval on the Halifax Common, and $400,000 to run it.