The delay means the rink will now debut with an opening celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 12. Public skating will continue through Monday, Jan. 18. Day tickets are available for purchase on the Waterfront Partnership's website.

The decision to postpone reflects a familiar challenge for outdoor winter attractions in a region where temperatures can remain stubbornly mild well into November. Ice rinks require sustained cold to maintain a solid, safe surface, and warm spells can make it difficult to keep the ice in skating condition.

The Inner Harbor rink has become a seasonal fixture, drawing families, downtown workers and visitors to the waterfront during the colder months. Its opening is typically timed to coincide with the holiday season, and the later start this year compresses the calendar for those planning outings.

For now, the Waterfront Partnership is directing would-be skaters to its website for ticket sales and updates. The organization has not indicated any further changes to the schedule.

The delay is a reminder that even as Baltimore's waterfront evolves, some of its most popular traditions remain at the mercy of the weather — a factor that climate scientists say is becoming less predictable as global temperatures rise. For local families and small businesses that rely on foot traffic around the rink, the shortened season is a small but tangible cost of a warming climate.